Because of economic reasons for preserving the space within the walls
of the mill so that it may be to the greatest extent available for the
best arrangement of machinery, the stairways should be placed outside
of the building. Such stairways should not be spiral stairways, but
should be made in short straight runs with square landings, because in
the spiral stairway the portion of the stairs near the center is of so
much steeper pitch that it renders them dangerous when the help are
crowding out of the mill.
The wear of stairs from the tread of many feet presents a difficult
problem. A very common practice consists in covering each tread with a
thin piece of cast iron marked with diagonal scores, and generally
showing the name of the mill. These treads wear out in the course of
time, but for this use they answer very well, although somewhat
slippery.
A wood tread gives a more secure foothold upon the stairway; and in
some instances stairs have been protected by covering the treads with
boards of hard wood, containing grooves about three-eighths of an inch
deep, and of similar width, with a space of half an inch between them.
These boards are grooved on both sides and placed on the stairs. After
the front edge is worn, they are turned around so as to present the
other edge to the front, and, in course of time, turned from the
exposed side to do service in two positions on the other side. In this
manner these tread covers are exposed to wear in four different
positions.
Mill towers, besides containing the stairways, also serve other
purposes, as for cloak rooms for the help. They often contain a part
of the fire protective apparatus, carrying standpipes with hydrants at
each floor. For this use they are easily available, and furnish a line
of retreat in case a fire spreads to an extent beyond the ability of
the apparatus to cope with it. These towers also furnish an excellent
foundation for the elevated tank necessary for the supply of water for
the fire apparatus in places unprovided with an elevated reservoir.
In view of the terrible and deplorable accidents which have occurred
by reason of lack of proper stairway facilities at panics caused in
time of fire, I would repeat the words of the late Amos D. Lockwood,
the most eminent mill engineer which this country has yet produced,
when he said to the New England Cotton Manufacturers' Association,
"You have no moral right to build a mill employing a large number of
help, with only one tower containing the stairways for exit."
The statute laws of several of the States require fire escapes; but it
is a matter of fact that they are rarely used, because people are not
often cool enough to avail themselves of that opportunity of escape. I
know of one instance where a number of girls jumped out of a fourth
story window, because they did not think of the stairways, and did not
dare to use the fire escape. In that instance, none of the group
referred to tried to go down the stairs, which did furnish a perfectly
safe means of exit to a number of others.
Most of the fire escapes are put up so as to conform to the letter of
the law; and in such manner that no one but a sailor or an acrobat
would be likely to trust himself to them. In crowded city buildings,
and in other places where the ordinary means of escape are not in
duplicate, it is essential that fire escapes should be provided; but
it is a great deal better to make a mill building so that they shall
not be necessary as a matter of fact, even if they are put up to
conform to the requirements of statute law.