New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-24
Fly DEATH-TRAPS REMAIN.

u i r. ~
BULDINGs-A NEW INSPECTION OF THEATRES
ORDERED.
WilamP. Esierbrook, Inspector of the Bureau
of Buildings has bee confined his house, at NO.
$50 East Thrtieth-st by illness for several days
He was so far recovered yesterday az to be ale u
talk with a TRIBUNE reporter concerning tne crn-
sure which Coroners jury mad passed upon Allh
hecouse he had not condemned the proscenlum walls
of the Park Theatre. The Bureau OF Buildings
he said % is like store overrun by CUSTOMERS anu
hort of clerks The man who runs the store is
kent bnsy dealing out this thhg ana
that thing to satisfy the folks who ara clamorlng
for them and he has time to 60 outside ana hahI
M more customers. Let me give you some hgutes
about the work OF the bureau. There are at one
time from 1000 to 5000 buildings in process OF
erection IN the city, 1t Is the duty of each exam
ioer of buildings to watch the new buildings IN his
district. from the time they are begun
until they are finished, and to make reports
about them 50 that can tell If all the require meats
of the plans are compiled with. On the average
each examiner has TO keep watch OF 40 buildings,
and IN dong that he must cover fourteen miles OF
streets for every round he makes. We nave
over loo complaints about hre-escapes 10
investigate each year, and the examiners have
all that work perform About l,2OO unsafe bu ID
ings are reported upon by the examiners IN year.
In the past twelve months about 900 plans for al
terarions in old buildings have been sent IN, ana
before the plans can be approved an examination
of each building must be made. II the examiners
had leg as long telegraph poles. and were as
tireless as steam-engines. they might be expected
70 keep up with the work which comes reg
ularly 10 the bureau and make outside
examinations also"
Had the Park Theatre been examined by any OF
the examiners previous to the fret" the reporter
asked.
Yes. II had been examined, AMI some improve
ments had been made in the means of iugrcss AID
egress as suRg ,stel by the examiner In regard to
the wooden prosceuum wall OF the theatre, the cor
oners jury NAV he pardoned for a mistake which Is
often made by persons unfamiliar with the present
binding laws Under these laws have no power
10 make the owner Of an old theatre tear down
wooden proscenlum wall and put hre-pToof wall
in it, place. If plans submitted TO me for alter
ing the theatre, then can refuse TO approve the
plans until all the requirements for safety are stated
IN the plans ! can also. in such a case, prevent
The building from being used after al era IONS
are made until all the specifications
. -. .c,tI'riIed with In the same way can prevent
nevv theatres from being built after The old fashion,
There Is a case III point now pending Iue oid
mory building IN Twenty-thrd-st ms been rent
I'd hv Salmi Morse, who wants 70 turn 10 INTO
Theatre Tor the production of a Passion Play Plans
Tor altering the building were sent IN by an arch-
iect, hur refused to accept the plans uuless they
we're changed as To the place sale III case OF
fire The changes will make It necessary 70 sp nd
more IN luey in altering che building and tor that
reason understand there Is kelly 10 be a fight but
will ask for an injunction against the use OF The
place as a theatre unless the changes are made"
Mr. Esterbro ok showed to the reporter a eouy OF
the specihca4iOns which be has dema Ided shall be
put IN the pl ans for altering the 90 armOry Nos
1879 IA a1d l43 " est IWeutY-th lr I-st. Among
the provisions for safety are the folio wing: here
must BE- a OIick wall, separating the ag- from me
auditO ium to eXt~nI four feet above the ruOf ana
10 be C ped with tone. Above the fat arch, span
nj the stage opening, there must be a relieving
- r a mace bet ween the TWO arches may be
filled with hollow brick To diminish
he load on the HAT arch. Re
side of the stage. shall be provided With wrought
ron doors. TIE roof of the stage must be PROVIDED
with four skyiignis each equal In area 10 elEhly
square feet, and the skylghts shall De so e,
as t. open instantly upon ne buiLlhg or Gu UNI u
4 hempen corr. On each slGe OF the stag an on
each side OF the auditorium are 10 DE paced sItud
piDes which are 70 be kept full OF wafer supp led
ir IN an elevated tank or by Croion res ur as
touud 10 be necessary, and which are 10 be con-
uected with perforated pipes RAINING around iAe
stage b. this arrangement OF water pipes the stage
and scenery may be Hooded with water at short
AR. Esterbrook said that the arrangements for
safety referred 10 all mentioned IN the build
ing law winch he sent TO the Legislature last WIN
ter and which was not passed. EuOrts WOuid ne
made ne SAID to have tine same law Drought TO the
notice OF the next Legislature referring To the
recon mAndation OF tue COrOueTs jury, that the
o. her theatres IN the city should ne examined he
produced copy of an order winch he Issued TO the
examiners OF the Bureau OF Buildings on the day
alter the destruction OF the Park Theatre. IL was
az follows:
You are hereby directed to examine every theatre in
yonr district, and TO whether there IL OrlcK
wal stage and the audit Drum, and wheder
ssld wall continues sdge opening aud s con-
uuued up thro Igh the roof and COPIED Also tue thck
lt.ss of lie ali land O. = gnt above
You VIII ascertain wneer there are any skyights
the roof over The stage and the SIZE o. each ana
~heJner they are held N position ny a uemleh c0ru
being cut OF burned would instantly open the SKY
H. Is expected that you will written report
within every tree days GAtl al are Fepofted
and attend TO your other dut' likewise
The reports OF he examiners upon the theatres
have nOt ueen sent in yet II Is nOC expcc Ell that
tue LII, rmauOn contained IN the reports can DC
used TO compel the owners OF old theatres TO bllId
nregroof pr0scenum walls In place OF wooden
ones but 1t may be used with effect III calling the
attention Oi the Legislature to the defects III the
pres ut building laws. La reply TO the question
(" " hat iutuences are opposed 10 the passage OF
new Building lawf' Mr.. EsterDI 0ok SAID;
Some opposition has come hOm property owners
who DO not under> aud what the proposed law is
intended TO accomplish and VINO lear tnaJ
the dill, If passed, VIII maze buildings
more expensive. We want law which
will prevent unsafe buildings, nut II mu BE- law
winch Is fair ana just b. property owners IND when
will not give 10 any persoI tIe power 10 Cypress
them. Under the presen law the Wills OF bnli-
iugs a.e required to &c VI certain thcAness accord
ing to th-IT he -htand the weight they are made
to sustain. All the good Architects Is
Lr"b bnIl5inss should be made mucl thicker at
the bo ON tnan at tue top vt strict lnterpre-
alton Of the law would require the walls % be car
Red up strai ht so that hey would be top-heavy.
a .oo3h0le, and one which would seem 20 nave
been designed tor Purpo IS OF GidcAma' Is ne
mower winch the ms Jec,Or of Buildings has
b. make modIncauons IN he law, WIN the consent
of the Board OF Examiners. Inc proposed law VIII
innate the buildug nf walls 50 tnaG buildings can
be- made stronger ana with less expense tuan mere
f,iorr so I,I az possible the new law wlil remove
Discretionary power from the Bureau OF Buildings
ond ma ke Inc duties OF builders aud inspectors
alike too plin TO he mlsconstrued. am war
that such q law Is not Te'ished by certain DOi,t-
n,eut winch couiI he made an engine u e&JOIb
-, com tb- punllc If their plans are nkeI1 10