The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-09

CAN BE EASILY FIXED.
Improvements Would Make
Opera House Safe.
Nearly AIl.Defects Are Due to
Deterioration.

There will be meeting of the city
council this evening at 1880 to take ac-
| ton in regard to the report made on the
condition of the Grand opera house. 1t
seems likely that the Grand will, under
certain restrictions, be allowed to con-
tinue in operation.
The report of the investigating COM
mittee condemns those features of the
Grand which have been heretofore men
toned in the State Journal as unsafe,
but the great difference between this re-
port and the one in regard to the Craw-
ford is that the committee says the
Crawford can't be made safe by re-
pairs and changes, while the Grand can
be made safe.
| The defects found in the Grand are
| those due to general deterioration, not
| to serious structural defects. The only
structural changes recommended are a
strengthening of the gallery stairway
| an extension of the firewau between
| the stage and the audience room, new
| dressing rooms and a ventilator above
| the stage. The exit space is found to
be S61a feet, which the committee says
| is entirely satisfactory.
Besides the structural changes rec
commended, the committee recommends
a reconstruction of the exit stairways,
| which are rotted out, a thorough over
| hauling of the wiring and heating, an
/
installation of a steel or asbestos cur
tain.
Pending these changes, the manage
| ment of the theater, at the request of
Mayor Bergundthal, has closed the
upper gallery, which was deemed to be
unsafe because of the condition of the
fire exits. 1t is not likely that the gal
| lery will be opened at ALL and it is inn
probable that the changes recommend
ed in the Grand will be made if Man
| a jGfS in hi into
of moving back to the Crawford as soon
as the changes in that house are COM
pleted.
There was a council caucus Friday
afternoon in Mayor Bergundtha1s Of
flee. Eight members of the council
We're present, and it was decided at
that time to hold no special meeting
Friday night, but to merely have the
mayor make a personal request on the
management of the opera house tic
close the upper gallery.
The following is the report of the in
vestigating committee, which was
completed Friday afternoon and SEM
; to Mayor Bergundthal:
Fire Marshafs Office, Jan. 8. 1904.
To the Honorable Mayor and Council
men of the City of Topeka.
Gentlemen:-In compliance with di-
rections given me by Mayor w. S. Ber-
! gundthal under date of January 2, 1904
that I at once make a thorough and
rigid examination of the Crawford op-
, era house and Grand opera house il
this city and report the exact eondi-
lions found existing therein to the
city council at the earliest possible
date, said examination to cover the
structural condition of the buildings
: and the arrangements as theaters az
regards public safety, I have acted I'M
. der said instructions. In the letter o.
instructions Mayor Bergundthal gave
me authority to call upon City Engi
neer James McCabe and such Other
: persons as in my judgment might seen
necessary. I selected City Engineer
,, McCabe, Henry Bennett, John Sargent
: NJ. Heery (the last three thoroughly ex
: perienced and practical builders), ant
Charles E. Eldridge, electrical and in
surance inspector to assist me-anC
| through the entire examination.
We herewith submit the following re
2 port of our examination of the Crane
! opera house:
= We find on reaching the main en-
trance that the outside platforms wer'
rotted to an unsafe condition ans
should be replaced. All exterior plat
, forms and stairways as fire escape:
: from upper floor exits, are all in un
safe condition and should be replaced
l with new material. All wood facis
= boards should be protected by meta
coverings.
Walls-We find on examination tina
the walls are in good condition witt
the exception of the northwest anC
I southwest corners, which should be re
paired and pointed in cement mortar
( also down spouts supplied for protec
. ton of foundation at these points.
Interior truction-Stairways OF
l north and south sides leading from
first floor to gallery, should be replaced
by new stairs and SO constructed tina
j the two lower flights shall start at
point on the outside of present from
e wall of building, a. sufficient distance