Evening star., 1922-02-12

be anchored to the wall. 1t is, there
fore, apparent that what is needed Is
not additional law, but the enforce
ment of such laws as now exist
Wall Forty-Two Feet High.
"The wall of the Knickerbocker
Theater was forty-two feet in height
to the extreme top. The roof was
in the construction of the wall was
fractured and broken in parts.
1t does not require an engineer
to see that this structure was
skimped and was not erected in ac-
cordance with law, and the architect
the supervising engineer and the
building inspectors were negligent of
the safety OF the patrons. Many of
the blocks were broken. and pieces of
brick and wood were thrown in to fill
up the cavities: small pieces of wood
were used in filing holes and level
ing the blocks when they were being
laid.
The one truss which remains and
which was not displaced by the crash
is resting on soft brick and mortar.
IN order that might have the re-
port of an expert, l secured the ser
vices of Mr.. John E. Kleist, architec-
tural and structural engineer, Of New
York city, who was in Washington,
and who submitted to me the follow
ing report:
Engineer Kleist's Report.
GAS requested by you, 1 am max
ing a report Of the findings with ref
erence to the collapse in a theater
known as the knickerbocker Theater,
situated at the intersection OF Co
lumbia road and 18th street north
west, Washington, d. c.
81 find that the terra Gotta block
walls are forty-two feet in height
from the highest level of the audi
torium floor to the extreme top. From
close inspection. I find that these
that were in part fractured and
broken, very few Of these blocks be-
| ing 100 per cent perfect.
1.-The mortar used was not OF good
mixture, and the walls were not filled
with concrete. Furthermore, the
| walls out Of plumb in a great many
places. I also observed that some
of the lintels were not reinforced
with rods, and that the twelve-inch
terra Gotta block prescenium wall
shows old cracks not of momentary
| nature. Where the proscenium wall
| intersects with the wall facing Co.
| lumbia road, same was not properly
tied together. Further, the wall fac
| ing Columbia road shows cracks In q
great many places. and this condition
can be. seen by the nature of the
cracks themselves.
Roof Trusses Amply Strong.
"After making thorough investi.
cation of the roof trusses no defect
in the material could be found. II
| might have been somewhat off in de.
sign. and parts poorly fabricated, but
the trusses were amply strong enough
that these trusses were resting or
bearing plates in the nature Of
beams, and that they were not bolted
or anchored down to the walls, but In
this instance, the anchoring OF same
would have caused additional collapse
of the terra Gotta walls, due to the
unsound masonry work, and there il
no question in my mind but that II
was unsafe from the start.
"Although the building code per
mits the use of terra Gotta blocks fol
bearing walls, it at least should re
auire their filling. with cement, con
crete, or, II not filled. should only
be used for curtain walls in con
| nection with a skeleton frame. Hat
they built reinforced concrete pier
| or used columns to support the heav!
trusses, this collapse would hav'
3een avoided; In other words: IN,
| the walls as built were never stront
enough at any time to take the Loaf
| assigned to them.
Collapse Due Some Time.
"T am of the positive opinion tina
| in course Of time there would hay'
been a collapse in this theater, ire
spective Of a snow load.
1.-The crumbling of the terra colts
block where the trusses rested. ~
can be clearly seen, caused thu
trusses to slip from their bearings;
wall facing on Columbia road wal
| not designed to meet the require
| ments as to wind pressure
''It has been repeatedly stated b!
! members Of the District of Colunbi'
committee in the House that calam
ity would occur in some Of the un
safe theaters and places Of amuse
ment in<t the District, and an attemp
has been made several times to pas
legislation preventing the selling o
! tickets beyond the seating capacit!
of the theaters. thus preventint
crowds from congregating In tn
| lobby and in the aisles back OF th'
seats, but, owing to the opposition o
the theater owners Of the city, thi
\ legislation was not favorably actet
upon. ,-.
| Wants Thorough Survey.
st do not think that Congress couls
| do any greater service than to hav'
| made q careful survey of the theater
and amusement placea in Washing
! ton, which are engaged in practices
| which would not be tolerated in an!
| other city in the country, and which
| might lead to another disaster.
| aIt fs my purpose to introduce
| resolution providing. for survey
BY q competent commission. Of ex
| listing amusement places within tn
! District, their construction. fire haz
ards and means Of exit, and il an!
! Of them are found to be unsafe. ther
is ample law to provide for thei
IcIosing, and IL additional law Is need
"a, I am sure II win bs immediatel'
Forthcoming