The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-01-05
Commissioner Hamburger to
Conduct Inspection at All
Theaters in the City.
NEW BUILDING ORDINANCE.
All Public Places of Amusement
Must Be Equipped With De
vices to Prevent Spread
o. Fire.

| St Louis are to be t~sted to-day by G.. u
Heimburger. Commissioner of Publ,
Buildings.
Mr.. Hamburger will secure plumber:
blowpipe. which emits powerful blaze
and will give the so-called freproof cur.
tain in each theater what he considers the
supreme test If the curtain survives the
blaze Of the blow pipe. all well and good
If not, the manager of the theater viii
lie compelled to purchase a curtain tina,
| will Withstand fire.
| James A. Smith. Chief Deputy Building
Commissioner, has made an inspection OF
all the theaters in St Louis and has re-
ported his findings to Commissioner Helm.
burger. In his report Mr.. Smith says that
some Of the theaters in St. Louis are pro-
vided with asbestos curtains. while Others
are not. He would not make public which
theaters are unprovfded.
Commissioner Hamburger announced
Yesterday that he had received copies OF
| building ordinances in force in all the
| principal cities of the United States and
that he would take the best points in
these ordinances and incorporate them In
the new Building law which it is proposed
TO Introduce in the Municipal Assembly
In TINS new law theater managers will
be required to obey the following provi-
| sions:
A stage curtain to he constructed of alb
soiuteiy freproof material. For theaters
| TO be built this curtain must be con-
| structed of steel: for theaters already es-
tabnshed, either steel or asbestos cur
tains. which must undergo a test made
| by the Commissioner of Public Buildings.
| Automatic skylights on the stage. which
when opened, will cause an upward
draft, allowing smoke and gas TO ascend
forced into the auditorium section of the
theater, and automatic sprinkiers on all
| Stages.
Wide aisles. the width TO be based on
an average of "a feet Tor each 100 seating
capacity.
No oil to be used in the painting of
| scenery.
Diagram of parquet. balcony and gal
lery. showing exits, to be printed in all
! programmes.
A supply of water. with casks and buck
| cts. to be on the stage at all times.
| Axes and other instruments necessary in
fire emergency must be in a convenient
| place on the stage.
Adequate fire escapes, connecting with
gallery and balcony, must be provided and
| tested regularly.
| Wire netting must be placed around all
| gas jets.
Exits must be provided on all sides of
| the theater and these exits must be plain
| ly marked. so that they can be seen from
| any part of the theater. A competent per-
| son must be in charge Of these exits dur
| ing every performance. IT.
The proScenium wall must be construct
ed OF absolutely fireproof material, which
| shall be tested under the direction of the
| TIE boiler-room must be fireproof
Every theater must be provided with an
electric shut-off.
Alarm boxes must be placed on the stage
and main sections of the theater.
CONDITION OF THEATERS
| In his report Deputy Commissioner Smith
said that he found all the theaters in good
condition.
THE lesson of the Chicago fire has
proved beneficial to local theater man
exits in all the theaters had been placed
in perfect condition and that the men in
charge of them were well versed In their
duties. At all the theaters found man
n charge of the exits on each side of the
theaters. and in testing the doors the
operation proved successful.
| My observation at the theaters con-
vinced me that solid wall is far prefera
BILE to an exit that is barred, or that is
handled by an employe who does not un-'
derStand the workings of It,
"All the ST. Louis managers show dis
position to exercise the greatest care in
the matter of affording protection to their
patrons.
II believe that if the exits. the fire es-
capes and the fire apparatus is looked
after as carefully at all times as 1t Is
now by the theater managers there will
be no great fear on the part of persons
patronizing the st. Louis theaters."
Mr.. Smiths investigation showed that
the pr0SCefllum walls IN St. LOUIS tIedteIS
are constructed of fireproof material. so
that local managers will have no difficulty
in complying with this section of the new
ordinance.
Commissioner Hamburger says that the
suggested steel curtain is far preferable
than that of any other kind suggested
Steel said. Mr.. Hamburger. .is the
only practicable material that can be con-
sidered proof against fire and explosioncI
will know more about asbestos after fhe
rigid examination that intend to make
to-day.
THE new ordinance. besides requiring
the steel curtain. will also require that II
be so constructed that it can be lowered
by its own weight. but to prevent posi-
BILE interruption in the descent 1t VIII be
required further that ropes be attached to
it. 50 that In an emergency the curtain
can be pulled down to the floor.
'If the Iroquois curtain had been pro-
vided with pulley arrangement; the wire:
which extended out into the auditorium OF
the theater, could not have stopped Its
descent
An inspection of st. Louis theaters
shows that the buildings have been fa,riy
and fire escapes. Every theater has its
share of side exits. and no theater in the
city has less than two fire escapes.
TO INCLUDE MUSIC HALL.
The Commissioner of Public Buildings
intends to include the Music Hall in the
old Exposition building among the amuse-
ment places TO undergo inspection.
The Music Hall has numerous side eN-
its on both sides. but these exits open
into other buildings, and the danger from
fire or panic is considered. therefore. to |
be greater than that of the other amu5e- |
ment buildings in the city.
Those who consider Music Hall unsafe |
point to the long and almost perpeniicu- |
lar steps, which lead to the main entrance |
of the building. Whether the Commits |
sioner of Public Buildings can make the |
owners remedy this evil is question.
Another serious defect in the architac- |
ture of the Music Hall, it is claimed, is |
the two aisles .eading down the main |
floor of the building. These aisles turn |
abruptly at point about thirty feet from |
the foyer. These aisles. IL Is said, should |
be perfectly straight in order to permit |
of a hasty exit in case of fire.
Besides the theaters.- all public buildings |
are being given attention by Mr.. Helm
burger and his assistants. Nine inspec-
tors are now at work investigating con-.
ditions In hotels boarding houses, room
ng-houses and lodging houses.
The ordinance Will require that fire es-
capes be provided and that ropes be IN
stalled In every room. Besides. in the |
hotels and large rooming-houses. lights |
must be stationed at the head of stair
ways, gongs must be stationed in every
hallway and call bells in each room. In
all hotels of fifty rooms or more night
and day watchmen must be employed.
Mr.. He.mburger said he expected to
have a complete report en- the conditions
of al public buildings in ST. Louis by |