Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-03

In response to q resolution Of tho Senate,
Building Inspector Eutwisle today forwarded
. report upon the theaters and halls Of the
city.
Those examined we're the National, Academy
Of Music, Albaugh's, Harris. Kernan's Willard
Hall, Masonic Temple, Concordia and Grand
Army halls.
The report says: ''The National Theater has
gallery Of thirty feet, and four side exits. four
feet each, on main auditorium floor.
There are two stairways from the first
gallery and two from the second gallery.
There 10 a seventeen-inch prosccnium rail,
rising ten feet above the roof Of the theater,
the door openings in this wall being fire proof
1t is also provided with a fre-proof asbestos
curtain, to be dropped in case OF fire, COM
pietely shutting off the stage from the audi
forum. The water supply is by two inch pipe on
each side OF the stage, with sufficient hose in
good condition on both stage and fly doors.
The steam-heating boilers are located in a side
building, there being no fire in the house. 1t
Is lighted by electricity. the lights of the audi
forum and stage being operated separately.
AS the lights are incandescent. there
is no danger of confagration from that source
The main floor is four feet ten inches above
the sidewalk. The police report that il re-
quires four minutes for the audience to leave
the tneater. Tho seating capacity is 500
THE ACADEMY OF Music
''The Academy of Music has a main exitof 81
feet side exit of 5 feet inches. and n gal
lery exit of feet; in all. 81 feet, 6 inches of
front exit. There is side exit feet1s inches
wide from each door. There are two fire
proof stairways, each z feet wide, with two
stairways from the upper gallery.
There is a seventeen-inch proscenium wall
serving as o fire wall betweeen the auditorium
q IL cd vxff
an asbestos curtain, which, when dropped,
completely shuts off the stage from the audi
forum. Electric lights are now being placed in
the building. The water service similar
to that Of tho National Theater. and is in good
working order. The heating boilers are in
vault under the sidewalk separated from the
building by an area. The main floor is three
feet eight inches above the sidewalk. Seating
capacity, 1,600. Time required for exit Of au-
dience, three minutes.
HARRIS rHEArER.
"There are two exits from the Office floor of
Harris Bijou Theater, one on the cast portico
and two on each side of the auditorium floor
leading to outside. porches Of wood,
averaging FIVE feet three inches
OF the auditorium are seventeen feet above the
sidewalk. The proscenium wall is of wood,
plastered on the side next to the auditorium.
The pipes and hose on the stage were found to
udNc Decu TcIuONeu There DeluR OUT q lew
buckets of water on the floor above the scenery.
With respect to fire protection, the equipment
OF the theater is very deficient, and the pro-
prietors have :been notified to8place stand
pipes and hose on the stage. The heating
boiler is in the cellar under the main floor Of
the building, situation involving great risk.
The capacity is estimated at 200. Six minutes
are required for the complete evacuation Of
the house.
KERNAN's.
Kernan's Lyceum Theater is situated on 18th
street between Pennsylvania avenue and C
street northwest. There are two exits of five
feet six inches each on Pennsylvania avenue;
three from the large lobby on street,
each seven feet six inches in width. and
direct. There is d seventeen-inch
proscenium wall. extending twelve feet above
the roof of the auditorium. The main floor is
on level with the sidewalk. The water ar
condition. The steam-heating boiler is in an
Enclosure on the east side. The seating ca
pacity is 800. Three minutes are required to
empty the building.
ALBAuaH's.
Albaugh's Opera House has three exits on the
main front, 5feet inches each. There arc two on
the south side Of the main floor, each feet
inches in width. There is also side exit on the
north side from the gallery, and there is an exit
door on each floor for exit by the stairway In
the side building in case of accident
above the sidewalk. There are two fire.
proof stairways from the hallway of the first
floor to the main floor, nine feet six inches
wide each. There is also a fire-proof stairway
south side. The proscenium wall is a
| wooden frame covered with iron laths and
plastered on the back. The curtain is OF
drapery. There is water supply and
hose on each side Of the stage. but none
on the fly floors The heating boilers
are in vault under the sidewalk, no fire
being used in the building. The house is now
being wired" for electric lighting 1t has a
seating capacity Of 2,lO0. Time required for
its complete emptying. twelve minutes.
wILLARDs HALL.
The auditorium of Wizards Hall, on street
between 14th and 18th streets, is six feet above
the sidewalk. The seating capacity is estimated
at SOC. 1t has fourteen feet of exits, and owing
to Its limited capacity and its situation near
grade there ia little risk to an audience.
MASONIC TEMpAE.
"The auditorium of the Masonic Temple, 9th
and F streets northwest, is eighteen feet above
the level Of the sidewalk. The main exit is
eight feet wide. 1t is provided with q fire es-
cape on the north side of proper size. Its
capacity il placed at 700. There being no
scenery or other imfammable appointments
l am OF opinion that it is safe for occupancy.
coNcoRpIA HALL
1.-THE Concordia Hall at 9Th and E streets
northwest has q seating capacity estimated at
800. The front stairway is five feet wide and
the one in the roar three feet in width. The
heating boiler is under the sidewalk. There is
no scenery or combustible material in the hail.
but as a precaution q fire escape will be placed
ON the west side.
GRAND ARMY HALL.
'The floor Of the Grand Army Hail. on Penn
sylvania avenue between 14th and 18th streets
northwest, is seventeen feet above the side
walk, having q stairway six feet six inches wide
to Pennsylvania avenue ,aud an ample fire es-
cape in the rear. The seating capacity is placed
at 500. There is an open stage. but as there is
no scenery belleyo it 70 be safe for use.
NATIONAL RIFLES ARMoRY.
'The floor of the National Rifles armory, G
street between 9th and 10th streets northwest,
is thirteen feet six inches shove the sidewalk.
There are two stairways, each five feet six
inches in width. The front exits are six feet
each. There is also rear exit by stairway four
feet wide. The capacity of the hall is placed
at S0O There Is an open stage, but no scenery.
think the hall safe for occupancy"
DISTRICT GOVERNMENT.