52  ADMINISTRATIVE   POWER  AND  ACTION.  (Part    1

(Laws  1897,  p.  222),  and  the  general  demurrer  goes  to  the  vaUdity  of
the  act.    It  is  as  follows :

"Section  1.  That  within  three  (3)  months  next  after  the  passage
of  this  act  all  buildings  in  this  state  which  are  four  or  more  stories
in  height,  excepting  such  as  are  used  for  private  residences  exclusively,
but  including  flats  and  apartment  buildings,  shall  be  provided  with  one
or  more  metallic  ladder  or  stair  fire-escapes  attached  to  the  outer  walls
thereof,  and  provided  with  platforms  of  such  form  and  dimensions,
and  such  proximity  to  one  or  more  windows  of  each  story  above  the
first,  as  to  render  access  to  such  ladder  or  stairs  from  each  such  story
easy  and  safe,  and  shall  also  be  provided  with  one  or  more  automatic
metallic  fire-escapes,  or  other  proper  device,  to  be  attached  to  the  in-
side of  said  buildings  so  as  to  afford  an  effective  means  of  escape  to
all  occupants  who,  for  any  reason,  are  unable  to  use  said  ladders  or
stairs ;  the  number,  location,  material  and  construction  of  such  escapes
to  be  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  inspector  of  factories:  provided,
however,  that  all  buildings  more  than  two  stories  in  height,  used  for
manufacturing  purposes,  or  for  hotels,  dormitories,  schools,  seminaries,
hospitals,  or  asylums,  shall  have  at  least  one  such  ladder  fire-escape
for  every  fifty  (50)  persons,  and  one  such  automatic  metallic  escape,
or  other  device,  for  every  twenty-five  (25)  persons,  for  which  work-
ing, sleeping  or  living  accommodations  are  provided  above  the  second
stories  of  said  buildings ;  and  that  all  public  halls  which  provide  seat-
ing room  above  the  first  or  ground  story  shall  be  provided  with  such
numbers  of  said  ladder  and  other  fire-escapes  as  said  inspector  of
factories  shall  designate.
