The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-09

TO permit o II inch tread anu q I men
riser with platform at foot of present
stairs for steps leading down to floor
of lobby. That portion of stairs ex-
tending beyond front wall of present
building to be enclosed with stone or
brick walls with proper doors. The
upper flight of stairs leading to gallery
shall be constructed with a 10 inch
tread and a Z inch riser or as near as
practical. All present Instructions to
these stairways to be removed so as to
make level landing from the head OF
one staircase to the other. That poc-
ton above the east line of the stair
ways to the gallery should. be perman-
emily closed until remodeled. The stair
ways on the north and south sides OF
gallery leading to exit door should be
continuous to back of seat rows. The
upper seat row should be removed and
the rear platform lowered which sur
rounds rear of lower gallery seats. The
three steps leading to platform on
south exit from gallery should be re-
duced to one step by lowering platform
on inside and raising platform to out
side exit stairways.
All Instructions in aisles reducing
same less than three feet should be re-
moved.
Openings and windows on or under
gallery and balcony fire escapes should
be securely protected by standard hre
one on the north side to gallery stair
way from balcony, leading directly to
ground, should be Widened to four feet
On examination we find the wing
walls or walls to the side of the pro-
SceniuIn arch are of substantial brlcK
IS inches in thickness, extending ap-
proximately seven to ten feet. ABOVE
crown of arch and above arch and slde
walls continuous to roof was founa
studding covered with painted plain
sheet iron. This iron was somewhat
buckled in portions, indicating shgnt
settling of frame construction. We
recommend removal OF all presehe
Studding and ironclad construction
above walls and over proscenium arch
and substituting a brick wall therefore
or of hollow clay tiles, construction con
tinuous to and above roof with tWo-Ioot
fire wall. If of hollow tile, same 70
have one coat of rough plaster. All
door wall openings in this dividing wan
between stage and audience room shoulu
be protected by standard fire doors.
Immediately beneath drop curtain IN
basement a wall should be constructed
continuous from wing walls; there
should be sufficient thickness OF plate
iron resting On top of this wall recelV,
ing the base of an asbestos or steer
curtain which should be provided WIN
and installed to rise and fall in sub
stantial channels.
The object being, if possible, to create
a complete cutoff of the excessive large
stage and scenery from fire therein inn
media tely conveying flames and smoke
into the front portion Of the house " e
find the dressing rooms OF especially
cOmbuStible material, being covered Dy
paper in a very crude manner; new
rooms should be provided, being con-
structed of non-combustible material;
A slxylight as ventilatOr for smoke
! should be located in roof and immedl-
ately over stage of sufficient size and
constructed of non-combustible ma
terial, being made automatic in its ar
rengement
/ The condition of the boilers for steam
/ hoo ir,er- emo f0 ne fh0r0IICh X
animation of same by a competent per
son under the supervision of the fire
marshal and the city engineer. We fur
Their find that the close proximity OF
smoke pipe and dome of boiler to joist
| to be a dangerous feature. The wood
work can be protected by heavy ashes
tos or thin sheet. metal. The 1oist head
er and ioist surrounding stack lay
| against the walls of same, and should
| be removed a sa5e~ clearance. An ac-
I cumulation of rubbish about basement
and portions of building shows negh-
gence, and should receive immediate at
tention. We find approximately Sc feet
6 inches outside exit space to this opera
/ house, very commendable feature in
our judgment.
Fire Protection-We find that the
water supply in this building is insult
! ficient. An ample supply for stand
| pipe of sufficient capacity with attach
| ment of 21a inch hose, ample in length
to cover the floor areas should be pro-
vided An efficient system of perfora-
/ ted pipes or sprinkler equipment, in
our Judgment, should be installed, so
| constructed as to thoroughly sprinkle
| the entire area of the stage. If perfOr-
ated pipe is installed the controlling
| valve should be located above all hose
attachments. The stand pipe and
! sprinkler or perforated pipe equipment
should be fed absolutely independent
of any house pipe connections. We
also recommend that a sufficient num-
Der of standard three gallon hand
chemical fire extinguishers be placed
through the building. Fire alarm boxes
should be located as directed by the
fire marshal. Exit signs should be
more conspicuous than we found; there
should be an electric red light placed
over all exits, and should be on an in
dependent cir cult and not controlled
from the switch board on the stage.
Electrical Insulation-We submit the
following detailed report: System: The
three wire 10 volt direct front system
is used in this building. Service en-
trance is through window frame in
rear of stage. All branch circuits CEN
ter at switch board located on stage
and are controlled by switches mount
Ell thereon. There are about 900 Ocean
die power lamps used in building. In
addition to these, there are several
floor pockets on stage for attaching
hand plug arc lamps Inc general con
dition of the insulation is very bad
and is liable to cause serious trouble
at any time that current is turned or
the system.
IThen follows a detailed report concern
ing the defects of the electric hghtlne
system and the requirements made by
the board.1
Note: In our recommendations, We find
it necessary to practically reWire the
entire building to place the electrical
installation in a safe and secure condi-
ton as considerable non-Standard mater
Iials and fittings are used and the ar
rangements and mechanical construction
is poor.
or changes as hereinbefore enumerated be
under the supervision of and approval
of the fire marshal and the city engineer
Regarding the present condition of this
house, we consider same unsafe ane
should not be occupied until improve