New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-04-02

STRIKING FEATURES OF THE BUILDING
A TALK WITH THE ARCHTECT-sAFETY AND COM
FORT TO BE sECUEED-THE STYLE OF ARCH

FORT To BE sECURED-THE STYLE OF ARCH
ITECTiRE.
What will be the striking features of the new
Opera House y asked TRIBUNE reporter the other
day of j. Cleveland Cady, the architect of the
building, which Is to be pushed forward as rapidly
a. possible.
Absolute safety, unusual comfort and con-
Fcnlehce, capacity Tor producing the largest
ana most important works in COM
pete and effective manner" was the reply.
" 10 secure the first point the building is to be of
lncomhlsilbe materlal--trlck aud rOn-sO that a
fire might he built in any part of il without doing
serious injury. There are no stud partitions wood
en- laih or timbcTcd floors to be consumed but solid
walls of brick and tile, floors of iron beams and
brick arches and roofs Of iron and tile, So that
thcT, Is really lack OF material with which 10
ieed The iaHies, except tie scenery on and about
the stage"
WHAT special precautions, if any. have been de-
vised tor the protection Of the stage 2"
" II IS covered by net work of water pipes at
the top of the stage so arranged that q hlrung
heat GnSOdcrs the caps ana causes the water 10
flow from the pines like . huge watcr-pOt, reaching
every part of Tie stage. Some of these pipes
revolve by the force OF the stream they throw,
ard the stage could be cliIpletely drenchcd i'm
few minutes. Another precaution re-
einen!s II danger in connection with stages--all
the mechanical work-that, Of the carpenters eos,
tuners and paiuieTS-wll be- separated By solid
wall; from the rest of the bulldiug'
How about The exits and entrances y
hess are most ample. There are 81 vcnteen out
side entrances some OF them ten ieei wide Indeed,
the building NAV bc said TO be pepqered with en-
frances. Then there are eleven stlircasCS OF IRON
and slate, OF marble. The main staircase
is double each RIP part being lively. tSeye
and each tier of boxes have their own staircases
incoSed in brick walls separated from the building.
There viii De large vestibnlcs in Broadway, Thirty
niuth and FOitcth-sts with hat ana coat rooms
and toilet rooms in connection with them. The
various floors have ladies' and genterlen7 dressing
aud toilet rooms and dining rO0ms The foyer Is
81 by - feet. with parl0r connected IN such
manner that the foyer can be turned into concert
or lecture room with the parlOr for stage. This
foyer has an Independent entrance and staircase as
~cll as its connection with the main binding.
Some of the corridors open upon extensive Op"n-alr
promeuadesp
" Has the matter OF seating been so planned that
when one person wants to pass IN or out everyone
else in the row will not be Obliged 10 stand up !"
The seating is much more liberal scale than
usual the space IN width and depth beng such that
every seat will be thoroughly comfortable. even Tor
very stout people There are many men who have
10 fake then wives or daughters to the opera who
don't care for must and who are so cramped mp
that they suffer martyrdOm all the evening.
IL the new Opera House everything will be
as comfortable and attractive as possible. pecu-
liar feature for tins country is the arrangement of
boxes aud salons There are three rows and half of
boxes IN the auditorium. these boxes are pre-
cI.ely alike in size and style. and each box has n
little room at it, back twice large the box
itself. There the occupants, II they choose can
leave their wraps, be served with refreshments.
or receive their friends. Those who 20 10 the opera
simply As q matter al courtesy, or Tor the sake OF
keeping one company, can rem In IN the salon.
and il Nill also be a convenient place for those Who
only wish 20 hear certain parts % performance.
/ here are % boxes. each WITH IT. salon"
viii the stage be statiOnarYW
Yes. People don't object 20 having little time
bct vcru the acts IA which IL visit aud chat. But
orr stare itself would Just about take IN tine whole
of the trcat wbIch - now usIng movable stage.
The other day man came to me with the model OF
a revolving stage, that four acts could hc
set at once The Stage of the Opera House ana
IFS accOmpafinouts viii he arranged for producing
Inc great works in a manner lhal has not get been
oss he IN tins country. The stage rs 80 feet wide
by rs feet deep. and I2u feet high II also go,s be-
low the door level some 30 feel, making about 100
feet from top H. bottom. Its entrances have fire.
proof doors ARRANGED that fire burning their sup
porting ropes would close the openings.
What viii be the style OF architecture y
" Italian leEaIsSance. simple III It's treatment the
masses and grouping OF the necessary parts being
relIcd upon largely fer elect Inc exterior Is 10 be
Of pressed bun brick with rsslngs of terra Gotta.
The plot OF ground is abOut 2Go 10y 2G0 feet H. size
The interior decorations VIII be of design in treat
nent ana color 10 harmonic with the exterior
The plans aud drawings for different parts
Of good sized hall About 100000
pounds of IRON will be uscd-Oycr 100000 distinct
pieces The greater part Of these had to be designed
separately, each piece involving distinct caicula-
ion III itself. The iron workers have a complete set
IF plans for the entire building. and the same IS true
Of the maSOnS, carpenters Interpreters, heaters and
others concerned in the work, and IN addition TO
hese is the general plan combining all these details
Pcrap s the most interesting set of drawings Is one
"a Ii of red. blue and yellow, showing the exact
inc of view from every seat in the binding. The
red .,d blue lines carried from the right and
eft sides OF the seat and the yellow from the cen
re to the stage and by this calculation unOb
tructcd views from every seat have been obtained
Mr. Cady showed the reporter a study he has made
or the proscenum arch. The design is rich ana
Elective aud will furnish "A brilliant frame Tor the
pictures en- the stage.
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