New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-31
UNDERSTAND FIRE LAWS
Real Estate Interests Should Study
Them Before Urging Changes.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: At the luncheon Of the National Fire
Protection Association at the Hotel Aston on
Tuesday, May II, Mr.. McAneny in his capac-
ty Of acting Mayor, stated in his address OF
welcome that the work Of the association
was OF enormous importance on account o.
its effect upon the reduction of the property
waste and the loss Of life occasioned by fire
which was being accomplished through it,
efforts, and that the city was depending upon
the research and records and the resultant
changes in laws which were being brought
about through the propagar da issued by the
association.
Mr. Allan Robinso" president Of the Allied
Real Estate Interests. in his address stated
that he felt the necessity for a more direct
appeal to the business men and property
owners Of the country. 50 that the propa-
ganda Of the association would bear more
particularly upon the sayngs to be effected
by observing the laws on the statute books
drafted in the interests Of fire prevention ard
life protection.
With these sentiments so emphasized u 's
with considerable surprise that thos, Nno
htOW Win hHdL hlIiNuAlN AH'Nt laws iHf'
been placed upon the statute books viewed
the efforts Of the real estate interests 10 OBJ
tain their repeal By the last Legislature, and
ha~ing secured the p@,sage OF new measures
eliminating the effect Of some ii the old
laws. are now urging the public to write TO
tho Governor requesting him to sign the
bills.
As one OF those who had somethng TO DO
:.L ho Of tho iaWe cha. a
now on the statute books, and having OBJ
served the way that these laws are being
put into effect, feel that the action on the
part of the real estate interests is misdi-
rected and should be pointed more in the
direction of having better understanding Of
these laws and better methods Of applying
them rather than eliminating them alto
gether
During the development Of the laws there
was imposed uDon an old feature in build
ing construction new function and this
has not become thoroughly understood as
vet. except 20 those who are working IN this
grecial field. | have reference to the use OF
the fire wall separating buildings from each
other or dividing building into sections, in
which wall are doorway. so that in case OF
fire on one side OF this wall the people can
pass horizontally through the doorways into
the adjoining building or section and close
the door after them, ;hus forming a barrier
against the fire.
When an Inspector looks over a building
and places orders against il, he does not take
into consideration the possibility Of coop
GRAFTON between the building owner and his
neighbor in regard to establishing horizontal
communications OF the kind referred to-
V hon this cooperation can be effected and
Il can be in very large majority Of in
stances. the saving in expense over that re
quired by the orders issued by the inspec-
tors is tremendous. The number Of people
rbo are allowed 20 occupy the floor spaces is
Greatly increased and the fire insurance and
workmen's compensation rates are materially
reduced or-,,,,
New York, May % 1918.