TEXAS FIRE ESCAPE LAW.

TEXAS FIRE ESCAPE LAW.

Reports from Austin, Tex., state that Attorney-General Looney, in an opinion rendered to the Commissioner of Labor, construing the fire escape law of the thirty-fourth legislature, held that the law is applicable to all buildings over two stories high, used in whole or in part for a seminary, college, academy, schoolhouse, dormitory, hotel, apartment house, lodging house, theatre, place of public amusement and halls for public gatherings; also where five or more persons shall be assembled, that is to say, where five or more persons are employed in or occupy any building used in whole or in part as a manufactory, wholesale or retail mercantile establishment, factory, workshop or warehouse. Buildings not falling within the above descriptions are not comprehended within the meaning of the law. The law provides that the buildings above mentioned shall be supplied with at least one, and as many additional fireproof stairways or fireproof ladders or iron spiral fire escapes as may be designated by the head of the fire department of the city or town where the building may be located; by the Mayor of the city or town, if there is no head of a fire department for such city or town, and the Commissioner of Labor Statistics, if the building is not located in or near a city or town. The officials designated are authorized to prescribe the kind of fire escape, whether a fireproof stairway, a ladder or iron spiral fire escape within the discretion of the officer, and also the number thereof for each building and the position on the building the same shall be placed.

Reports from Austin, Tex., state that Attorney-General Looney, in an opinion rendered to the Commissioner of Labor, construing the fire escape law of the thirty-fourth legislature, held that the law is applicable to all buildings over two stories high, used in whole or in part for a seminary, college, academy, schoolhouse, dormitory, hotel, apartment house, lodging house, theatre, place of public amusement and halls for public gatherings; also where five or more persons shall be assembled, that is to say, where five or more persons are employed in or occupy any building used in whole or in part as a manufactory, wholesale or retail mercantile establishment, factory, workshop or warehouse. Buildings not falling within the above descriptions are not comprehended within the meaning of the law. The law provides that the buildings above mentioned shall be supplied with at least one, and as many additional fireproof stairways or fireproof ladders or iron spiral fire escapes as may be designated by the head of the fire department of the city or town where the building may be located; by the Mayor of the city or town, if there is no head of a fire department for such city or town, and the Commissioner of Labor Statistics, if the building is not located in or near a city or town. The officials designated are authorized to prescribe the kind of fire escape, whether a fireproof stairway, a ladder or iron spiral fire escape within the discretion of the officer, and also the number thereof for each building and the position on the building the same shall be placed.