The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-02-03
MANYD. c. HALLS
ARE F|RETRAPS,
SAYS ARCHITECT
Better inspection Needed, ]. J
link Declares Wall Sup
ported Roofs Must Go.

While investigators galore are ~
vestigating'' the cause of the Knick.
erbocker disaster and publicly hop
ing to place blame on those responsi.
BILE for the death Of nearly one hun
dred and the manning of as many
more, they are calmly disregardine
other places Of assembiage in the city
which are firetraps and In which sre
possibilities Of another Iroquois The
alter tragedy.
This 10 the opinion Of JohnsJ. link,
Washington member Of the Ameri.
can Institute Of Architects, who spe-
cializes In theater construction. He
has been the head of the Southern Of
foe OF Thomas w. Lamb, theatcr
architect, who. since establishing his
own offices in the Homer building,
Warrington, reconstructed another,
planned the largest theater In Bal.
more and created other playhouse
throughout the Southeastern sectio'
Of the country.
"No Excuse At Knickerboeker."
There was absolutely no excu
for the collapse Of the Knicke
booker" said this expert.
THE real tragedy Of these theate
disasters is that the public forget.
them before the causes are corrected
I'VE know very we'll that ther
are certain houses In washingtoI
that are fire traps, and yet we con
tinue to use them. ...-.'
From a study of the building cod,
in the District, especially those
points covering theater construc
ton. would recommend that no
walf-bearing jobs be permitted
There should be q regulation de-
manding the removal Of snow from
depth. This would not only insure
safety, but protect the property from
deterioration. would RECOMMEND
that both architects and engineers
be licensed, the same as doctors and
dentists. ! would require stone in
stead Of cinders in all concrete
There is too much theory and no
enough practice in the present build
ing code. And q revised code SHOULD
be flexible enough to provide for tn
constant changes in the industry
to protect the public from repetiho
Of another Knickerbocker collapse.
Here in the District 1t has beer
suggested that q revision of tn
building code In necessary, becaus
the present one Is inconsistent, ~
In several instances prohibits safe
devices in vogue In larger cities
notably the emergency gas hight on
exits.
at is well to lay great stress
fireproof construction OF theater
but In even more important that u
principles Of construction be limftt
- - IA
It may not appear important
some persons that architects ar
engineers experienced along sue
lines be employed on theater built
ings. But II 10 very essential, pa
ticluarly on the modern theatre,
which so many changes are COZ
stantly being made. The movin
picture business, especially, is in
comparatively infantile stage.
naturally makes longer and swifte,
strides toward ultimate perfection
than older and more established IN.
dusttries.
Stricter Inspection.
"Stricter inspection by the build.
ing department, particularly Of the
carrying portions. such rs steel and
concrete and walls, Is absolutely es.
StnIthi 70 &ho tcfhPs1taot
of some contractors to eliminatr
rivets and otherwise reduce expenses
A poor mixture Of concrete of an
aggregate would, Of course. fail, ~
IL cinders for concrete was entirel
eliminated, I believe the percentaR
of failures would be considerably re
duced. All superstructure such as
balcony and roof should be made to
rest directly on the ground by means
of steel, braced In such q way that
the entire steel frame would stand
without depending upon bracing from
brickwork.
In q theater where the balloon.
or balcony and gallery are use
both architects and engineers in
number of cases have not sufficten
experience to realize the method II
which the live load (patrons) is ap
piled, and once applied, At certain
times increased.