Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-03
SAFETY IN PUBLIC HALLS.
The Commissioners Reply to the Resolution
of the Senate.

The Commissioners Reply to the Resolution
of the Senate.
The Commissioners yesterday made reply to
the resolution Of the Senate dated the 2Sth
instant. q
With respect to the inquiry contained therein
as to what action the Commissioners have
taken to make building regulations to carry into
effect the joint resolution OF February 26. 1892,
the commissioners state that on March IA. 1892.
after thorough investigation by them Of the
principal places Of public amusement in the
District. they made certain regulations. a copy
ofwhich is inclosed. They have heretofore ap-
peared in The STAR.
These regulations, they say. were specially
Designed to govern the owners and proprietors
OF existing theaters in securing the utmost
practicable protection to audiences therein
In pursuance OF these regulations written
instructions were given to the owners and
proprietors OF the Academy of Music, Albaugh's
Opera House, the National Theater, the Bijou
changes and additions to said places which. in
the judgment Of the Commissioners, the in
vestigation made by them showed to be neces-
ssry for the public safety.
PREPARING NEW CODE.
The Commissioners say further that they
have in course Of preparation code OF
regulations to govern the construction Of all
theaters and other public places of amuse-
ment that may hereafter be erected
the the e. D'' Of tb osum .oS. M. MANY ao
rived from the building regulations of other
cities on the subject, particularly those of the
city of Boston. Mass. They have also
studied the subject IN connection with
the inspector of buildings with refer
ence to local conditions. The Commissioners,
with the aid of the experience of the District
ofhcers and the information they Can derive
from the provisions which have been made
on this subject in other municipalities.
hope to be able shortly to complete u
set of such regulations for the District
which will embrace all reasonable conditions
of public safety. There has been no delay in
the preparation Of these regulations by which
the public interests have been in any respect
Jeopardized or by which any assurance
given by the Commissioners on the subject
has been overlooked or neglected. The Com
missiOners have not issued any permits for the |
erection OF places Of public amusement since |
the passage of the joint resolution of February
70, 1892 nor is 1t their intention do so until
due regulations on the subject have been
adopted
THE METZERoTT PERMIT.
2. In answer to the inquiry whether said
have issued any permit for the |
aters or other public places of amusement to
be constructed at a considerable height above
the level Of the street, the Com
missioners have to state that on |
July %. 1891. after consultation between Col |
Henry NJ. Robert, the then Engineer Commits
sioner OF the District, and the inspector of
buildings, the issue of a permit was authorized |
for the construction OF the MetZerott Music |
Hall, on the east side of 18th street between |
and + streets northwest. After the walls of |
the building were about ready to be rooted one |
OF them was almost completely overthrow by a
wind storm and the remaining walls con- |
demned by the Commissioners. While prepara-
tons for the reconstruction of the building were
in progress the resolution OF February 26 1892. |
was passed. In observance of the spirit of that |
resolution the Commissioners directed that |
work under that permit be suspended. The |
owners then applied to the Commissioners for |
permission to proceed with the building.
The Commissioners and the Inspector of !
buildings personally inspected the premises |
and plans for the work of reconstruction. |
In pursuance of the COMMISSIONER require
ments the plans were revised to provide that |
the main exit be made twenty-five feet six inches |
instead of Is feet wide; to provide two exits. |
SIX feet wide each. through the i street build |
ing by means of which egress could be readily |
had from both floors of the auditorium: to |
place two iron fire escapes the |
north side, and to construct the interior |
1t was also understood that there should be no !
to the main floor of fireproo materials
scenery in the building and that ali lights |
should be electric incandescent In view of |
these changes IN the plans, that there |
was to be only one tier of gallery |
seats. that the seating capacity of about LOCO |
was to consist of movable chairs. that the heat
generating plant was to be located out
side Of the building and that the mann |
exit had been increased to ample dimensions. |
the Commissioners were thoroughly satisfied |
that there would be no risk to the audience |
which might assemble in said hall and revoked |
the order suspehding their permit. The Com |
mlssiOners submit herewith the accepted PLAN |
showing the increase in the original exits and |
the additional exits through the street build |
ing.
The auditorium at the entrance is thirteen
feet above the sidewalk. The Boston building
regulations respecting theaters apply only to
buildings having stage with movable and
shifting scenery, curtains and stage machinery,
which constitute the only considerable element
Of hazard. and restrict the height of the audi
torium floor to not more than seven feet above
the sidewalk.