New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-01
DISAGREE WITH STURGIS.
PANIC FEARED, HOWEVER.
managers and Building Department
Call Local Theatres Safe.

who spoke carefully, declaring that he was not
by any means alarmist, three-quarters Of the
theatres Of this city are unsafe. In the opinion
OF theatre managers, unanimous on this ques-
don; ex-FIre Chief Croker Chief Kruger and
ar. Thompson, Superintendent Of Buildings,
nothing like the Chicago fire could possibly oc-
our here. Some OF the managers did make slight
allowances for panic, but from one end OF
broadway to the other. and over in the Bowery
theatres usually regarded hretraps. there
was one strai-l-'ft could not happen here, the
official regulations are so strict; the theatres
here are safer Than anywhere in the country
Panic aside. abundant provision is made for
the speedy and comfortable emptying Of almost
every theatre. Some go far ahead Of the legal
requirements. That these precautions would be
effective in panic, however. IS 2 questioned
point The element OF panic is the unknown
quantity which did not enter into the caicula-
tions for the plans and specifications fled in the
Department OF Buildings; the inspectors DO not
soreteu what a thousand fifteen hundred
people VIII do. mad with fear.
That the public, IN spite of this, is appre-
hensive was notably shown last night by the
activity of the spectators. In front of almost
every theatre they STOOD their hands filed with
1ickets which had been sacrificed by the timor-
GUS. All the managers reported good business
last night: their houses all sold out and
most OF them were full. The advance sales were
light. however. which shows the effect Of the
Chicago horror. the houses were sold out for
last night almost q week ago. Good seats for
to-night and tomorrow night could be easily
Cbtained at almost any theatre last night
FEW HOUSES SELL STANDING ROOM
IN the face Of the great Iriquois Theatre dis
Rster. however, there more scurrying
around of managers yesterday and examina ton
INTO the merits Of fire appliances than would
ordinarily occur IN a year. OF all the theatres
There were only four selling standing roon-the
Savoy, the New-Amsterdam, the Herald Square
sne the Metropolitan Opera House. In Weber
& Ffelds's there Were seven persons standing
The Metropolitan. however. was filed with q
vast throng, worse than at last weeks perform
nnce.
The theatres OF this city are under the super
vision OF the Buildings Department, the Fire
Department and the Police Department II
there is any violation Of the fire ordinan noes or
the Buildings Code. the Police Department
withholds the theatres license Plans for a
theatre. according to managers and officials Of
the Buildings Department alike, are scrutinized
more carefully than any other plans: every
point is taken into consideration. Sooner than
take any chances Of disaster the officials would
reject the whole plans. That is on the authority
Or Oscar Hammerstein. builder of nine theatres
who testified ruefully to the strictness OF every
Buildings Superintendent with whom he had
ever dealt, save one.
The code as II stands to-day requires an as
pestos curtain, running in a six-inch iron groove
TO prevent any belying OF sticking. This is held
by thin cords, in which are fusible metal Iinks
so that heat would cause the curtain TO drop or
the slightest effort would break the cords. The
proscenium material must be r-eproof-in fact
al of every theatre over thirty-five feet high
must be freproof. There must be four erner-
gency exits, not less than FIVE feet wide on each
\ tier Of the theatre These emergency exits must
n open into open courts not less than eight feet
" wide. which with the street by corridors
not less than three feet IN width. Each theatre
seating three hundred persons must have two
exits not less than three fset wide, besides the
emergency exits. Theatres seating five hundred
must have three exits. not less than FIVE feet
wide. besides the emergency exits Will for every
one hundred persons additional seating capacity
there must be aggregate OF twenty inches
added to the width OF the exits. There must be
Separate exits from each gallery balcony.
SEPARATE FIRE ALARMS.
stairways to accommodate fifty people must
be at least four feet wide, while for each addi-
Honal fifty people TO be accommodated six inches
must be added. There must be alleys along the
sides OF the theatres, with proper fire ESCAPES
from the auditorium and dressing rooms There
sfauSt De standpipes, with hose attached. be-
hind the scene. There is a special alarm box
In each theatre entirely separate from the city's
IRE alarm system. There must be an arrange
nent for flooding the stage IN each theatre be-
sides the regular fire extinguishers and axes and
hooks. Then a hremn is stationed IN each thea
tire for each performance, from before the cur
tain goes I'D until the last light is out Special
inspectors from the Fire Department the Build
ings Department and the Police Department
make rounds at irregular intervals
Such is the routine thoroughly lived ND 70
Yet Commissioner Sturgis says that three-ouar
tiers OF the theatres are unsafe because thev
were built when It was permitted TO disregard
violations OF the Buildings Code OF because thew
are old theatres converted buildings but
chiefly because the managers allow standing In
The space behind the orchestra
Theatres are built nowadays on the maxi
mum limit Of seating capacity" he said yester-
day THE exit space is calculated on that max
srnurn limit minimum. Anything which
permits the loading OF such house with so per
cent more people is crime. It's like forcing
pickles into bottle with a narrow necl1-you
know how easy ii is 10 get them out This de-
partment can only bring suit, and the Corpora
ton Counsel has obtained numerous convic-
lions. Still, the penalty is only a fine Of $50. so
the managers are well satisfied 10 pay that and
make several hundred We enforce the keeping
open OF aisles and exits fIom the roof to the
floor, il we have 20 batter open the doors with
the Victoria Theatre yesterday which will
coupLess prove as great an attraction for awhile
Is the rest or The show. He hired eight retired
!lremen. five of whom will be IN the audience
WILL ,,.l,s,n