Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-23

issued. In November, 1903, at the time of
the issuing of licenses, they were refused to
three of the theaters. namely, Chase's, the
Empire and the Academy of Music because
the inspector of buildings and the chief of
the fire department, declined to certify that
those theaters We're in accordance with the
regulations until certain changes should be
made. The managers of tlase theaters
We're taken into court. and they agreed to
make the changes within definite limited
time. After personal inspection the Com
misSoners decided that these requirements.
while very desirable for the protection OF
the public, We're not of such nature as to
cause, by their absence, serious and imml-
nent source of danger, and therefore 1t was
not considered necessary to close these the
alters while the work was being dore. The
four other thelterS received their licenses
in the due course of law.
More than two years ago the chief en-
gineer of the fire department and the fire
marshal We're directed to make special eX-
animation of all theaterS, hotels, apartment
houses and public halls, with a view of as
certaining what was needed for protection
of the public against fire. The preliminary
reports indicated a dangerous condition OF
affairs, especially in the electrical wiring
and apparatus The electrical engineer was
directed to make a special examination,
which revealed very serious conditions
Cooperation of Officers.
p THE inspector of buildings, the chief en-
gineer of the fire department, and the cleo
trical engineer were directed to cooperate
in ascertaining and removing dangerous
conditions, whether such conditions were
forbidden by the strict construction of the
law or not This investigation revealed
many defects in the theaters. The electric
wiring and apparatus were generally In an
unsafe conditions in many cases WORKOUT
insulation or improper connections brought
live wires against inf1ammabe material;
exit doors were found bolted and locked;
fire fighting appliances were absent; com
bustibles We're accumulated in dangerous
places, the ventilators in the roof did not
work well and unused fues, liable to carry
fire all over the theater were open. one
theater had a proscenium arch of non-hre-
resisting material and Its flre escapes were
insufficient.
by direction of the Commissioners, and
in most cases with the cooperation OF the
theater managers, the reformation OF TINS
state of things began at once. Inc uah-
gerous conditions were Immediately rem
eded all improvements required were I'M
mediately begun and there remains now 20
be done only portion of what was re
quired in the case of the three theatefS
whose licenses have been withheld
Constant and rigid inspection has been
maintained through the building depart
ment the fire department and the electrl-
cal department. The building department
sees that the regulations as to construc-
ton are carried out with respect TO exit
doors, escapes, aisles, stairways walls anu
safe as possible and that the new buildings
are of fre-resisting material throughout
The electrical engineer and his ASSISTANTS
have brought the electric wiring and per-
manent apparatus of the theaters to an eX-
cellent condition, and they inspect them reg
ularly, while every Monday they inspect
the electric apparatus brought by the com
pany that is to play in the theater during
the week, and confiscate such apparatus
as is dangerous. The chief engineer OF the
fire department and the fire marshal IN
spect every theater frequently, and men,
Der of the fire department is on the stage
during every performance to see that the
regulations complied with, and to do
firemans duty in case of fire.
The Act Helpful.
"While many of these improvements were
made before the act of 1902, that act, which
requires the chief officer of the fire de-
partment, well as the inspector of build
ings, to certify as to the compliance OF
theaters with the requirements of law and
regulations, has been very helpful
"These inspections have been carried on
at considerable disadvantage because the
different departments responsible for them
have not had an increase in their force for
the purpose. An increase of the inspecting
force for the purpose of maintaining and
extending this work is desirable, and also
additional legislation that will extend the
authority OF the Commissioners in this
matter. The bill, Senate No. 3, giving the
Commissioners a larger power to regulate
electric wiring in the District of Columbia,
and providing additional inspectors for such
work, which has been reported favorabiy
by the Senate committee on the District OF
Columbia, would have been of value in this
relation. A similar bill has been recon-
mended by the Commissioners for several
years"