Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-12-26
THE EIRTIS OPERA HOUSE !
Ono Of che three Finest Opera
H0uses IA lne United Gtntes-
Sissinxs for =, 900 IseopIc-A fall
DcscrlDeiOn.

e-O
HOuses ia tne United &tusss-
Sissinxs for =. 600 I'eoplc-JA fall
Description.
II is with pride that we lay before the
public to-day description Of this mag
nficent edifice, the result Of private enter
prise, which will b, dedicated this evening,
to Music and the Drama. Our citizens.
Justly proud Of this attraction to the city
and. by way Of consratL.ating Dr.. Burtis
on the completion Of this, the FIRST hundred
thousand dollar public baill;ng in the
Northwest. have arranged . programme
for the deiica.ory services, which will form
one Of tho mos. interesting incidents in the
history OF our city and State.
To meet a want long felt, DR.. J. J.
Burtis came TO the conclusion some time
ago to build large public hall, and for this
purpose selected the property on the cor
ner Of Fourth and Perry streets, as being
the most favorable location in the city. His
nex step was 70 engage Mr.. w. L. Carroll
as architect, who visited several Of the
principal cities in the United States. for the
purpose ofexam ming their besqpublic build
ings, and reported plan combining the
merits OF them ALL On the 9Th Of last July
the work commenced in earnest, sine
which tune il has steadily progressed TO
completion, and now stands the pride OF
tho city, and the admiration Of I'll behold
ers as well as an honor 10 the name it
bears.
The building is l2s by 7s feet, fronting
on Perry street; the walls are hollow. aver
aging two feet in thickness, made Of the
| finest quality Of brick. manufactured for
this express purpose by Ruch & Brother OF
this city, and laid on solid foundation of
Davenport limestone embedded in the
ground Dix feet, with . base Of Eve feet,
laid in water lime, and extending six feet
shove the surface. The part Of sks walls
exposed is laid With heavy stone, dressed In
rustic or bridge style, which gives ii very
acceptable appearance. The architecture is
the modern or improved Gothic, With .
three story front, and French mansard roof
covere with slate and supported by thir
teen heavy trussss, in the Strengthening Of
which over {, 900 pounds Of iron were used
The curved roof Of the front is covered
with ornsmentcd stating, which presents
fos appearance The wood work on the
sides, corners and cutters 10 covered with
til, and the whole thus made fire proof.
Over 5000 perches of stone were ussd in
the basement walls, and over 463. 900 brick
in the elevation. The lumber used in the
construction came from the mill Of Dessaint
4 Schricker, and figures up at 250, 900 feet
The exterior presents a substantial -
well as attractive appearance, but moro par
ticu'arly so does the facade. completed in
pilasters and heavy dental brick work,
with out-stone trimmings. The main en-.
trance is twenty-five by twenty -four
feet, in the centre Of the front, set
in two heavy rustic pilastcrs project
ing one foot, thus giving the ap-
lpaarancc Of a tower. Directly over this
entrance are. high double srched windows
opening Out upon balcony which is sup
ported by heavy iron brackets. Over these
windows there is 10 BE- placed . marble tab
les Of c!iptical shape, eleven by six feet
richly ornamented and ctnbellished witt
deicatOry devices, having raised moulding
aud letters. bearing the inscription "Burii.
Opera House, 1867, arranged in curved anc
waving lines. This tablet will cost be
tween fur aul five bun ,rcd dollars, ard bs
placed upon the building by our citizens q
their own expense as evidence Of their jus
appreciation of this grand enterpri e. tn,
cornico above pref ects three feet and will b,
supported By heavy brackets and ornsmc nj,
al mould iass.
II the exterior presents substantial apd
attractive appearance, the interior does mos
assurcdly present one Of grandeur, magnifi
cenco, and artistic beauty. In the base
ment ia large room T2 by 40 feet with /.
fee. ceiling. This is intended for lectures
scppcrs, dancing l.ali, etc, and has two Oh
frances, one from the street at the righ. o
tho main entrance and the other at tho lef
OF the main stairway that leads into tn.
grand hal. In tho rear Of this room is Z
| large cellar which will be used for s,or.
room, and. in which arc placed four large
furnaces amply sufficient for heating ,ht
whole house. Directly under the staee and
connected with il by three flights OF stairs
are several rooms for the use OF the stage
performers. In this Easement are also
three large wells from which . large tank
drectly over the stage 10 kept iiled with
water. BY the use OF hose, ws.sr can bs
thrown to any part Of tie bui!iing in cass
Of fire. II s aim, ,st impossible 70, anv
serious accident to happen by fire, "a the
doors al ocsn outward. Those at the main
entrance ars fourteen feet wide, the sam.
width % the stairs leading to the audi.ori-
} um. On either side are staifs with wide
} landings leading - the galleries. There
are also doors and stairs on each side Of the
stage leading from tie parquests, private
boxes and galleries. and. II necessary the
large windows on the sidss can be throw q
open, giving short descent to the ground.
With oil these precautions and means OF
escape, the house can be empsied in less
than fvc minutes.
At the right Of the stairway, on the
basement fioor.is the ticket office, while on
the first and second floors, on either side Of
the stairs. are large and we'll furnished
rooms, suitable for Offices and reception
rooms etc.
/ Tho auditorium IS one Of the largest and
most magnificent in the United States. and
hes been fiaishsd in the most luxurious
style. The room 10 seventy two feet square
forty-t fee. high, and rged 50 20 to
give the galleries horss shos shape. This
brings the stage into full view from every
seat in the house. rhc floor Of the par
qustto 1t the entranc, is five feet above the
level Of the orchestra floor, with descent
towards the stare Of one foot in ten. The
| sosea aec unholsta,ad nth A.v., r,;.,.o.