Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-01-12

The proposed city ordinance now pend
ing, prescribing new building regulations,
1 pays special attention to theatres. other
places of amusement, public halls,
churches and other structures of like
character Relative 10 theatres it pro-
vidos that no building hereafter erected
or which at the time of the passage of
the ordinance is not in actual use as an
assembly hall or theatre, shall be used
as such, or for public entertainment OF
gatherings i'm which stage scenery or APP
paiatus is employer. unless it shall con-
form to the requirements of the ordi-
nance, and all buildings which at the
time of the passage of the ordinance are
In use on In course of construction, as
| theatres, shall Immediately thereafter
| comply with the requirements. Nothing
In the ordinance will prohibit an owner,
lessee or manager of an existing thea
ire, instead of increasing the width
of the aisles, exits, Hobbies and stair
ways as prescribed, having the privi-
lege of reducing the number of perma-
ncut sents until the same ratio between
tho widths and number of seats shall be
establishedand if such privilege be taken
advantage Of, it is to be the duty of the
inspector of buildings TO make inspection
and certify that the ratio actually exists.
All theatres containing a seating capa-
city OF 800 or more people must be of
iireproof or of /, 2, OF class cOnstruc-
ton Structures of any kind, and for
any purpose whatever, erected above the
ceiling of any auditorium, which has
seating capacity of 500 OF more people,
must be entirely dreproof
From the auditorium opening into
courts or side streets there shall be not
less than two exits on ench side, in each
tier, from and including the parquet and
each and every gallery. Each exit shall
be at least five feet in width in the clear,
and provided with doors Of iron frames,
filled with wired glass or wood, and if Of
wood the doors shall be covered with
metal The doors shall open outward,
be hung from the inside corner of the
iambs, and 80 constructed as not 20 pro-
icct, when opened beyond the outside
face OF wall. and outer shutters viii not
be permitted An shall open outwardly
and be kept unlocked or open during per-
formances. There shall also be one emer-
| gency exit of not less than three feet
width behind the boxes on the ground
floor opening directly into each of the
courts on streets.
The balconies must not be less than
four feet in width in the open court or
courts at each level or tier above the par
quet on each side of the auditorium, of
sufficient length TO embrace the two
exits, and from the balconies there shall
he stairways extending to the ground
level, with a rise not over eight inches
to step, and not less than nine inch
tread.
Where one side of the building borders
on a public highway there shall be stair
ways and balconies of like capacity and
the building set back or recessed far
enough 20 admit such stairways without
using any part of the public street, alley
or courtway; if situated so the building
has three street fronts, exits must be
made from the three street fronts, and
constructed with rccesses as above de.
scrihcd
An the balconies and stairways must
be constructed of iron throughout, in.
, Guiding the floors, and be of ample
strength TO sustain the load TO be car
! riod by them and they shall be kept clear
and free from snow and ice and all Other
distractions
no portion Of any building used or in
tended to be used for theatrical purposes
can be occupied or used as q hotel, board
, ing or lodging houses, factory or work
, shop or for storage purposes.
40 lodging accommodations will be al
lowed in any part of the building com
municating with the auditorium OF stage
Interior Wills Of hrcproof MATERIAL
/ must separate the auditorium from thi
entrance vcstibule and from any room
over IL, also franz any lobbies, corridors
] | reffeshmcnt or other rooms AT stair
I ways for the use Of the audience, othe
than Those leading from the first gallery
shall be enclosed with walls of brick O
drcprool material.
The stage must be separated from tn
auditorium by a brick WALL not less thai
? two bricks thick, or its equivalent, Ia
entire width Of the building, and toppe
out at least four feet and in non-fre
proof buildings, six feet, above the roo
II over the auditorium There can be N
openings In the wall except n curtai
p opening and not more than two Others 3
e he located below the stage. The wal
r over the curtain opening must be carrie
7 hy n trerroof iron eirder, with reliev
Y ing arch above OF by brick arch Of sui
iiciont capacity and ahutment or securit
/ ON each side of the opening 10 secure sta
0 bilitY against he thrust OF the arch.
The moulded frame around the pros
> ccnnm opening must be formed entirel
of freproof material. The prosceniur
y opening must be provided with a meta
frcproof curtain, or a curtain of asbesto
p on some other fireproof material
The ny galleries must be constructe
~ of iron or steel beams filed with fire ma
y tcrials, and no wood boards or sleeper
shall be used as covering over beams, bu
The said floors shall be entirely iireproo
Tho rigging loft must be fireproof excer
the floor covering Of the same. and III
gridiron must be of either wrought iro
OF steel construction. All permaney
'n scenery curtains and decorations mad
e. of comhustible material belonging TO tn
id building and an the woodwork on ,
n about the stage must be painted or sal
PC uratcd with some non-c0mbustible mat,
a. rial or otherwise rendered safe again.
= fire and the finishing coats Of paint al
piled Go an woodwork throughout the ei
= tire building shall be of such kind as wi
4 resist fire.
=. The roof over the auditorium and m
: entire main floor of the auditorium an
restibulc, also the entire roof OF the no
' supcrstructure over the entrance lobb
I. and corridors and an galleries and sur
ports in the auditorium must consist Z