The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-02
LAYS DOWN LAW.
Chief Wilmarth Makes Rules
for Use of Crawford.
Must Place an Employe at Each
Exit.
NO MORE SMOKING.
MORE SMOKING.
Special Policeman Required TO
Prevent the Practice.
Paid Fireman Will Be Detailed
to Attend Performances.

L. M. Crawford, owner of the Grand
and Crawford opera houses, will ar
rive in Topeka Sunday and he is ex-
pected to take up the question of fire
protection in his play houses. Pending
his arrival, and some decision in re-
gard to the removal of all theatrical at
fractions from the Crawford to the
Grand, which is under the Crawford
mana cement, Chief Wilmarth has
placed in effect a lot of new rules and
regulations governing the use of the
Crawford. Some of them are as fol-
lows:
1. At its own expense, the opera
house mana cement must place an en-
ploye at each exit, under positive in
structions not to leave that exit at any
time during a performance. The duty
OF this Waterman shall be to unlock
and open exits in case of need.
2. A special policeman shall be on
duty in the lobby and in the actors
dressing rooms to prevent smoking
Chief Wilmarth notified the Crawford
management some time ago that smok-
ing in and about the theater must be
stopped, but the order was not enforced
by the management.
3. Until other arrangements can be
made, one of the regular paid hremen
from the city department will be de-
tailed to attend each theatrical per-
Torrance, and keep a constant watch,
especially in the flies back of the stage
In many larger cities it is required that
the management of the theater pay for
the services of a regularly detailed city
fireman, and this is likely to be re-
quired in Topeka
4. A fine meshed wire screen must be
placed around the big arc light used in
the wings behind the stage for throwing
colored lights down on the stage. The
screen is to prevent pieces of burning
carbon from flying off and setting the
theater on fire up in the flies the way
the 1roquois was set afire.
Chief Wilmarth also required that
prior to the holding of any more shows
all the fire hose in the building should
be taken out and tested. He also found
on examination that the ma ma cement OF
the opera house had not marked the
exits with red lights as it was an
nounced would be done, and he insisted
that these red lights be put in at once
The electric wiring of the theater will
also probably be examined
WILL THE COUNCIL ACT?
1t is possible that the city council may
take some action in regard to the stu
alton, but this is not to be determined
until after L. M. Crawford has arrived
and his attitude in the matter is known.
The council win meet Monday night SO
If Mr.. Crawford and the city officials
can agree upon changes which are sat
isfactory to Fire Marshal Wilmarth the
matter win likely not come before the
council in any official way.
Nothing is likely to satisfy Mayor
Bergundthal and other city officials ex-
cept a complete abandonment of the
Crawford as a regular theater. Unless
Manager Crawford is willing to give up
the Crawford, it would not be surpris-
ing if the council should take steps to
have the place condemned.
Fire Marshal Wilmarth is very much
opposed to taking hasty action in the
matter because of the serious conse-
quences which might result. He is in
favor of arranging, with Mr.. Crawford
! if possible, a mutually satisfactory
plan of action. He says it depends
| largely on how Mr.. Crawford feels and
will act in the matter.
The city council has power to go
ahead and condemn the Crawford the
alter if Mr.. Crawford is unwilling to
make the necessary provisions for the
safety of the public. But by going into
this legal method of redress, a pro-
| tracted lawsuit might ensue which
would delay the accomplishment of the
1 city's ends. The city therefore is like
with Mr.. Crawford before taking hos
tile action.
| This morning c. V Wolf, chairman
of the fire committee of the council
! had a talk with Mayor Bergundthal
about the matter. The fire COMMITTEES
| will probably not be called together al
| present, though meeting may be
| deemed necessary between now and the
! time Of the council meeting. If il is
| found that Manager Crawford is IN
willing to DO what the citv demands
/ it is probable that Chief Wilmarth viii
address some sort OF a communication
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