The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-05-22
LYCEUM IS
CONDEMNED
Report Of Friday Evening Club
Committee Asks That
Changes be Made.
STAIRWAY A MENACE TO LIFE

The following is in part the report
of the special committee appointed by
the executive committee of the Friday
Evening Club submitted to Vice-Presi-
dent Rev. Franklin B. Dwight, who
presided at the regular session held
last Friday evening and distributed to
each person present:
While we recognize the precautions
taken at each meeting, which we I'M
derStand are the attendance of fire
men, the clearing of pasSage-ways and
possible opening of side doorways as
the painted instructions provide, ETC.,
we also recognize that the side door
WAYS, as now constructed, are for the
proper use of the stage service only,
that they are not used usually for any
of the audience and in consequence OF
their numerous turns, are impractlc-
able and inadequate in case OF a panic,
which is to be feared quite as much,
if not more, than fire. We recognize
the single exit staircase from the gal
lery which is two stories above the
ground, the meeting of two currents
of people coming from opposite direc-
tions at the head of the main stair
way, the lack of column at the head
of the centre railing on the stairway,
the constant changes Of direction
amounting to eight right angles for
some, and four right-angled turns for
all the audience before reaching the
street, the steepness of the stairway,
the narrow width of the stairway, and
still narrower exit door upon the street,
and we know of no better general
guide looking to reform, than the
building law of the City of New York.
After a careful examination OF that
law, we confidently state that this
building would not be permitted to
have one single entertainment given
in it, solely upon the ground OF mad
equate ingreSs and egress.
The New York law would insist up
on two separate stairways for the
audience mot counting the two for
the stage service) from the main floor
to the auditorium or lobby Those for
the audience from the main floor
would necessarily be eleven feet wide
for $50 people. What accommodation
have we here? One staircase, about
two-thirds the required width, with
several turns, and a doorway upon the
street 5 feet inches wide, instead OF
ten feet-narrower than the stairway
leading to it.
The recommendation erefore,
which your committee would make
and insist upon as strongly as it is
proper here to do, is that you should
support them witty your vote in the fol-
lowing request to the trustees OF this
building which your committee here
by makes, viz:
Upon the level of the main floor of
the auditorium or the lobby to open
two additional exits, one on each side
of the building for the regular and
ordinary use of the audiences. These
exits each to open upon its own iron
platform of sufficient size, and of
proper strength, and each to have an
iron staircase, of at least four feet in
width, to the ground level, as direct
as possible. If the exit on the east
side should be opened from the lobby,
a bridge must be thrown over the
present landing on the main staircase
to reach the new exit, which is now
window opening. Also from the gal
lery to open two exits, one on each
side of building, each to a balcony
connecting with an iron staircase to
the ground level.
In order to accomplish the above re-
suit, no new openings in the walls of
the building will be necessary, but
windows changed to exits must be cut
down to floor levels.
The above seems to be the very least
that is required for ordinary safety.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK WALLER,
ROBERT ID. FooTE,
AUGUSTUS L. REVERE,
Committee.