New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-05
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
EX-CoMMIssIONER sTURGIs PRAISED
Appeal for Public to Cooperate in Enforcing
Laws for Safety in Theatres

To the Editor OF The Tribune
ST. May 1 be permitted Il space in which TO add
my protest against the conditions prevailing nightly
anu twice week in our theatres-coEditions so
lnl-nical 10 the safety of thoUsc nds in case Of
ire and subsequent panic?
Nearly all our theatres are death traps especially
III OLe upper parts. eX-Chief Croker and the man
ayers TO the contrary. On many occasions. when 1
have been obliged 10 take seat in either first or
second balcony. have never failed to observe not
without cOnsiGera Die feelings OF trepidatior the
lack Of adequate facilities for emptyiug those same
balconies quickly. I look at the coils Of hose
thinking OF the rotten condition many were found
IN when Mr. Sturgis assumed oface-hose that
would not have carried gallon Of water, in all
P1ooao-iity 70 say nothing of their chances Of ex
I7gu-shing fame I noticed how disturbed the
pubic was when these facts Of ne glect were made
known. To so back TO the sta.arways nearly all
are long and steep (Of necessity they must be.
'eAd-hs from such a hetshD with sharp turns and
no exits, all conducive TO a frightfu loss OF life
n case OF fire when once entered
Mr.. Stursis has had an uphill and futile fight 10
enierce lax laws and to provide for the public
saiety-a thaEkIsss position and no snecure-yet
what cooperation has he had in trying to remedy
existing evils? Almost none from either public or
press tor magistrates, IN some cases -certai2ly
not from managers. II is all pocket Receipts for
the managers and inexpensive methods OF s, eng
5000 performance to the public of course there
could be 10 cooperation, hence wall against the
commissioner FOR interfering with prodJ and pleas
ure
We pace d man in Office to carry out laws If
ne . any Kind of a man. lie proceeds to do it. In
some cases the courts have decided against Mr..
ot-islS or II Inc n1es, S5J paid what IS that
1E1-l-St ldSht4y receipts OF hundreds 1et nad a
ca'-7t' opue occurred ii this city, and any one
SC~ttI nave loA--- any small detail at which to
cd'iL, ROW quickly the pubic and presS-lhe very
papers "A4cu ia-led in the very first place co
operate W4LL Air. ~-'gIS ana cole ueS-WOlld
low. "C4.4 oe the nFeL 70 ClaIuOr because he had
10y cone his duty Way dill he see that the
proper LacIEues tor safety we're in each and every
LAe@tIe' why had be not enforced laws What
ar etc, etc and - the hue and cry would be
'd-seur ana WIN Il mighty following
IL i al very veil for our various managers to
say On. yes. II vas q shocking disaster. but you
Sc - never CA44 occur n theatre because my
lheatce IS built So-anu-sO. and has SuCh-and-SuCh
Mes, N LryLS 10 escape IN coming down IN swarms
those dreadful! sJaITways. the people would be like
IalS IN a Trap! And yet no one now says anything,
Gld We ali go.
1t IS all very well for the incoming Commissioners
70 say what Le IS going 20 do. and believe him 20
ue Slat re IN mis- motive. but how is ne going 70
40 II: HoW IS he gong 10 accomplish any more
loAsc e--t-ou-4y nave made a Drawer fSht2 How is
ne going to win the managers 20 the idea that
they sGOL4G not lie keen their nightly stand
ILs room receipts hope he VIII tight. and night
Wei, ana think II high time in view of this hOrri
ole recent Chicago tire, that certain laws should be
made. and that there should De awakening OF a
very aFathetlc easygO-Dg public to the fact that
.ry. ana that prompt reco gGitiOn OF Commits
S'J' er EFFORTS 10 enforce those laws should De
given. FLORENCE HSISTEAD
New-York City. Jan. ? 1914