The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-09
1T is MADE SAFE.
Extra Fire Guards Will Be in
the Auditorium.

While attention is being paid to the
conditions of fire safety offered by the
amusement houses in Topeka, an in
spection of the Auditorium shows that
1t IS constructed upon approved lines.
Its arrangement during the Midwinter
exposition will be such as to assure to
the patrons the utmost degree of safety
IN the event of a panic AS all the
seats will be removed from the first
floor, the liza bility of obstruction for the
evacuation of the building will be
greatly lessened.
The doors of the twelve exits will be
carefully inspected twice daily and a
uniformed guard will be constantly
posted at each to insure the immediate
clearing of each in the event of a panic
1t viii be the duty OF the guard to re-
main by the door until the building is
emptled to prevent confusion, as far as
he is able. On each side of the build
ing an arc light Will be located in or
der that the people may not have to
go out into the dark. The arrange
ment of the doors is as follows: Four
IN 1ront, three on the north side three
on the south. and two on the east. All
the exits will be plainly marked.
Manager Brigham has, at each of the
previous eXpositions, paid particular
attention to making the Auditorium as
safe as possible from fire or panic and
mas consulted with Fire Marshal Will
martin, whose opinions have been pass
ed upon the arrangement of every de-
tail of booth space and decoration. In
a number of cases Chief Wilmarth has
oVerruled the plans proposed by the
management. Firemen are always
Kept in the Auditorium itself during
the open hours and the hall is equip
ped with f1replugs and a liberal guam
tlty of hose. The fact that the fire
headquarters of the city are located in
the part of the building adjoining rem
ders the Auditorium doubly safe. An
alarm of fire would receive response
from the best part of the city's equip
ment within sixty seconds after it
arose.
Speaking of his plans for the fire
protection OF the building Manager
Brigham said today:
L shall make it my business before
ever opening, afternoon and evening,
to make round of the exits and salts
fly myself beyond any chance, that they
are in working order At least two
firemen will always be on duty during
exposition hours and a line of dry
hose is stretched ready for use in the
building. The fact that the fire de-
partment headquarters are located
practically in the same building insures
It's safety. Nothing less than a terrific
explosion could give a fire any head
way before the arrival of the most
complete fire fighting equipment that
! the city affords and there is to be moth
/ ing of a more combustible nature in
/ ne DuliuiilS tHan WOOD ana cIOtn. All
j the decorations are to be hung under
/ the supervision of Fire Chief Wilmarth
/ who will, under no circumstances, per
nit any arrangement which he sus-
poets of being liable to feed or spread
/ a fire.
Particular care is always taken ir
the wiring of the building. In securing
the magnificent electrical effects witt
which we propose to make the Audi
torium attractive, a considerable
amount of electrical wiring will be
/ necessary, of course. But every wire
is stretched and secured in accordance
with the National Electrical code ant
before being put in use will be rigidly
inspected by an electrical expert. It i:
no less IN the interest of the patron.
interest of the success of future expo
4 sltlons that every care should be taker
Tor the protection of the buildins
against the visitation of fire. In an!