The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-02
ACTION OF ].
FIRE, BOARD / D.
Recommends New Ordinance on
Subject Of Theatre
Exits.
PRESENT ONES INSUFFICIENT E
Have Not Been Violated, But
DO Not Go Far
Enough.

The Board OF Fire Commissioners last
night reported and recommended 10 the
Council u new ordinance on the sub1cct
Of providing safo exits for theatres anu
other public halls Of the city. after nav.
ing given II the most careful cohsidera-
ton. 5
accompanying the ordinance is n most
Interesting report, III response TO rcso.
tuition passed by the Council asking II
tho present ordinances on the subject
were being enforced.
The following extract from this report
shows that the present ordinances nAVe
been carried out. but need amendment
FOUND NO VIOLATIONS.
upon an inspection made since the re-
port of your resolutions, We touna no .
violations OF the law under clthcr OF the
. ordinances at the Academy Of Music
or Bijou Theatre, with the single ex-
ccption that at the Bitou the standpipe
was not UP to the proper recurrence nus
and iii this connection we desire to say
that a contract has been awarded Tor tTe
proper erection Of this standpipe, ana tue
same Is now being placed in proper 20
sition In the rear OF the stage,
.'At the Theatre Comique putnam -.
,,pon inspection we found hat there was
only ono door to the street direct, n'lo
ono leading through the bar-room to the
street; there should be other means OF
egress to- this house. We also noteo
number OF, other improvement ana al t'e
ations which should be made at once:
But the ordinances do not place az OF
these things under our control.
1--WE also beg to report that we nave
found on inspection from time to TINS
tjot, mt E1lllOed TO
in the law because of Its lack OF scope
THE ORDINANCE. 1.
The ordinance reported to t..e Councli
BY the Fire Board is as follows:
Re It ordained by tho Council OF the
city Of Rchm ond: u, i, 90 -.
4. In all buildings OF a pubic or SELL
public character, including ;, c 9,lN
ready erected or hereafter to be erected
in tins city, the halls doors, stalrways,
scats@and aisles shall be so arrangeu as
to facilitate egress IN cases OF IRE OF
proper accom- mediation for the public pro,
tee ton In such cases; and all alses anu
pa ssag eways In said building DEVOTED 70
purposes OF n public or semi-public use
sta be kept free from ndIGp in aisies
and other distinctions during any pertor-
nunce, service, exhibition, lecture, con :
cert, ball or any other public or semi
public gathering. =. =. e.
i a The Board of Fro Commissioners -
hereby charged with&the duty OF inspe Ct
ing or Of having Inspected by compe,,,
tent officer all such buildings; they shall
serve written notice to any owner or les
see Of any building IN Wn.cn my !, oaoin a.,
the rules promulgated or to be promuiii-
gited, after the adoption Of this ordis :
naEce, may be found to exist and. I
within ten days after tho service OF s Soer
notice, proper corrections have! not been
made in accordance with same, the person,
or persons guilty Of the violation shall IA !
be reported to the police justice OF TINS
City. !.
hel eby authorized and instructed to adopt
n nd promulgate such rules and regula.
lions as In the judgment OF the SAID ooata
may be deemed proper ana necessary, =, Z, .
in buildings IN which any considerable
numb Der of persons gather.
!. Upon request Of the Board of Fire
Commissioners the city engineer is hereby
sad board as to the safety OF the con-
struCtion of any building mentioned IN
th's ordinance. And the Board of Police
Commissioners is hereby Instructed 70
talce in carrying out the provisions OF
- EACH DAY sEPARATE oFFENsE.
5. Any person. firm or corpora ton VIC
nance, or who shall fall TO correct viola
tons in accordance herewith. after notice
has been served by the Board OF FIRE
Commissioners, as required BY section q
shall be fined for the first offense ten
dollars. and for the second offense twenty:
five dollars. to be imposed and collectec
as other fines are under the law. Eacf
day the viola ton exists after tho fine
ate and distinct offense. But in the event
that this ordinance Is violated to sucf
un extent as TO cause the Board OF Fire
Commissioners to have apprehension FOL
the safety Of the public, the, said boare
Is required to report the conditions exist
Ing to the Mayor who shall be empow
cred and authorized 20 close the sale
building to tho public until such correc
lions have been made, and 1t Is further
the duty of the Mayor to sec that the
provisions of this ordnance are carried
out.
SHALL. OBTAIN VERDICT.
6. No person shall be allowed to oper
| Ing until permit shall have first beer
obtained from the Board Of Fire Com
mIssioners. which shall set forth tina
tho terms of this ordnance have, beer
compiled with and that the building il
properly equipped with easonable ant
nece ssary means OF escape in case OF ar
| or accident.
2. All ordinances, parts Of ordinance
may conflict herewith. are hereby re
peuled.
!, This ordnance shall be in force from
It's passage
Following was tho routine bushes
transacted during the evening:
| Charles Hirschberg was appointed sub
st:trtc in Engine Company No. !. on pro
| be ton.
| j. Temple Goddin. call ladderman II
| Truck Company No. 2, rendered his resig
nE-iion, which was accepted from date. 4
". p. Grady. substitute IN Engine Com
pany No 2. was promoted to call ladder
man In Truck Company No, 2, and wa
| then transferred to Truck Company 10
!, and G, Jacobin of Truck Company Nc
]. Vas transferred to Truck Compan
| No, 2.
/ William Fl. Jarvis was appointed substi
,u,c In Truck Company No, 2, on proba
ton
!. uEon application, it was ordered tina