Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-16
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Early in the morning of August 10,
1881. a Summer hotel at Beach Haven,
cr n. J., was DESTROYED by
summer fire. Though all Of the
noteis' out injury, while losing
most of their effects, the disaster was
considered OF sufficient significance 70
cause The Star to comment as follows
in the issue Of August 10, 1881;
The burning of q hotel at Beach
Haven will be very apt to make So
iourners at Summer resorts nervous
and more afraid of FIRE than ever. And
well may it have that effect. The
danger from this source is greater than
most persons suspect. The fact Is that
most of these Summer hotels are vast
finder boxes. constructed with little
reference TO the prevention of con-
f1agration, and provided with few or
no means for subdninE. one should it
once get started. The chances are,
therefore, at least ninety in q hum
bred that q fire breaking out in q
watering place hotel will result In the
total destruction of both building and
contents; and we may add that If the
inmates escape with their lives they
may count themselves fortunate indeed
How can the matter be helped? II
the case the situation is surrounded
with difficulties which make it almost
II not entirely impossible to provide
complete security. Manifestly the ex-
pense OF constructing fireproof
building for a hotel to be occupied only
two or three months in the year viii
be so great and make the cost OF stay
ing in 1t so high as to put that pro-
vision entirely out OF the question.
L. -. a.. d.. al
cases q supply of water sufficient to
amount to anything in a fight with
the flames. There seems to be left
then nothing but vigilance and cau-
ton, on ne part Of host and guest
alike: and these ought TO be exercised
always and In the EXTREMIST degree
NO person should ever become an IN
mate OF one of these mammoth estab-
lishments for night-cr Of any hotel.
for that matter-without first becoming
entirely familiar with all its stairways,
passages and exits, and deliberately
planning route OF escape in case OF
IRE or any alarm Of danger. These
precautions should then be supple
mented on the part Of the guest with
the greatest possible care In the use OF
matches, lights and fires
"On the other hand, the manage
ment OF hotel owes It both to itself
and to its customers to use every means
within reach as well as to keep the
danger from 1t within the smallest limit
possible. In this direction certainly
nothing should be accepted as an ef-
fort in good faith which does not in
clude the furnishing Of reliable fire
extinguishers and also plentiful
supply of well filled water buckets in
every hall OF the house. together with
vigilant Waterman on every floor,
whose duty 1t should be to keep awake
and constantly patrol all its passages
the whole night through. These pre-
cautions ought to be required by law
Of every hotel situated remote from
first-class means OF subduing q serious
fire; but, law or no law, proprietors
ought to take them. and the public
should make 1t q point studiously and
firmly to decline to patronize any
house where they are not afforded"
-
"As the date fixed by the authorities
Of Chicago for having the telegraph
wires in that city taken
Underground down from the roles
ronductnrs and carried under
SVhuuStVS ground draws nearer
at hand" says The Star of August IL,
1881. those interested In the matter
are becoming curious to see whether
the order will be enforced or not. 1t
Is understood that the companies in
tend 70 resist the measure by every
means In their power-flrst by specious
pleas for delay, on various pretexts
and afterward by injunctions snd legal
proceedings Of every kind that VIII
prove serviceable. These tactics should
not be allowed to prevail. There is no
reason for not carrying out the pro-
posed reform, save and except the
greed OF the telegraph and telephone
Companies. 1t will cost something
more to carry their wires under ground
than to string them in the air. That
is all there Is OF Il The practicability
Of the subterrnnean syA1egu has long
been ahundamtly demonstrateGA in the
cities Of Eur1pe, where such Obstruction
of streets and disregard Of pAblic
rights a. are submitted to In this cuen-
try would not be tolerated for WNen3A-
fnent: and Il can Be adopfed here III