Middletown transcript., 1922-08-12
OPERA HOUSE 0. K.
Inspector Preston And Engineer
springer Give Their Approval
SAFE IN EVERY RESPECT

Mr.. James E. Lewis who is having
the new Opera House erected has Just
received from Ellis P. Preston, Build.
ing Inspector from the city of Whining
ton, and Louis R. Springer, consulting
engineer. who recently inspected the
new building, the following letter which
explains for itself the splendid manner
in which the Opera House is being con-
structed:
August s, 1922.
Mr.. JAMES E. LEWIS,
Middletown, Del.
Dear Sir:
After carefully inspecting the new
Opera House new in course of construc
tlon ut Middletown, Del, we beg to
submit the following report:
GENERAL
The general scheme of the building
we consider to be first-class design, as
all of the weights are carried on brick
piers, these piers being stiffened by re-
inforced spandrels about every ten feet
in height; these spandrels carrying the
curtain walls, which are built of tile;
steel beams being used in balcony, also
to support all roofs and suspended CELL
ings.
BRICK PIERS
The greatest load on any pier at it's
base, figures $4,000 lbs, which is 81, 500
lbs. per So it., whild he load allowed
by building regulated in Wilmington
is $4,000 lbs. per SO II,
To cause stresses to this amount
(Which wjuld not cause any failure. as
this is the allowable safe load, employ
ing factor of safety, the roof would
have to be loaded with over five feet of
freshly fallen snow aid at the same
time the balcony would have to be load
ed with l,135 people averaging $50 lbs,
each; which is obviously an impossible
ity, as the seating capacity of the bal
cony is only about 400
STEEL RooF BEAMS
The unit stress by any city authority
Is l6,0 900 lbs. per SO. in. In this build
ing, if the roof were loaded with five
feet of freshly fallen snow, the maxi
mum stress in these beams would be
IL, 800 lbs. per so. in, or it would take
thirteen feet of snow to cause this steel
to pass its elastic limit, or in other
words, before the steel would become
deformed, and theoretically it would
support twice this load before rupture.
STEEL BEAM IN FRONT OF BALCONY
This beam supports sixty seats, or Il
load of 5000 lbs, allowing $50 lbs. per
person. 1t will support $4,000 lbs. in
safety, which means that it would take
over $50 people IN the area of these
sixty seats to stress the steel to $1,000
lbs. per So in. while it is good for 346
people before it would reach its elastic
limit or sag to such an extent that it
would not assume Its original position
when the load is removed.
BALCONY SUPPORTS
The balcony supports, including the
steel beams and SUPPORTING partitions
are good for 150, 900 lbs. the equivalent
of approximately 1000 persons. before
the materials reach the stresses as al
lowed in building ordinances; or 2,200
people before the elastic limit is reach
ed. AS there is seating capacity in
this balcony for only about 400 people,
the strength of same seems excessive.
CONCLUSION
From the above deductions, we con-
slider this theatre to be of greater
strength than required, and perfectly
safe in every way as far as strength of
structure is concerned.
Respectfully submitted,
ELLIS P. PRESTON,
Bldg. Inspector of city of Wilmington.
LEWIS R. SPRINGER, C. E.
Consulting Engineer.