The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-05-11

According to the report submitted to
City Engineer Rundlett yesterday by
F. H. EIlerbe the assistant building
inspector, the ST. Paul ball clubs new
down-to town park has one exit six feet
wide, two side exits, each three feet
wide, and four openings in the screen
surrounding the grand stand.
These four so-called exits, which are
nothing more than holes cut in the
main screen and covered by detached
sections of screen, securely locked, are
but little better than traps and are
admitted a menace to the safety Of the
spectators by the assistant building in
spector. Mr.. Elllerbe says:
''These exits do not work properly
and must be replaced by others that
are more practicable
If the report of the assistant build
ing inspector is to be accepted, the
management Of the st. Paul baseball
club is violating the requirements of
the new building code Which has al
ready passed both bodies of the COM
mon council and is now on it's way to
the mayor for his approval
The law on the subject is plain, and
as stated by the city engineer, requires
that exits IS inches in width for each
100 persons accommodated must be
provided by all places of public as
semblage.
Inspector Ellerbe reports that there
are three exits, the main entrance be-
ing six feet wide and each of the end
exits three feet in width, making a to-
| tai of exits amounting to LA inches.
| With an allowance of 100 persons to
each Is inches Of exits it is seen that
the new code will not permit, under
the present conditions, the accommo-
dation of more than 500 persons in
the ball park grand stand. The I'M
satisfactory holes in the grand stand
screen are not considered.
The grand stand is said to have a
seating capacity Of 1850, and at Satur-
day and holiday games the standing
room space is often utilized to accom-
modate one hundred or more in the
aisles and at the back of the stand
Danger Confronts Fans.
These conditions bring before the
| baseball enthusiasts the danger that
surrounds them at each we'll attended
| game. Attention may be called to the
| holes in the front of the stand, but as
| these sliding screens are closed and
| players, they are of little practical use
and are so considered by the assistant
building inspector.
The fact that, even when these slid
ing screens are thrown up, the trapped
spectator is confronted with four
foot jump to the ball field, condemns
the so-callede exits as useless holes. In
mad rush for these openings that
might follow a panic it is certain that
the leaders of the stampede would be
pushed through the holes to the ground
before they could even attempt to
make the leap, and the jam sure to
follow would rival the stairway scenes
at the Iroquois theater fire.
Small Exits in Screen.
A remarkable state of affairs was
discovered by the inspector Smarting
under the criticism that has been heap
ed upon it for neglect of ordinary pre-
cautions, the baseball management, as
told yesterday, had cut four exits of
four feet each in the front of the grand
stand. These were made in the form of
rolling doors and are supposed to be
locked at all times Surprising that
there is fire, they are to be thrown
open by the local ball players.
Between the first footrest in the
grand stand, which is more than four
feet from the ground, there is a space
of two feet, when the wire screen be-
gins. An apparatus to raise the screen
has been provided, but if by any chance
it should not work, there would GER
tainly be many fatalities.
Are these sliding exits safe in their
present condition." Inspector Ellerbe
was asked.
oh" he answered, ''they will answer
until they can be improved. They can
be made into exits that will make the
grand stand absolutely safe"
Did you test the mechanism that
raises the wire screen?"
Yes, but it must be carefully looked
after. 1t is complicated and must be
carefully watched