Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-01-14
The Theatcrx and Public Halls o.
Washington.

REPORTS As TO THEIR CONDITION AND RECoNAEN-
| DATIoNs FOR SECURITY OF AUDIENCEs-soxE
| DANGEROUS BUILDINGS NOTABLY THE REFORM
! SCHOOL. AND oTHsRs-CoNpIrIoN OF THE GOV
ERNAENT PRINTING OFFICE, ETC.
The commission appointed by the District Com
missoners Consisting OF Messrs p F. Bacon,
W. r. Collins, James A. TAFT, II. Cronin. Thos.
b. Entwise and VIM. G. Brock to examine all
buildings used for public assemblies and make
report to the District Commissioners as to their
| present condition. with such recommen dations
as they deem necessary TO insure the public
safety in case of accident by fire or otherwise.
report the result OF their inspection of the Capi-
tai Theater, National Theater Ford's Opera
House, Theater Comque, Lincoln hall, Ma
| sonic Temple, Tallmadge hall, Abner's hall
| Sheas hall and the Government Printing Office
| as follows:
| THE CAPITAL THEATER,
| Formerly known as the Metropolitan hall, but
| now being remodeiled). The main objection to
| this platt, they say, is the owners intention
| to heat it with hot-air furnaces. 1t is sug-
| gested that they substitute steam-heating ap-
| paratus, the boiler to be located outside the
| building, and covered with asbestos sub
| stantlal partition. made as near fre-proof AS it
| can be, should divide the stage from the audi
| torium. and over and around the proscenium
|
other similar Device perforated in such manner
| that by turning stop handily located steady
| sheet OF water would TOW. In addition, the
stage should be provided with water-plugs aud
| hose ready for use. The rear exit door swings
inward, and should be reversed.
| NATIONAL THEaTER
The ground floor of this theater Is amnlv nro-
| vided with exits, and the only suggestion they
offer in regard to it is that the owner or owners
| in no roiJ bio,, a.
vides the orchestra chairs and orchestra circle
at each Of the asles in the orchestra circle This
would greatly facilitate the exit of the people In
| the orchestra chairs in the event of panic The
| two main staiTways leading from the dress circle
should be at once provided with stoutiron hand
| rails. The exits from the gallery are considerd
| very defective, and they suggest that an addi-
tional stairway be constructed, which can be
| done in the southwest corner They state that
| a partition wall aud arch of brick reaching above
the roof should divide the auditorium and
! stage, and 1t should be filed with perforated
pipes, IS is suggested also for the Capital Thea
| ter AS this partakeS of the nature of a perma-
ncnt, but essential Improvement, it is suggested
that it be not required until the present theatre
| cal season closes. In the meantime. they sug-
! gest that two members of the fire department be
detailed nightly to attend TO the present fire aD-
| paratus on the stage. as, in the event of an ac-
| cldent, their presence would go far towards pre-
! venting panic. and it is certain they could and
| would utilize the means at hand with far more
! caution and efficiency than any of the regular
| employees Of the establishment
| FoRD'S OPERA HOUSE.
This theater, like the National needs a wall
10 divide the stage from the auditorium. For
the present heavy wooden one covered with
asbestos will suffice. but it should be made per-
manent during the coming summer. On the
| roof over the stage certain iron truss rods
should be heavily coated with asbestos and
wrapped. In the event of panic there wouid
| be danger Of the crowd breaking down the rails
! to the present platforms on the north and south
SIDES OF the building. To prevent this the plat
| forms should be provided with substantial en-
closure. at least six feet high. securely tied to
| the wall, and they should also be strengthened
| with new posts. In this theater there should
| also be two fiTemen stationed on the stage
during each performance. The commission
also recommend that fire-proof curtains be
placed ia this theater for use in case OF fire.
THEATER COMIQUE.
This theater was found to contain the brick
proscenium wall and arch so essential. Its exits
| are ample and it is provided with stationary
chemical apparatus Of ample capacity to quench
any ire that may arise in the building. Very
f0Olishly this has been permitted to get out of
order, and they recommend that the proprietorS
be compelled to have it repaired and placed In
proper working condition at once On the roof
over the stage and butting against the adjoining
properly is 9 rickety frame structure which
should be taken down at once.
PUBLIC HALLS.
Lincoln HdH-This hall was found to be sat-
isfactory. except the exit door of the west gall
lcTy, which leads to passage, thence to the
| northwest stairway. This door and the one
from the passage to the main stairway should
be widened and swung outward.
Masonic Ie7DYlp-The only bc
commission offer In regard to this building are
that in the event of fire. either in the Temple
or the adjacent tall buildings on 9th street il
would be almost impossible to save either as q
very narrow alleyway only separates them. To
protect both, iron shutters should be placed on
the windows Oh the north side of the main build
ing.
Tallnandge Haa.-Changng the doors of the
NAN building here so that they will swing out
ward will afford with the other modes of egress
ample opportunity for all to escape in the event
OF a scare.
Abne,'S HQH-A change Of the main exit doors
on Il street, leading from the upper hall, and
one in the southwest corner. leading to the bal
cony and rear stairway, so that they will swing
outward, are all the suggestions offered in re-
gard to this hail.
.Shea's HcH-A change in the door on the
avenue. so as to make it swing outward and
several other minor suggestions already adopted
by the proprietor, are all that is recommended
at Shea's.
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
This building contains some eighteen hun
dred employees. many of them females, and Is
freighted with stock and machinery. 1t has al
ways been source of solcitude to the fire Off
Gals. Precautions are taken to prevent fire,
but if one should occur during the office hours.
it would certainly result disastrously. The first
| suggest ion is that the sX-foot stairway at the
east end of the Fl street wing. which now only
runs from the ground to the second floor. should
at once be continued to the top story and the
outer doors of all the exits should be reversed
The several passages and railways connecting
the four sides of the building should be provided
with iron doors, for in the event of fire they
would, if permitted to remain open, only serve
as fiues While. if closed. they would stand as a
barrier to the flames. and be of great service in
aiding the fFemen. The new stable, which abuts
against the west wing, should not have been
placed there, but as it is there all the windows
on that end should be provided with iron shut
ters. as should be also all the windows of the
four wings opening into the court yard.
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS AT TO THEATERs.
1t is also suggested that the law in regard to
Il ~