New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-12
FIRE DANGER IN HALLS.
CHURCH 4ISLES TANNED.
Theatres Are Best Gudrded-PerH
IN ArmOries.

partrerts with regard TO IRE precautions In
theatres are strict nnd are well enforced, par
ficulsrly just ROW. there other public build
ings where the regulations might be made far
more severe and carried out more stringently.
without interfering too seriously with the own
ers' rights. Public halls and churches while
not used frequently theatres. often hold
more people than any individual playhouse, and
not half so well adapted to the purpose.
The plans OF theatre receive the most careful
scrutiny at the Buildings Department. while
the building Is afterward subject to inspection
by fnen from the Buildings Department, the
Fire Department and the Health Department.
besides having policemen and hremen stationed
there AZ every performance The more impor
tsnt public halls are well built, and due atten-
tien has been paid 10 suitable exits and stair
ways. but there are no firemen on duty there.
The Fire Department inspects them only twice
a year.
Many OF the churches here are old buildings
which would not be passed now by the De-
partment OF Buildings. In them are narrow
aisles and crooked stairways leading to gal
ieries Section los OF the Buildings Code par
ticuariy specifies that the aisles shall be kept
free from all chairs or other distractions 1t
has been known, however that churches have
been SO filed that chairs would be put in the
sisies- There are too. in the older churches
doors TO the pews, which open out into the
aisies. and 30 that way take much of the width
OF the passegeway.
This Is particularly noticeable in Grace
Church, long. narrow building in which the
centre aisle is not more than six or eight feet
vide. The doors OF the pews, at least eighteen
inches wide. swing into the aisle from each side.
taking of about three feet Of the width Of the
passage In tie side aisles conditions are much
worse. the doors are Of the same width and
the space between pews less. In the Church
of the Ascension the same conditions prevail
There. too, Is a small gallery at the rear or
the church, approached each side by curved
flight CT wooden stairs. An orderly congrega-
ton, moving leisurely out after the benedic-
ton IS often Inconvenience by the outswung
pew doors. What this impeachment would amount
20 fl of a hurried exit in time of emer-
gency can readily be imagined.
By Fire Department regulations the churches
must keep on hand fire buckets. hooks axes
extinguishers, according 10 the condition of
the building and its seating capacity. They
practically never in sight however, and
scarcely one man in congregation would know
about them where to find them should they
be needed. The Buildings Department does not
inspect churches
ARMoRIEs LACK FIRE DRILL.
Regimentai arrnories are usually good. SUBJ
stantiai buildings OF iron and stone, yet the
71st Regiment Arnsory completely de-
stroyed in extremely short time. Had it been
full OF people at the time, instead Of sLeltering
only the armorer and his family. great loss
OF life would undoubtedly have occurred.
The armories take great precautions, but
they are not proof against fire. 1t is remarka-
bic that none OF the regiments have regular
fire drill. while OF them never have it,
At the regular army posts there is always fire
drill, while at West Point and of the
larger posts Of the regular army here are
ganized fire companies with apparatus.
probably the worst armOry in the city from
ne point OF view OF danger from fire is that OF
The 18th Regiment at Third-ave. and Seventh
St The building is OF wood throughout, there
is one exit for the soldiers, and sometimes at
drill the building shakes perceptibly.
In great contrast TO this is the arnnory Of the
9Th Regiment, at Park-ave. and Sixty-seventh-
st The building is OF brick with iron frame
work There are two three very small gal
leries, reached by separate stairways At the
rear OF the building two large doors from
The superintendent has fire hose and fire buck
cts under the stairways, and his men are trained
drill. Inc regiment mas no hre
The list Regiment is using the Lenox Lyceum
Tor drill room 1t the first floor entirely
WITH doors to Madison-ave. and F1fty-ninth-st.
The I'D Regiment has large brick building
at Broadway and Sixty-eighth-st.. with much
ornate wooden trimming There are balconies
on all sides of the drill room Four staisways
lead 10 the west balcony. besides the main
stairway. There are only two iron spiral
one small wooden stairway. On the main floor
are Two large saliyport doors, besides the main
entrance at Broadway. In the twenty COM
pany parlors, however-ittle wooden boxes
which open from the drill room floor and the
north balcony, there would be considerable
danger. Hose and buckets and fire extinguish-
ere are always kept ready. The superintendent
SAID yesterday that he thought the building
was fairly safe from fire. although not hreproof
HALLS INSPECTED TWICE A YEAR.
Public halls inspected twice year by the
Fire Department In the larger ones on special
occasions policemen detailed. Carnegie Hall
Is considered hreproof. Cooper Union Hall is In
a kind OF basement. 1t is well provided with
doors and exits. yet on occasion two OF these
doors have been locked.
Over on the East Side, however is the great
est danger from so-called halls which IN many
cases are little stores or saloons
These have firnsy stairways leading TO them
and have fire precautions. Those which are
In general use. however. are better safeguarded.
Mannerchor Hall. at No. POS East FGfty-sixth-
st. has four iron stairways leading from the
assembly rooms TO the main floor. The employees
have a FIRE drill The hall is fitted with fire ex-
tinguishers, fire buckets and a special fire alarm
connected with the Fire Department. well s
alarm system through the house.
The Manhattan Lyceum. at No 66 East
Fourth-st., has recently been reTnodeled. IT has
marble stairways and fire escapes front and
rear. IT. too. has special alarm. well as the
Ere extfnguishers.
Arlington Hall, at No 81 ST. Marks Place. is
also fairly well provided for. The stairways are
broad; the men have fire drill and there are
fire extinguishers and buckets.
Seminole Hall, at No. Ala Grand-st.. IS a
rather old building. given over almost entirely
lodge and meeting rooms. On the front fire
escapes. The windows OF the second floor at