The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-18
BUREAU OF COMDUSYIBLES.
Careful Inspections of Public and
Private Buildings.
The Fire Department Working
with a Will.
Factories, Theatres Schools, Tenement Houses
and Machine Shops Examined-What Was
Found and What II Lacking-Hsn.
Women, Girls and Boys on Top Floors
and No Safe Exit in Case Of
Fire-An Alarming Exhibit.


Fire-An Alarming Exhibit.
The Bureau Of Combustibles Of the Fire Depart
Ment, OF which Commissioners Galway and Blair
are the active Spirits together with Assistant Eng
neer Bates and Mr.. McCosker, during the past few
DAYS have continued their inspection OF theatres
and other large buildings In the CITY, At the same
time the company commanders, by direction Of
CHIEF Engineer Perley, have made examinations Of
Victories, schools and tenement houses. So far as
these reports were yesterday submitted to the
proper officials at Headquarters on Mercer street,
they win be found appended. Many show Q
condition OF neglect the part Of owners landlords
and employers in the matter Of the few necessary
improvements and alterations essential to save
life In case OF fire. that lie simply appalling Where
Che Bureau OF Combustibles have authority, orders
20 make the required changes have been given,
which must be carried out, and no doubt the In
spector Of Buildings will also soon II not already
done, make his portion Of the important work COM
plete. Inspections Of the character noted are
right and to be heartily commended, but should
they rest here and not be productive OF that safety
required and demanded. the whole matter will be-
come q farce.
OLYMPIC THEATRE
This place OF amusement is so feet by 100 feet,
the entrance from Broadway being sixteen feet in
width. A gas stove is under rear of stage for the
purpose Of heating glue which requires protection
by tin or zinc, and the light wood around 1t should
be cleared up. There Is q large heater under the
stage, which s safe. The use Of uncovered lights
Is forbidden in any part Of the theatre. Smoking
IL also prohibited as well as the use of matches.
Eleven buckets OF water are distributed under the
stage. Two fire extinguishers are on the right
wing OF the stage moor, but are useless, though
charged, in consequence Of the tubes and pipes be-
ing broken on. The footlights are covered with
glass There is q safety chain for the protection of
the members of the ballet. There are two outlets
from the stage floor to Crosby street, one central
i've feet wide, and the other on the side three
feet In width. Coal stoves are IN the dressing
rooms, but they are seldom used. Five sets OF
movable border lights, OF tin and iron, are in
place. As stove Is used In the scene-painter's
room, which " too close to wooden SHELF the lat.
ter will be removed An open fireplace is in the
wall. This will be bricked up at once. In the car
penter's shop glue Is heated by . gas stove
6hav1ngs In considerable quantity were found
lying around, and the windows are demolished in
the skylight. Five buckets OF water are in this de-
partment. There Is q large stove in
the left entrance to the parquet; also furnace
IN the basement of No. $40 Broadway for the pur-
pose OF heating the front part Of the theatre There
is an outlet from the parquet through q cellar to
broadway. The entrance to the parquet is eight
feet wide main entrance to the theatre sixteen
feet In width. Two doorways, six feet wide, lead
from the dress circle. The stairway to the family
circle Is four and half ieet wide. This Is thought
70 be inadequate Tor a crowded house. All the
covered. Two watchmen on duty at night and
one during the day. The house Is emptied In seven
minutes, and accommodates 1000 persons
STEVENS BUILDING--THE 'FRENCH FLATS"
fire occurred here on the 18th inst caused by
the mantepece and crate being set out on the
ARE to timoers Worknen are engaged in return.
ing the CRATE to its original place over the brick
arch. There are two and q half inch valve cocks
ON each moor, with hose attached; pipes are con-
nected with tanks Oh the upper Moor: capacity OF
tank 1900 gallons, which IS supplied by pump In
hose in place Two hundred feet on eighth floor,
two wrenches 80 feet on seventh moor, two
wrencnes i1S Zee. On 1sn nooa Two wrencnes loo
third floor, two wrenches; LIS ieet on the
second floor, all in cases IN main halls The build
ing Is 254k 1eet on Twenty-seventh street, SO ieet
on Broadway, and 49, on Filth avenue. One main
staircase oil iron leads from first floor to the roof.
Two stairways Of wood, lor the servants lead from
first floor 10 attic There are one passenger elevator
and three dummies In the building. No trapdoors.
Three horizontal tubular boilers OF sixty horse
power each are In the cellar. No. direct acting
pump OF twelve inches stroke, with q capacity Of
900 gallons per minute, ID In place water is taken
rom tank in the yard holding 1900 gallons. Iron
beams and iron arches support the moor over the
boiler room. The gas meter IL In tine basement
under the Twenty seventh street sidewalk. Axes
are required and ordered for each floor.
NOS. 1Ss-l94 MOTT STREET.
Foreman Rowe, OF Hook and Ladder Company No.
o. reports that this building Is OF brick, seven
stories high, with iron 'front.' and 60 feet by 100 feet.
1t rs occupied by the Singer Manufacturing Com
pany a. q machine shop, aud IL IL connected with
the building NOS ,s3 ~ 70 1sS same street hy arch
third and fourth doors The ingress and egress are
by winding iron stairs In the rear enclosed by bricK
walls. should fire occur the fourth and nth
portion Of the building would be attended with
s no rne Are %p p S
weight OF machinery and stock on the several
NOS. 35O 354 BRooxE STREET
the same ofiicer reports that this is a three
story blue stone building, 100 feet by 80 feet and
SSue Of s. Mathew Two heaters rse are on tne
nrSt no0r and stoves In the class rooms, which are
sale. stairs on either side OF building lead to the
roof and the scuttles can be reached by LADDERS
The egress and lngreas are very good.
NO. ISL BRooNE STREET
II nve story brick structure with brown stone
mont rs feet by 100 feet The second third fourth
and NTH noors are used AS q cigar manu- iactory,
where 100 persons are employed. The buildings on
either side are only two story and attic high, with
peaked roofs. Should lire break out the first
or second moor escape from tue upper Hoors would
be attended with great risk. No nre escapes on
- NOS. 2s-s2 CENTRE STREET
Foreman King, OF Hook and Ladder Company No.
J. reports that this building Is oil brick, siA stories
high and about 60 by 30 feet The second, third
and fourth doors are occupied by Russell's steam
printing establishment, and the balance 10y william
4. Conner as q type foundry. The staircase in the
rear Is OF iron and circular, about three eet wide,
running rom the basement to the sixth noor,
which II surrounded with brick walls, with two
doors and one window opening ON each moor.
There Ii also q stairway or step-ladder from the
second to third moor In the central part Of the
building. A trapdoor was ordered TO be placed on
this and kept closed when not IN use. sixteen
printing presses are on the third moor, and
benzine IN used TO wash the rollers. The
moor Is saturated with the benztne and oil
The gas burners here were ordered " be removed
IRON where the benzine is kept. On the fourth
moor furnace Is used for melting metal 1or type
the heat rom which has caused the plaster on the
ceiling above TO fall on Zinc or sheet iron was
ordered to be placed over the furnace, leaving
space OF two or three inches between IL and the
ceillng There are large number OF girls en-
pioyed on the third, NTH and sixth floors. The
puiding Is unsafe In case OF fire occurring below.