Smyrna times., 1904-01-13
DEMAND FOR BETTER EXITS
FOR SMYRNA OPERA HOUSE
COUNCIL MAY MAKE SOME RADICAL
CHANGES FOR THE SAFETY OF PUBLIC.
Door Leading From the Auditorium to the
Stairway to be Wldened and Another Exit
to be Built on West Side of Building.

Stairway to be Wldened and Another Exit
to be Built on West Side of Building.
The Smyrna Town Council met IN
regular session last Friday evening
with all present except President
Robinson. In the latter's absence the |
meeting was presided oyer by Council
man Reynolds, chairman pro tenn. |
There was but little business trans
acted, but while the members were
gathered together there was some
exchange of opinions regarding the
affairs of the town that were of vital
Importance to the general public.
One of these was the present condi-
tion of the Opera H9dse and the ne
cessity of providing more and better
exits for the safety of the people in
case of an outbreak of fire. The
awful lesson impressed by the recent
Chicago theatre fire, in which over
a half a thousand persons perished,
has brought the condition of our
Opera House to the attention of the
Council mole forcibly than ever and
in the near future there may be some
radical changes made. Councilman
Stockly was of the opinion that the
doorway leading from the main audi
torium to the stairway was not wide
enough to accommodate the crowd
and he was in favor of having it
xus6anzI ~ .
make this door the same width of the
stairway so that in case of emergency
the crowd could move out with more
ease and safety.
Another Exit on West Side Near Stage.
Councilman Grieves was more in
favor of providing another exit and
suggested that the window nearest
the stage on the right hand side, over
looking the yard, should be cut down
to the floor level, and that a substan-
tial platform and stairway should be
built on the outside leading to the
yard, this outlet to be used only in
case of emergency. The suggestion
met with the approval of the other
members present who see the need of
having more than one exit to the
Opera House. At present there is a
small exit at the back of the stage for
the use of those taking part in the
performances, but is not adequate to
the needs of the general public. The
plans suggested by Mr.. Grieves and
Mr.. Stockly we're submitted to Mr..
Joseph H. Wright, the well-knowr
contractor, who will give estimates
of the cost of making the changes
Councilman Grieves also brought NJ
the subject of heating the Operi
House, which at present is very un
satisfactory in bitter cold weather
He said that the town could use to ad
vantage the two large heaters in the
Alderman's office and the Hose Room
directly underneath the Opera Houst
by making hot water connections
The water backs could be placed il
the furnaces and the whole secont
N floor, stage and all could be provided
with radiators sufficient to make tn
room comfortable with hardly an,
more coal than Is used in the presen
heating arrangement. The principl
EXPENSE would be the installing of tn
plant. There are a number of COun
ciImen who would like to see entirel
new stage scenery placed in tn
kla Onrl6 a offnrd n
but it is out of the question in th
present state of our financial cond
ton. 1t has been fifteen or more year
since the Opera House scenery We
installed by Risden.
Collector Crow Ordered to Collect Taxes.
The Financial Conditio n" is til
all important subject under consider
tion with our Town Council and 8
badly in need are they that G ounci
man Stockly, chairman of the FinanC
Committee, offered a motion Frida
night ''that Collector Grow be il
structed to proceed at once with th
collection of unpaid taxes due th
Lie nOAlOA Wdo SdAAAOO uheh
mously. There is yet due the town c
1902 duplicate $198.S1, and on 19(
duplicate S724.s4. a total of $923.6
The town has been forced to borro
81 900 from one of our banks, whiC
note will be due in thirty days, al
the collection of taxes is matter
deep concern with the Council. III
following bills were read and allpwe
William FAIRIES, $32.54; B. w. Turne
$14.OO; Henry Ridgely, ESQ.,, leg
opinion, $25.OO; Charles r. MAsse
$500; John P. Hudson, 1855; Ga
lock Packing Co., $54.24; P. W.
Railroad, freight, $13S SS; Mrs. Mar
M. FAIRIES, 1898; Columbia Inca
descent Lamp Co., $35.7S; George
Taylor, work, $7O.s6; Allegheny 90
and Coke Co., s21s. 10; Total, $780,