The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-06
NOT DOORS
ENOUGH.
This is the Only Fault There is
to Find
With Two Plans Submitted for
the Auditorium.
Handsome Buildings Shown by
Architects Wood and Stanton.
MUST BE MANY EXITS.
Should Be Provision for 5000
People to Run Out
In Case Infiammable Booths
MUST BE MANY EXITS.
In Case Infiammable Booths
Should Take Fire.

The Auditorium association received
two sets of plans for the proposed
building and the executive committee
Will decide at meeting to be held to-
morrow evening which plan will be
adopted. One is submitted by L. M.
Wood & Son and follows the general
plan submitted to the city council some
time ago of which cut was published
in the Journal. The other is by J. p.
Stanton who was superintendent Of the
building at the state house during the
last administration.
There is one fault to be found with
both plans submitted and only one and
that is that there are not enough exits.
The rule is that two feet shall be allow
ed in exits for every 100 persons the
building is capable of accommodating.
This would make in the netghbOrhood
of $50 feet for exits and neither plan
provides for more than rs feet or half
what there should be.
The law requires that the fire mar
shall who is also inspector of buildings
shall approve the plans and Chief Will
marth will make careful estimate and
provide. every possible safeguard. The
building will be of wood and it Will
therefore be necessary to exercise more
care when providing for a panic in case
Of fire. Topeka does not want disas-
ter like that of the Grand Bazar de
Charlie in Paris on Tuesday. There the
structure was of wood and was filed
with inf1ammable booths the audi
torium is likely to be many times
Fire Marshal Wilmarth was seen by
a Journal reporter today. He said that
he had not seen the plans and would
therefore not care to make any criti-
clSma' Enough exits must De provided.
said he, 80 that the building may be
emptied in three minutes in case of
emergency. The law provides that the
plans shall be submitted to me before
a permit is issued and L do not appre-
hend that there will be any difficulty
in having the matter satisfactorily ad-
justed."
Inc front of the building should have
the exits arranged similar to the Grand
Opera House At least IS feet of the
frontage on Kansas avenue should be
dOOrways opening directly on to kan
sas avenue, so as to bring the crowd
out easily to the street cars which Will
stand there in large numbers after
meetings and performances The build
ing should not be set back in the park,
where in case of rain the crowds will
have to pass under dripping trees
drenching them to the skin. This is a
matter, however, that will be settled
later; the matter of exits must be set
tied at once.
by nearly every director and the COM
petitors explained the various points in
their proposed buildings.
Architect Woods plan proposes a
building with a tower on each corner.
A ventilatOr runs the entire length.
The stage is in the front part of the
building and there are cOmmOdiOuS
dressing rooms. Provisions are made to
seat chorus of !, 600 singers by having
elevated seats extending from the stage
into the balcony The building would
seat 5000 people and Mr. Wood figures
that 5000 can be crowded into it. The
cost exclusive of seating is $21, OO0
Mr.StantOn's building is entirely diff
ferent. The auditorium and entrances
are distinct and covered by different
roofs. The stage is also separate from
the auditorium. The auditorium is 128
by 140 feet and the stage is 85 by 80 feet
with an opening 48 by 80 feet. There
are two tiers of dressing or committee
rooms. There are toilet and check rooms
on either side Of the entrance. Provis-
ions for four rooms for a care taSer
are made on the third floor The esti-
mated cost is S25, 220.
Both buildings contemplate roofs
supported by steel trusses. Mr.. Wood
provides for nine, II feet apart and the
building because the stage and entran-
ces are not included under the truss
roof.
After the plans had been examined
and explained w. H. Davis moved that
they be referred to the executive COM
mittee and this was accordingly done.
The executive committee held a short
session but no action was taken on the
plans. Mr.. Wilder suggested that some
expert be employed to go over the plans
and make careful criticisms of them.
On the suggestion Of Councilman Net
tells it was decided to call City Engi-
neer Barnes into consultation. The
matter of acoustics must be absolutely
guaranteed. 1t would be too bad to
get the building done and find that a
speaker could not be distinctly heard
all over the auditorium or that there
was an unpleasant echo"
1t will be necessary to have the plans
approved by the city engineer before
they are formally presented to the
council for acceptance.
1t agreed that meeting GhOUld
be held tomorrow evening for the adop-
tion of plans. 1t will then be known
just what kind of a building is to be
constructed.