The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1909-02-09
OPIUM DIVES
FOUND CLOSE TO
PICTURE SHOWS
One Den on Floor Above
Hall Where Moving Films
Are Exhibited.
MANY LAWS IGNORED.
Improper Exits and Danger.
Nous Quarters Discovered
by Mayors Search.
MANY LAWS IGNORED.

Moving picture shows adjacent to
which opium dens are alleged to be
In full blast, were called to the atten-
ton Of Mayor Mcclellan to-day. Evi-
dence brought to the Mayor shows that
these opium dens are located In the
same buildings, several Of which dives
being directly over the halls In which
the picture shows are given.
A notable Instance OF this condition
was found at No. s Bowery. a resort
kept by Max Schmlnklvltz, An opium
Den occupied by several Cinnamon and
Q number OF white women, all stuffed
BY the fumes OF opium. was found by
tho Mayors Investigators. Only thin
wooden flooring and ceiling separated
the apartment from the moving picture
show below Stored on the same floor
was a great quantity Of Aims, the COM
bustible character Of which, II 10
claimed, endangered every occupant In
the house. The building itself Is
ramshackle structure and the exists
from the picture hall are declared
totally Inadequate.
Other Gases Similar.
This case and others OF recent dis.
covery are to form part Of the answer
Of the Mayors counsel in the argument
before Supreme Court Justice Platzek
to determine the Mayors power to sum-
narlly revoke licenses.
Many OF the picture shows investi-
gated are found to be !nadequately pro-
vided with exits, or established In tene-
msnts IN violation OF the law.
Chief Frank V. s. Oliver, Of the
Bureau Of Licenses. has personally In
vestigated, and his reports appear In
the answering papers, At No. q Bow.
cry. he found lodgin-house on the
floors above the picture hall. In add
ton, he reports that the only exits
from the show place. which Is owned by
q man named Morris Sturrnan, leads to
Q barroom.
Al No. 12s East Houston street, his re.
port declares, the moving picture place
II on the ground floor Of an old-fash.
Toned tenement. One family living In
rooms overhead contains fourteen chill
dren; another nine children. The exits
lead into an unllghted yard surrounded
by tall fence. A hole In the fence az
fords egress to the yard Of the next
tenement. where long, dark, narrow
hallway must b etravelled before the
street Is reached.
At No. 1868 Third avenue, a candy fac
tory, was found In the basement under
the show hall. The exits are bad and
lead into an inclosed yard. from which
no escape except by mounting the fence
can be had.
Many Exits Improper.
Other places inspected proved that the
picture booths. which contain the in
fammable films. are near the middle
seats Occupied by the spectators. with
exits that led to blind alleys. Exits Ia
another place opened into restaurant.
crowded with chairs and tables, while
In another place the rear exits led to a
stairway and to an upper hallway, run
ming to the front and directly above the
moving-picture place.
In Samuel Weisenberg's place, No.
81 Stanton street a sweatshop, where
scores Of men and women were labor
Ing, was found The Fire Department
had already recommended that the
walls and ceiling OF this show room
be lined with sheet iron. In the centre
of the picture hall Is an exposed stove.
THE Fire Commissioner has ordered
captains to inspect every moving pic
ture show in their district and report
TO the License Bureau each week." said
Chief Aliver to-day. This is going TO
have good effect. We have found
lights indicating exits where no exits
existed. and other avenues OF escape In
the event Of fire we have found clogged
with old lumber or rubbish.
This condition of affairs Is con-
slant menace, and before O catastrophe
occurs the Mayor is determined that
changes for safety be made and the
law observed In every instance"