The Topeka state journal., 1916-04-13


date of this letter, or the discontinue
ance of the use of the building for
public gatherings or theatrical pur-
poses of any kind until the necessary
improvements are made to comply
with the law"
The official reports condemning the
condition of the Grand opera house
are reprinted herewith:
The reports submitted to Crawford
today are as follows:
April IL, 1915
The Amusement Syndicate Co,
Topeka, Kansas.
Gentlemen: Attention of Mr. Roy Craw-
ford, Sec'y-Treas.
1 enclose herewith report of inspection
of the Grand opera house in this city,
which, you will note shows that the fire
escapes and the electrical wiring not
up to the standard. The report also shows
non standard booth, but we are advised
that since making the inspection a new
booth has been installed in the theater.
This is to notify you that it will be
necessary for you to rewire the house at
once to comply with all the requirements
OF the National Electrical Code. and the
fire escape on the north side must be re-
paired to make 1t sufficiently strong to
support any number of people that could
be crowded upon it, and the wood stair
way at the south of the building must lie
replaced by substantial metallic stairway
fire ESCAPE.
notice within thirty days from the date OF
this letter, the discontinuance of the use
1f the building for
necessary improvements are made TO com
ply, with the law. Kindly notify what
action will be taken in the matter. Yours
very truly,
Commissioner of Labor
The factory inspectors report fol-
lows:
Wiring.
- Stage All u. open pen knob and cleat work and
n nj la of IN fha toll laf Qf "a
west side of the stage; this wiring leads to
socket is seen through the wood wall with
stage in very bad shape and no way of
telling which Is which. The stage electri-
clan made the statement that when a fuse
blew out he could not tell where 1t was
any more than to go and hunt until ne
found some place where fuse was out.
Dressing rooms all open work, and. like
the rest of the building, In bad shape.
Over head border lights, except the front
or east one, are not standard. Auditorium
bad shape, and in my Judgment not safe
wiring None Of the wiring in the build
with the requirements Of rule ss Of the
National Electrical Code.
Fire Escape.
Metallic stairway on north side not
standard For instance the hand rail on
each upright. Not solid and in case of a
panic would not hold the crowd, or rather
prevent the people from pushing off. Part
escape by 14-inch bolts through the sup
port and stringer of the escape. In case
of large crowd these bolts would shear
off At the top gallery, platform of escape
is false platform. The first platform was
set about one foot below the floor level
and this platform was made to bring II
up to the level. The false platform is not
braced enough to carry any load and
should be rebuilt Stairway used for es-
cape on the south side of building is a
wooden affair and should have been re-
moved years ago
In my Judgment this house is not safe
and with the escapes in their present con-
dition not sufficient to take care of
the crowd. Signed.
J. E. COLLINS,
Deputy State Factory Inspector.
City Inspectors Report
The city inspector says:
April II. 1916
Mr.. Roy Crawford, Manager, Grand
Opera House, Topeka Kansas.
The wiring in the Grand opera house is
in very bad condition. Following are some
of the defects
Stage-Foot lights are not according to
Code, circuits overloaded and the wircs
should be soldered into lugs, terminals and
should be constructed of metal.
Border lghts-Only one of the border
lights is up to the standard.
Proscentum lights-Wired with fixture
wire, not standard.
Dressing room hghts-Have no guards
on them. Cord Is not reinforced.
Wiring put in without joints being SOL
dered and run through partitions without
tubes.
Auditorium should be wired in conduit
be wired in conduit.
Wiring on back Of switch board should
be made fire proof. In fact, none Of the
wiring comes up to the Code. and must
very truly,
A E. SUTTON,