Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-15
STERN MEASURES
TO Put Chicago Buildings in
Proper Condition.
Theatres May Not Be Allowed to Re-
open for Some Time.
Fifteen Churches CIosed-Other Struc.
lures Being Guarded.

Chicago jar. H.-From action taken.
tonight by the city council, it is evil
dent that the theatres in this city will
not he able to reopen Their door for
some time. The meeting of the coun-
Gil was for the purpose of considering
tn" revision of the building ordinances
ani it was generally expected that the
proposed amendments would be con-
;idered and adopted, that the proprie-
rrs; of the theatres would know what
would be demanded of them. an would
able t. commence their alterations
1t once.
When the measure was Gale UP
'lderman MavOr moved that consid-
ration be deferred, that all the pro-
Osed amendments be published. and
hat the whole subject be taken Up
when the council was ready. Alderman
fOrcman seconded the motion, declar-
ne that some of the changes We're of
4 character that required extensive in
vestigation, and that it was not proper
Or the council to pass upon so of these
1t single sitting.
The motion was passed, and all con-
Iteration of the new ordinance was
In the afternoon, Alderman William
Ilvor. chairman of the finance COM
n.ittee of the city council testified be
fore the coroners inquest. that the
evidence given by building Commits
,oner Williams to the effect that he
1ad requested appropriations for the
work in his department. was not cor
"ert. The appropriation asked for by
he builling department was granted
IN all respe cts. save that 1920 was cut
from the total amount.
julius y. I.ense. Inspector of the
building department. testified that he
visited the IrOruos unofficially the
day before it opened and he was sat-
isfed that it was not at that time suffi-
GENTLY completed for the reception of
an audience.
William e. Saller, retired member
Of the city fire department, who was
in charge Of the fire apparatus of the
Iroquois theatre, testified that he
never maGr any reports in reference |
70 the conditions in the Iroquois thea !
had never been instructed to do. The
NllIicSS ttSllltcu tIidl IL ilt iidi O'CiI
able to reach Il hose throwing fair
sizeI stream of water. he would have
been able Ia extinguish the fire at the
outset. He further admitted that if
there had been fire alarm box on the
stage Of TIE theatre the fire depart
mant would have been inside the build
ing in less than two minutes and it
was more than two minutes after the
discovery OF the fire that the flames
shot out over the audience and the
manic commenced.
Ruildrg Inspector Edward I.oughlin on
the witness stand. today. fatty denied tho
sworn statement of Building Commission
er Williams that after an inspection of
the Iropuois theatre Loughlin had told
Williams the building was completed and
everything was 30. k Loughlin testi-
fed that what he did tell Commissioner
Williams was that the theatre was practi-
cally finished and as far as the struc
t,lral parts were concerned, all city Ort;i-
nances had been observed. Loughlin
claimed to have nothing to do with fire
protection.
Fifteen churches We're closed, today,
for violations of the building ordi-
nances. and Building Commissioner
Williams placed them all under guard
OF police until alterations are made.
In additions to closing the churches.
policemen We're sent to guard num-
Der of lodging houses. and the build
Ing in which a prominent commercial
college is situated was closed.
Arrangements We're made. today, by
Mayor Harrison and the proprietors