1074

PRACTICE OF ARCHITECTURE.
Book III.
prepared with it was first introduced by Donald Nicoll, ex-sheriff of London). Tliis
tung.state is considered ihe best, but as, if use 1 singly, it is up to become insoluble and
to rub off, the addition of about 3
]
er cent, of pl.osph.ito of soda will diminish the ri>k.
After the ordinary washing the go jds should liu immersed, before wringing and drying, iu
a solution containing 20 per cent, of tungsrate, with a proportionate quantity of phos-
phate. Alum acts injuriously on the fabrics, especially if coloured. The others are
cheap and conamordy harmless.
2i)71^. The electric lighting system should be used in preference to the common gas
f-ystem. It has been put up ac tlie Savoy and the L'riter on Theatres in London. Any gas
burners should be properly protected, and no intlamm.ible substance used.
297 lA. An exit for smoke is advocated to be formed over the stage and over the prosce-
nium. Firemen to be always in atteudance with hose c.ipable of being attached to hydrants
fixf d at convenient points, the water being supp ied trom a tank, and also from the water
mains. The supply of water from large reservoirs provided in the upper parts of the
building is a precaution wJiich should never be omitted, ih .u_h late tire^ have shown tliey
are never in order when required. Pipes may bo laid ou fiom them to tliose parts, such
as the carpenters' room, scene room, and painting-room, where fires would be most
likely to break out, and where if they did break out they would probably be must
dangerous. The necessary fireman's arrangements, with ttll-tale clocks, &c
,
must be
duly provided.
2971^'.
The
'
automatic sprinkler" is advocated by m
my,
to be fixed over the tii. s and
over the roof of the auditorium. They Jiave been iniroduced at Mr. E. TeiTy's new
tlieatre in the Sirand. A hubosv girder was advertised in 1861 by William Hood for
holding wa,ter, whicli could be played on a fire without opening doors and windows to get
at it. This was olyected to for many reasons. This is now staled to have been
"
the ingenious
invention of Jethro Robinson, who introduced the system to E. T. Smith, wh'i I'.ed it at
Astley's Theatre." Sinclair's "automatic sprinkler" has found favour lately in America,
where it was adopted in various ways in warehouses. Insurance offices are said to have
reduced the premiums in consequence of the use of the system. The water jets leave not
a space outside the range of action. Once fixed they work of themselves when a temper..
-
ture of 165 degrees arises wdiere they are pla-ed. All the apjiaratus is tested to a
pressure of 500 lbs. to the square inch. HanuHy s patent pneumatic principle is applied
for charging the tubes with air as a protection against frost. Dick's Fire Qitceii extinc-
teur is portable and self-acting; a gallon of its contents (water super-saturated with
carbonic acid gas) is stated to be of more value tiiau 30 gallon^ of water.
2971/.:. Mr. K. S. Ash, of Monaco, in h letter to the Times, Aui;ust 1887,
suggesteil that
each theatre should have a fire guard room, disconnectcil from the main building, luoni
it a series of water pipes should pass to those parts specially menaced with fire. In
response to an electric summons, the man in charge would be enabled to turu on one or
more or all the pipes. One pipe should be i-pecidUy prepared to saturate the curtain, or
to act as a falling sheet of water if the curtain be up. People are rarely burnt to death
in a fire, but are suffocated by the carbonic acid gas, the want of air, the smoke, or tlio
intense heat. The pipes are not exposed to rust, it is stivted, but unless they .ire used
occasionally, it is feared they will rust. The guardian, it is supposed, will not experience
the feelings of panic, and so will be prepared to obey the summons, and, "if the town
supply of water is working satisfactorily, water would be delivered immediately where
needed." The Asphaleia Company, on whose system the new Opera House in Buda-
Pesth, and the Stadt Tlieatre at Halle, have been rebuilt, have sent over a model of their
system for exhibition
;
it was explained by Mr. Walter Emden, in his paper on Theatres
and
Fireproof Construction, read at the Society of Arts, January 25, 1888.
297 U. A Modern Fireproof Theatre. Edward Terry's, iu the Strand. Almost the whole
of the structural portions are of incombustible materials, and the limited amount of wood-
work has been coated with fireproof paint. Ironwork has been thoroughly Crise 1 in con-
crete
;
the flights of stairs are generally of concrete, the corridors and floors chiefly of
mosaic and cement, the panelling is in fibr nis plaster, the gallery seats are of concrete.
The isolation of the auditorium from the stige is complete. The proscenium wall ri.-^es
some 20 feet above the auditorium roof, and irou doors close the openings between tlie
two parts of the house, while an asbestos drop curtain, stretched on a metal framework,
fil s the proscenium opening, and is to be used as an ordinary green curtain. Behind
this curtain, besides the fireproof nature of the materials used, all the woodwork has
been coated with the fireproof solution called Pyrodcne, prepared by Messrs. Griflfiths
Brothers.
A thoroughly efficient systftm of automatic sprinklers and the electric light
hitve been introduced.
In both the roofs direct exhausts have been formed so as to carry
off the ordinary heat, and in case of fire to draw up and extract the smoke and gases
generated.
An efficient hydrant service is provided all over the house. Although tbe
theatre is only estimated to accommodate about 8(10 persons, exits h ive been provided for an
assembly of 3,500 persons. Each part of the house has two or more exits, uii two sides