FIRE ESCAPES.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3350, 17 September 1879, Page 3

FIRE ESCAPES.

To the Editor of the EvenikA Stab.) Sib, —I rarely trouble newspapers, but a suggestion of a friend has induced me to write these lines, which I trust you will insert. We were talking over thnt terrible calamity in the form of fire, which has just occurred at Duuedin, when my friend suggested the expediency of our Borough Council taking action in the matter with the view to facilitate means of escape in case of fire This he suggested could be easily done by means of a bye-law compelling, under a heavy penalty, all hotel-keepers, keepers of restaurants, lodging-house proprietors, &c, who may occupy premises more than one story high, to hare fastened and available in each bed room above the ground floor a line (any stout rope will do) knotted and of sufficient length to reach the ground. This line may be fastened either by a hook or ring immediately under the inside of the principal window of the room, or, the samo may be securely attached to the bedstead and stowed away tinder the mattress so that in either case

the line may be coiled in such a manner as to be available at a moment's notice. irfSiiould such a by-law bo passed, authority for police supervision should be given. People are fined for allowing a goat or pig to wander, or for having an unregistered dog ; why not go further, and compel proprietors of public establishments to provide for the security of the lives of their lodgers ? The expense would be trifling, and I am sure that the majority of the far-seeing citizens of the Thames will agree with me that ifc is far better to be safe than sorry.—Yours, etc., ' •.. ,J* E. Dodd.