The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-11-25
VOX POPULI.
THE REFORM SCHOOL
FIRE AT MARIANNE

Editor Pensacola Journal:
IT'S the oft repeated story-locket
doors TO the IRE escape or else exits
that are barred or impossible TO oper
at the moment of need-the terrible
destruction of life In the Shirt Waist
factory in New Haven and hundreds
of other instances.
/ The idea of the door locked and
hunting in another part of an infiam-
mable and fire trap building for keys to
open them. How long and what kind
| of lessons must be given as the two
or three story frame building, then
! filing them UP with partitions that are
dried and painted ready to ignite in
moment and the whole mass seeth-
! ing furnace, and expect human beings
! to be incarcerated or voluntary con-
/ fined in such structures.
/ At this period and age of the differ
ent safe and fire proof building mater
| iaIs, good hard burned brick, concrete
and steel, are far cheaper than first
class lumber, and in public building
or hotel nothing else should be allowed
where over one story high.
We talk about first cost and spend
hundreds, yes thousands, of dollars an
nually in repairs and excessive in
| surance rates on our state, which such
buildings with fire proof material
would save and at the same time De
safe from just such holocaust as we
have had in this Public school build
ing.
Such buildings are a reflection upon
the state officers who would allow them
built, and right now and henceforth
hut n
exits open or so arranged as keys
would not be needed, or a system of
bolts and levers so arranged as to
throw the doors open at the first alarm
and these should be operated daily so
as to see that they were in first class
working order and for further pre-
caution a. sledge hammer placed near
the door that would afford immediate
means Of destruction to the fastenings
and make the exit sure.
When the present high school in
Pensacola was contemplated, the plans
called for frame structure with only
a Semblance of fire escape. I was one
that opposed the frame building and
contended that a modern fire proof
building could be built at about the
cost Of the frame, and after a careful
investigation found that such was the
case IL not less Wnen completed ana at
the same time a perfectly safe build
ing for housing the children at all
times. This building practically fire
proof has very little wood outside of
the thin flooring in the rooms and
doors and window castings are con-
cerned with the furnishings, which
could not be burned only by an exertion
then it would only burn in the i'm
mediate room.
By all means may. this be a lifes
lesson to our officers, and may our
legislature so look upon the worth of
human life as not to allow a few dollars
to stand in the way so as to provide
places where confinement If necessary
that in cases of conflagration would
not prove a veritable fire trap or
crematory.
In the construc tion of such buildings
only practical men who thoroughly un-
derstand building plans and easy access
to all escapes should be on the board, |
or building committee.
What has been done can not be |
but a repetition OF such de-
plorable conditions would be criminal |
no matter from what cause either in
cendiarism, accident or carelessuess, |
for we can and must build fire proof |
building and make exits accessible at |
all times.
J. w. CRARY,
Bluff Springs Fla