The New York herald., 1877-01-08
BOUCICAULT ON FIRE.


GOVERNOR OF THE STATE, THE FIRE DE-
pAnrMENT AND THE BUILDING CoMMIs-
sIoNERs.
To EDITOR or THE HERALD:-
The entire stock of the hanging scenery at walacks
Theatre has been rendered nrcproof comprehending
the whole Of the woodwork and canvas suspended
above the stage Our next proceeding will be to IN
sure the carpenters floor and all the drums and shafts
in the machine loft Then 60 to the stage itself
and to the machinery in the cellar bcow the STAGE to
the dressing rooms, Offices Partitions studwork and
furniture all OF which will be rendered hreproof be
lore the end of the current month This includes
everything naammable within the building behind the
curtain. At the frst opportunity when the theatre
can be closed the ceiling, starcases, flooring and
Offices the front OF the house will be subjected TO
the same process. When completed the Commission
ers Of the Fire Department and Buildings will be IN.
the result and will DO requested TO give
certificate according TO their finding
The above statement is made in view OF editorial re-
marks in New York journal that managers were not
taking steps TO protect the public. Mr.. wallack has
lost time and spared expense in the matter, and
as no wishes that other managers may benefit by our
experiments Indeed many havo already applied for
Information the subjectl will you allow us TO OK
plain tho very simple and Inexpensive process
better may be found hereafter but the following an
swers Its purpose Take tungstate OF soda costing
about twenty five cents pound dissolve one bucket
full Of the in buckctluls OF hot water steep
or thoroughly saturae the canvas, rope or wood in
this solution for hour Let the material dry Take
solution Of siicatc Of soda costing about forty CENTS
dilute with in the proportion; add white
ening such artists usually employ pruning their
scenes, thus making a thin whitewash Apply this
whitewash over the material When dry it will be
found nroproot In treating old scenery already
painted lot the process be carried out the back
of the same; but final Of should be added
the sicate is liable to fall of IN whito powder.
There are other agents besides the tungstate and
silicate that perform the same Offices. Dr. Doremus,
who takes earnest and kind interest our efforts,
suggests the phosphate OF ammonia II has been tried
and gives very remarkable results II has this advan.
tage that It requires only one proccsa This drug,
however Is more expensive than the other two, but
negotiating with tho chemical manufacturers to
ascertain If low grade OF this salt cannot be made
TO bring II into usc.
In 1862 advocated in correspondence IN the Lon
don Times the introduction Of series Of perforated
ppes fixed underneath the carpenters floor above tho
stage. This floor, commonly called the grdiron,
tends over the entire scenarium from wall to wall and
from tho curtain to the back. 1t is simply door Of
josts the main girders under tho roof and 10
cupied with the lifting machinery Tho joists
used as beams to which all the hanging scenery is
suspended. Under each jost suggested two iron
perforated ppcs making from seventy to ono hundred
rows pipes ALL This system is traverscd by three
two-inch mains, which connect trough running en-.
tircly round the walls OF the theatre and fixed to the
INSIDE resting girders. The water contained in
the trough will be kept from freezing by tho heat Of
tho house, and such trough will contain 0,O0O gal
Ions. When discharged into the mains II transforms
the stage its entire length and breadth into one vast
shower bath. The water visits not only The spot where
tho fre may be, but II also deluges every
part OF the scenery and material rs 10 render the
spread OF the are Impossible. similar process o. Of
to joists underneath the stage The levers con-
trolling the shower should be soven In number-two In
the flies above right aud lott OF tho sago two on the
stage and two in the cellar similarly placed, and one at
the stage door 10 pc used IN eStrens When this sug
gestion was made sauted with a showerbath Of
ridicule. 1t may be said that If the OF
theatre be thoroughly freproof there can be need Of
water to extnguish what cannot burn. Still, II such
preca uons tend to gvo the public an extra feeling
OF security the cost or the superfuity OF the
arrangements should not be considered. There is
another advantage involved in the adoption OF
such precautions The premium demanded by
insurance Offices for nsuriDg theatres varies from
20 m ot GOO This
represents capital outlay of $4,000 There are IN
the building about 1000 superficial yards OF combus
tible material; therefore Mr. wallack pays $40 yard
for this insurance. Our process insures II for less
than i've cents. When thus secured from FIRE the
companies should greatly reduce their rates.
ana # they aemur would advise theatres Iyccums,
music halls and all such places 10 form mutual insur-
ancc association Tor themselves provided with special
conditions and regulations applicable to their needs,
inspected by their own officers to insure sucn rcgula
tlons being carried The Governor OF the State Of
Legislature to the advisability Of special
legislation TO oblige managers OF theatres
municipality of Boston has recently issued a set OF
orders arbitrary that OF the theatres that city
has closed its DOORS the imposed alterations on the
building requiring an expenditure Of over $50 900.
respectful protest against these proceedings
and declare them to be vain and useless they are
unjust. | speak from experience of thirty five
STUDY. There ID not board, or nall or brick, or
rope such buildings that is not old acquaintance
speak civil engineer and architect by education
and claim honestly and without vanity to know what
l am dealing with and talking about when
state that neither legislatures nor municipalities Eor
fire departments nor building commissioners have
knowledge or experience in theatrical structures.
Theatres differ essentially in construction and FUR
niture from all other buildings. Their exposure to
risk by fire Is different and peculiar. The so-called
precautions which have been recommended for adop-
tion to managers are trivial Will stouter saircases
wider doors prevent panics tend 10 DO SO? Have
they reduced the measure Of calamity during panic? !?
We have abundant evidence the contrary. Fifteen
years AGO warned the officials in London that their
attention to staircases and doorways was precauton
silly locking the stable door alter tho horse was
stolen; / warned them that the hanging scenery
should be made hrcproof, or some day icarful acc
dent would occur. And It has occurred And It Will
occur again And then officials will be convened
and scratch their heads 1t, and suggest another
bo opened, another ladder to bo liked outside
an inaccessbe o window, an additional fireman TO be
put and another squirt introduced whore its jets
cannot reach Its object II 10 all vain. DO let US
begin the beginning instead OF beginning At the cnd
and render fires In theatres impossible. Allow me to
mention and endcavor dispose OF some oil the avor
ite remedies recommended by the departments:-
L An iron curtain. There was one In the Boston
Theatre. II required two men and twenty minutes TO
let II down. IL has been condemned. There was one
at theatre in Lyons, in France. fire broke out on
the Stage and IL let down was instantly twisted
into shrcds by tho blaze Such Q curtain Is q thin
sheet OF iron, forty feet square When opposed to
fire IL becomes red hot In moment, radatng the hre
Il is intended TO check; II crumples up
and warps like paper The wire gauze cur
tain rcslsts the flame for q still shorter tmc
Let explain tho process and progress of such nre
as that in the Brooklyn Theatre, and how, onco
started, the connagraton must be an explosion Of
flame almost IN antaneoua There Is above the stage,
mentioned, called "thc gridiron" To these joists Is
slung The hanging scenery depending like leaves 10
book, the cloths hanging side py sdo, few inches
apart Over the gridiron the hollow wooden
ahaiis uscd for lfiinQ Raneath ali this