The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-02-18
PUBLIC HALLS ARE HARD HIT
Halls for Public Meetings Must Have
Stationary Seats and Special Provi-
sion Must be Made to Safeguard
Schools in the Cities Of the State.

A new building code more drastic
than the one now in force is now before
the state legislature for adoption and
copies Of the code have been sent out
to the different cities Of the state SO
officials and owners Of publicly used
buildings will have ample warning and
be given an opportunity to enter OBJ
jections to the law. 1t applies TO all
theatres, schools, hotels and other build
ings Of that character now in existence.
The present code applies to buildings
erected after October, 1914, but the
new law will take in all existing struc-
lures Of the character described as usu-
able for public gatherings of any sort.
The city of Kenosha win be vitality
interested in that the operation of the
proposed law would force an expendi-
ture Of about $4,000 in equipping the
fire alarm system so as to care for
boxes in each of the schools.
The law provides that fire gong
shall be installed in each building so
that it can be heard in all parts of the
obluNbulNs LII OuhhlnEo UuClC
are no stapdpipes there shall be fire ex-
tinguishers installed in each room. In
the local schools it will require no less
than two extinguishers to each class
room and the auditoriums must have
three or four. The fire alarm boxes in
each building are also required in all
buildings not of fire proof construction.
In order to live up to the law in that
respect the city will find it necessary
to purchase new switch board for the
fire department. as the present one is
far too small to accommodate the cir
cults which would be created for the
care of the boxes in the schools.
The law also gives the amount of
floor space for each pupil and many
cities Of the state find themselves up
against a hard proposition in comply
ing with that provision. The law calls
for no less than twelve square feet for
each pupil in the grammar grades.
This provision may create a most dis
tressing condition in the local schools
in some rooms where there are more
pupils housed than permitted by the
code.
The school auditoriums would be hit
in another way in that the law prohi-
bits the use of loose chairs in audi
forums where public gatherings are
held. In order to comply with the law
the school board would have to furnish
the auditoriums with seats which are
fastened to the floor. This rule also
applies to theatres and other buildings
where people are wont to gather.
The law applies to such buildings as
the Coliseum and all of the large dance
halls These buildings have been used
for public gatherings and loose chairs
have been placed on the floor. In such
places as dance halls where the floor
is prepared especially for that pastime
seats cannot be screwed down to the
floor and the law would therefor do
away entirely with the use of such
buildings for public meetings.
The seating capacity Of theatres is
also covered and the law does not al
low any person to stand in an aisle
unless he is an employee of the house.
Copies of the bill are now in the
hands of city officials and they will be
given an opportunity to enter such
objections to the new code as they
see fit.