The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-02-21
SAFETY FIRST aim
Twelve More Theaters in
Doubtful Condition"
To Be Surveyed.
OYSTER ORDERS
SPEEDY ACTION
Playhouse Owners Ready
To Hasten Repairs
Experts Advise.

District Commissioners yesterday
laid plans for a ciiy-wide survey
Of all old buildings OF a public ma
ture. including hotels. business nf-
fees and apartments. 60 determine
their safety. They gave orders for
repairs Of the seven theaters closed
on Saturday night
Emergency funds OF $4,000 will
be drawn upon this week for CIR
ployment Of two additional inspec-
tors in the building department t.
aid in the ah-ineiusiye eur~ey
We will go to the limit OF phys
ical power and fnsn ncial possibility
TO protect the public OF washing
ton from any unsafe building strUc-
lures" Col Charles Keller. EnE!-
neer Commissioner. declared In in
diCating the policy OF the Commit
sioners.
Inspect Il Moro Theater..
Fire Chief George S. Watson ami
Building Inspector Healys were or
dereds yesterday 10 examine twelve
more theater buildings ia the Dis
trict thought TO need Immediate re-
pairs. These buildings were re-
ported by five expert builders and
engineers as in doubtful" condition.
These twelve buildings were mot
reported as menace TO patrons
but IL was indicated by tho commit
tee that they should be very care -
fully inspected and We. arr doirg
this Immediately" Col. Keller said
yesterday.
Inspectors have been ordered a,
report the condition of zach Of the
twelve thesters as they complete
their investigation. The inSpcc-
tion is expected TO be completed
before the close of the week
Oyster Order. Action.
Commissioner James r. oyster
yesterday ordered a rigid inspcc-
tion Of all apartment houses in the
District and all downtown build
inEs.
Il was astounded at the report
of the committee who inspected
the theater buildings Of the Dis
trict. II there are similar condi-
ticns existing in any buildings
built prior to the enactment o.
building code in 1910 want to
know Il Immediately" Commis-
sioner Oyster declared last nigh,
He indicated the Commissioners
would not hesitate to Close am
building found in the condition
of any of the seven theaters closed
on Saturday.
Owners Notihed Of Defects.
Specifications Of the faults re-
ported by the committee were type
written for each theater Owner
and sent to them last night.
Owners OF the Cosmos. Metro
/ politAn and Columbia theaters Were
in conference with Engineer Com
missioner Keller yesterday after.
noon.
The attitude OF all owners whn
have appeared has been that Of CO.
operation and I feel that within
a short time the majority OF con
demned buildings will be able -
| reopen. All who have appeared
| indicated a Willingness TO COOP
crate in making repairs IL they
are shown necessary" Col. Keller
said.
Harry NJ. Crandall. owner Of tn.
Metropolitan TheateT. was in con
ference with Commissioner Kellc;
yesterday afternoon. Mr.. Crandal
said his engineers had found The
building absolutely trustwortnA .
and, although he was willing 10
make any repairs deemed neces-
ssry. he wished TO have the en-
/ gineers and the Commissioner COM
pare the contradicting reports.
VIII Hasten Repairs.
Managers of the National and. OF
Polls yesterday said they would
hasten alterations in their builG
/ ings to conform with the repairs
ordered by the Commissioners. Boa
offices of the National and Of Poll =
were open yesterday afternoon anu
the usual lines OF patrons passed
before the windows, receiving
money back on advance sales.
Both Of the downtown motion
| picture houses that were affected by
the order will be able to reopen
socn. IL vas intimated by Commis-
sioner Keller. lie said the ColUm-
bia Theater would be able to re-
open its doors possibly within 4
week. Slight repairs in ireprOo;-
ing are necessary in the Columbia.
| II was said
Commissioner oyster indicated
last night he would seek several
| announcements TO the building reRgs =