The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-10-01

BUILDING INSPECTOR REPORTS
UPON CONDITION OF BIG PLAY
HOUSE AND CHANGES LOOKING
TO SAFETY OF AUDIENCES REC
oMMENDEp-soARD OF SAFETY
TAKES A HAND AND ACTS UP
ON REPORT.
Building Inspector J. M Johnson
accompanied by Geo. NJ. Hophnson
the supervising architect at the san
Carlos hotel, after an eXamlnaIloil
into the existing conditions at tnt
Pensacola opera hOuse building mace
report pointing out certain discover
ed defects in the building "hlch are
said to have contributed toward man
ing the big playhouse uIssAie- 1hlE e
report was transmitted O\the poau
OF public safety yesterday, aAnd'in a
BODY the board accompanied by Fire
Chief Bicker and Police Chief Sand
ers, visited the house yesterday mora
ing and made a cursOry examination.
Every feature touched upon IN the
building inspectors report was HOOK
ed up. II was at night, however, that
a meeting of the board was held for
the purpose of passing upon the mat
ter in hand. Defects in any building
are contrary to law and each day they
so remain makes up an. OtTense, pro-
Viding the house is made use OF IN
any manner. The report OF the build
ing inspector was closely studied and
when the board gathered at s O'Clock
last evening. all the members were
familiar with the recommendations
contained therein looking to the safety
Of audiences and were therefore in a
position to discuss the subject intelli-
gently. Chairman Johnson presided
and Messrs. VillaT and Elliott were in
attendance. Building Inspector John
son. Supervising Architect HOpkinsOn
and Fire Chief Bicker were also there.
The report was as follows:
Building Inspectors Report.
Pensacola, Fla, Sept. 30, 1909.
Hon. Board OF Public Safety. City OF
Pensacola.
Gentlemen beg to report that /
have examined the Pensacola opera
house, assisted by Mr.. Geo. NJ. Hop
kingOn, supervising aTChitect OF the
San Carlos hotel. and find the follow
Ing conditions existing in said Pen
sacola opera house and recommend
the following slteratiOns as q safe
guard 90 the putilc, Wiz
Stage-There IL No asbestos curtain
10 the front OF the stage and sides Of
the openings sre Of wood and nFI
could easily creep around 10 the au-
ditOFtum. These sides should be COW
cred with metal and asbestos curtain
Installed 81 once. There Is a perforat-
ed pipe tSo inches in diameter run
ming across the front Of the stage. but
1t would be impossible to operate this
water curtain without first reaching
the valve behind the stored scenery
on the north end Of the stage and ia
case. Of ere this would be very hard
to do.
There are two fire plugs, one at the
stage level and the other in the flies
on the north wall. The one al the
stage level has a hose attached. but
no nozzle. The one in the flies is in
q similar condition. There are three
small ire extinEuishers but one is
plugged up and the other two are ia
bad order
Furnace under center of the stage
should have proper metal prOtec
from all wood work. The 7le from
furnace passes through the stage floor
Ing with the sheet iron next to the
wood work. There should he proper
fire fire-prOOf covering to the iue.
First FlOor-The three windows on
the south side should be made into
doors opening out to an iron balcony
with wide fire escape stairs leading
to the adjoining lot
There is no electric light bulb over
one of these windows. Windows have
not even sash weights to lift them
with.
Aisle down centre should by all
means extend through to orchestra
instead of only half way down the
The windows on the south side OF
balcony should be treated same as
stated for windows on the first floor
The windows on the west elevation
over main entrance should be cut in
TO large doors opening outward and
there should also be metal stairway
leading from front balconies to the
street There is one exit at the west
end of the gallery consisting of the
ioOrs but these are locked and when
open lead into a Iavatory.
Out of the lavatory the exit is by
means Of the narrow windows men
Toned above. There is an exit on the
north side which is padlocked on the
inside. This leads into 4 small room, |
On the east side OF this room is a
1oor leading to a staircase which
eads down to a door on the street. |
This door is at present boarded I'D
and locked and at the foot of the
stairs are two dry goods boxes and |
1ther infammable material This
stairway in my opinion if utilized in |
ease of a fire or panic would be a !
most dangerous death trap.
Proper exits should be placed aIonz
his northern wall leading through the !
bid club rooms with wide corridors |
o the street.
Second GalleTy-The same applies |