Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-07-07
TIE METROPOLITAN RECONSTRUCTION


A semi-official inspection of the Metropol-
itau Theater. now in process Of reconstruc.
ton, took place yesterday afternoon. There
were present Mayer Brown, Architect Ham
iton. Mr. Croly, one of the builders, MIR.
Wa.erhouse, Ben WEIGH, ]. r. Watson,
Lessee Simmons and representatives of the
press and few other The building is now
in that condition when it can be freely ex
amined in every part; few days hence the
walls will be closed by the plasterers and the
spection at this time. The company exam
ined every part, from foundation to
roof, and inspected all the supports,
trusses bearings, foundations, exits,
ventilating hues, methods of lighting
and seating, the walls and the strain put
upon them, the trusses of the roof, the strain
thereon, etc. 1t would be as uninteresting
as unsatisfactory to attempt now to give in
detail all that was explained by Messrs.
Hamilton and Croly, but few general notes
may be presented. The width of the stage
has been narrowed somewhat beneath the
proscenium arch, but it il still up to stand
ard size. The paIquet floor has been given
deeper slope and better grade, resulting in
sinking the orchestra considerably below the
plane of the old position. The proscenium
boxes have been abolished, and open boxes for
the dress circle substituted. The supports be-
meath the parquet and dress circle have been
increased six times in number and strength,
and rest on many very broad and deep-laid
pyramidal structures OF cement-laid ma.
sonry. The pillar-like columns that
broke the face of the walls heretofore re-
main, but the panels between have
been furred to present an even face. The
result of this is to create very large number
of hues from the bssemsnt to the roof, which
are utilized for the purposes of ventilation.
The ventilating gates will be mainly at the
hoor-level, so as to take in the heavy gases
and carry them up through the hues, but
there are ceiling ventilators also, very large
dome, with five by six feet aperture at the
apex and four large windows-two on either
side of the auditorium. All the ventilating
apertures and hues will be operated from the
prompter's deck. All the lights, except along
the balcony front, will be side-lights. The
foot-lights will be hooded, and provided with
suction-pipes to carry off all the heated
air. The gallery rests on Orders anchored
at the upper end to the front wall.
and resting at the lower end on heavy
iron columns. The family. or balcony
girders rest, the upper end on the iron COL
umns and the lower end on the timbers
the three great trusses of the roof. These
have been strengthened by iron rods parallel
with the king posts, and binding the latter all
the more securely to place. Each one of these
rods, it is estimated, will sustain 70 tons
weight, while but IS tohs can be put upon
the whole Of then when the circle is packed
and affected by all possible vibration. vi
brstion Is still further guarded against by
strong braces placed at the ends of the circle
and bearing directly against the side
walls. All the floors are new and
securely laid. with cross bracings be-
meath, and both these give additional
tirmness to the semi.suspended circle. The
exits are treble what they were in capacity.
and are three in number. To the non-expert
it would seem scarcely possible to make the
building stronger. The architect and build.
ers are warm in their assertions of its
strength and great firmness. Certainly no
greater strain can be put upon the building
than has been in the past, and just as GER
SO far as multiplicity of timbers and braces
and their disposition, are concerned. The
visitors were all open in their expression Of
opinion that the security of the structure has
been given careful attention, and that consid-
erably greater than ordinary precaution has
been taken to render it equal to any possible
demand that may be made upon it.
In the way of improvements s. ladies' retir-
ing-room is provided, ample space for heaters
beneath the floors close floors and bead
closed risers to shut off all possible floor
draughts wherever q wall was cracked it
has been rebound with new masonry. No d.
rect exit to the street is made. and hence all
door draughts are shut off the dome gives
greater hight to the auditorium. and the gal
lery is removed go far to the rear as to pre-
clude any annoyance to those in parQuet or
dress circle. There are many other minor
the value of which will be
more apparent when the building is COM
pleted. In its present incomplete state, how.
ever, it gives every evidence of being hand |
some well-arranged and secure structure.