The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-21
BUREAU OF COnIBUSTIBLES.
Inspection Of Theatres and Other Buildings
Continued by the Fire Commissioners.
Four Important Public Places
Examined.

What is Thought Of wallack's and the Union
Square Theatres, the Grand Opera House
and the Brevoort House-Their Secu-
rity and Provisions Against Fire.
being continued under direction OF the Fire Com
missioners. Those reported at the headquarters
on Mercer street yesterday were Walack's and the
Union Square theatres, together with the Grand
Opera House aud the Brevoort House-the hotel
located ON the corner OF Fifth avenue and Eighth
street. The result Of these examinations will be
found appended. rt.
wALLAcK's THEATRE
This building is rs feet by 14O feet, and substan-
italy constructed, Two furnaces are under the
stage, supplying heat to the rear Of the theatre.
Sixteen buckets filed with water are here dis
tributed. To provide additional means Of escape.
In case the necessity should arise. an iron ladder
has been placed in the area on the Fourth avenue
side, leading to the sidewalk. Five pals. filed
with water, were found in the nies There ia q
small gas stove for heating glue in the carpenter
shop, which is well protected; also a stove
in the scene painters room, protected with
zinc, and away from any woodwork. Five
border lights are used, OF the latest improve
mept, made Of tin, and protected with iron bands
and wire. Two axes are in place in the flies and
the same number on the stage floor, kept espe-
cally for fire use. One fire extinguisher was found
in the rigging loft kept in order and recharged
from time to time by the manufacturer. Five
buckets OF water are in the loft over the audito-
rum. On the rear Of the stage Is fire hydrant two
anda half inch opening, to which are attached 100
feet of combination hose, with pipe. capable Of
for use. No smoking or matches are allowed in
any part Of the building. Every light about the
theatre, dressing roams &C., is protected with wire
baskets. Two watchmen are on duty every night
patrolling the house, and their vigilance is half
hourly attested by telegraph connected with Mr..
Wallack's residence The theatre seats 1000 per-
sons but win accommodate 1000. 1t requires Or
dlnarily four minutes to empty 1t. There are two
doors opening from the family CIRCLE each six feet
wide, to stairway eight feet In width leading into
Thirteenth street. One door, six feet wide, also
opens into this stairway from the dress circle Two
doors, each six feet wide, furnish passageway to
the main entrance in Broadway, by stairway.
way, is eighteen ieet wide as is the Thirteenth
street entrance. The building has iron shutters
avenue and two on the alleyway on the north side,
and are closed at night The roof Is covered with
cum o o.
neatly Kept. The exits in both mont and rear are
UNION SQUARE THEATRE.
The basement In Fourteenth street contains a
horizontal tubular boiler twelve feet long by forty
There is here one small pump for forcing water to
the top OF the hotel In same building, for fire and
hose In case of fire. The boiler is set safely; two
tanks holding 400 gallons OF hot water are under the
sidewalk on Fourteenth street. There is an oven
in tha n q of
fifteen inches over the top for the circulation OF air.
The smoke pipe from the range Is carried along too
close to the ceiling. 1t will be covered with zinc
and lowered. In the hall under the parquet
there are two axes fifty feet of two inch
extinguisher. Under the stage was found nifty feet
Of two inch hose and pipe, properly attached for
tected with wire baskets, and above and behind
with tin. There is fire extingusher on the side of
the stage. Two two and half inch water
and third with the steam pump in the vault,
which is furnished with seventy feet OF two inch
on a1S at iet
covered with glass. Have no ballet here. In the
flies are thirty feet of one and halfinch hose, sup
piled from two inch pipe leading from tank on the
roof There Is also branch from the same pipe
on the opposite side with fifty feet OF and half
the stage, OF recent construction, and protected
with wire and strong iren bands. There is gas
stove for heating glue in the scene painters room
and also one in the scene room. one axe was
found on each sde OF the flies and one on the stage,
designed for fire purposes only. The gallery has
two doors, one four feet and the other six feet
wide, stairs Of, corresponding width, and one
side door on Fourth avenue The family cir
CHE has fee. ans ss Sn to the Feet
wide. The parquet has q door, feet in width,
leading to the main entrance on Fourteenth street;
hotel and doorway IL feet wide to office and
thence to the street. The main entrance is IL feet
to emy is s. rsarss s
feet; wing on Fourth avenue Is feet by 40 feet.
The carpenter shop Is located over the auditorium,
and Is neat and clean. On this floor Is q 2h-inch
pipe, reduced to IN inches, connected with tank,
with 50 feet Of rubber hose and pipes attached
across the fies. Enclosed outlet on Fourth avenue
10 feet wide. Skylight on roof with heavy iron
frame and thick, rough plate glass. Tin roof One
allowed, even in own rooms. to light gas. No
cigars or pipes permitted to be used or matches
patrol the house continually. An apparatus indi-
Gates their passing certain points every half hour.
GRAND OPERA HOUSE
has four doors opening from the family circle each
feet inches wide; one doorway leading TO the
Erie offices, of the same dimensions and two door
leading into the Erie Offices. with six fire buckets
on shelf and one fire extinguisher; stairway,
feet wide, leading down to Twenty-fourth
street; IRE extingulsher in the passaeeway rom
dress circle to this stairway. The dress circle has
three openings, each feet inches There are
two doors passing behind the private boxes to the
STAGE window here affords access to the alley
way on Twenty.fourth street. The parquet has
uOOr, . leeJ Wlue, opening into This aleyWay.
All the doors open outward. Leading into the
vestibule are three doors, each feet inches in
width; Jour windows, each feet inches, open
into yards on Twenty-thlrd street. The main stair
way from dress circle Is IL feet 0 inches wide;
main outlet to Eighth avenue, Is feet
o inches In width; to Twenty-third street,
the same. Arrangements are being made
to connect the water main on Twenty-fourth
street with pipes from the building that water
for fire purposes may be obtained. A powerful
pump and sufficient hose to reach any part OF the
house Will be furnished; also system OF gong sig
nails Will be arranged connecting all portions OF the
house with the engine room, where an engineer is
always on duty. -Four buckets of water under the
stage-which place Is well cleaned up--and ninety
four buckets In all are distributed throughout the
building. There is gas stove In the scene paint
er's room. The property room In the Twenty
fourth street wing is heated with stove, which is