The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-08
CLOSE CRAWFORD
City Council Acts Promptly on
the Report.
Public Safety Requires That
House Be Shut Up.
ORDER COMPLIED WITH
All Attractions Are at Once
Transferred to Grand.
Only Little Discussion Precedes
the Action
ORDER COMPLIED WITH

At a special meeting of the city
council held Thursday night, attended
by eight of the twelve councilmen, the
following resolution was adopted with
out division:
Topeka, Kan, Jan. 7, 1904
Resolved by the mayor and council
that public safety requires that CraW-
ford's opera house on lots 1874 and 1856
on Kansas avenue be closed until the
changes, alterations and repairs are
made Which are set forth in the report
of the fire marshal, and his assistants
this day presented; which said report
IS hereto attached and made a part of
this resolution; and that the owners
and proprietors of said Crawford's opera
house be required to make said alter
atoms. changes and repairs within 90
days from this date and that the city
to the owners and proprietors Of said
opera house, together with a copy OF
said fire marshal's report"
councilInen present at the meeting
were L. A. Ryder, c. V. Wolf, w f
Weber. L. NJ. Neliis, S. 7. Howe, ]. c.
Sinner, S. A. Swendson and G. w.
Tincher.
Before going into the meeting, the
eight councilmen, together with Mayor
Bergundthal, City Attorney Spencer
and City Engineer McCabe had a short
conference in the city attorneys office,
at which the above resolution was
drawn up and agreed to. There seems
to have been no division of sentiment
among the councilmen as to their duty
in the matter, in view of the unquali-
fed statement of the investigating
committee that the Crawford is unsafe
until the prescribed changes and re-
pairs are made.
The Amusement Syndicate, which is
the name taken by John R. Mulvane,
financial hacker. and L. NJ Crawford,
manager Of the Crawford circuit, was
represented at the meeting last night
by Eugene Hagan and Charles E.
Gault, each of whom made a short
speech. After the meeting was called
eating committee read in full, Mayor
Bergundthal invited the opera house
representatives to make any remarks
they desired. Mr.. Hagan said:
Il have read the report of the inves-
tigating committee, and have gone
over it carefully in detail with the
manager of the Crawford opera house.
We recognize that this investigation
was made by very strong and learned
experts. No exceptions can be taken
to it. There is no desire on the part
of Mr.. Crawford to clash with this
committee, nor with the city council.
He has depended on the people of this
town for patronage, and he owes it to
LAGtEl 10 protect lA61n 6AStd6 1TOtH
that, it is his duty as a man to protect
them. Recognizing this fully, he has
authorized me to make this proposition
TO the city council:
HE viii delegate the city engineer
TO take charge of the work, and every
suggestion of the committee will be
compiled with strictly, literally and inn
mediately. He is already at work on
the changes suggested. Two of the
proposed exits are ready now. Within
q week or ten days the entire work can
be completed. 1t is not a long Job. 1t
may take two or three weeks to get
the asbestos curtain, which has already
been ordered by telegraph But the
makers Of such curtains are crowded
with orders, and there may be a little
delay in getting the curtain. He is
perfectly willing to have you instruct
take charge of the work, and it viii
ioe done as fast as possible. I don't
think the council should ask more thar
that"
The resolution providing for the clos
ing of the house was then presented
It was signed by c. V. Wolf. who moved
its adoption The motion was seconded
by L. NJ Nellis. Then Mr. Hagan said
Under the circumstances conside
that very harsh and unnecessary step
Mr. Crawford has attractions booked
for that house, and a failure to provid
q place for them may result in Htiga
&ion. There is no immediate necessit!
tor such action. Property is not seri