OS THE CONSTRUCTION OF THEATRES. 



REMARKS. 



307 



That the constractlou of theatres is a matter of public tron recom- 

 concern has aheady been very justly observed bv Mr. Edge- ™^""^" °y 

 worth, in his paper on this subject, in vol. XXIII, p. H9; 

 where too the use of iron and, incombustible materials is 

 strongly inculcated. Sir George Cayley likewise, in his 

 paper, vol. XXIf, p. 241, recommends the use of iron, but 

 not to the same extent as Mr. Cook; though certainly the 

 more of it can be employed the better. There is one 

 thing however of which Mr. Cook does not seem to be aware, 

 and that is the necessity for trap doors and openings in the 

 floor that forms the stage : but this is of little const-quence, 

 for they might be contrived in a floor of iron, as well as in 

 a floor of wood. To obviate the objection of increased ex- 

 pense, Mr. Cook brings against it the increase of duration, 

 vith the probability of larger audiences. But if we like- 

 wise take into consideration the saving of insurance, it Great saving 

 would probably be found on calculation, that the use of iron °" the score of 

 would be by much the most economical- This saving, which 

 does not appear to have been adverted to, probably from its 

 amount not being generally known, will be considered as of 

 no small importance, when it is understood, that the offices 

 were paid forty shillings for every hundred pounds insured, 

 previous to the burning down of Drury Lane theatre; and 

 that, since this event, they will not insure at a less premium 

 than four guineas per cent. Now the proprietors of the 

 theatre lately erected at Covent Garden stale the expense 

 of erecting it at £150000; the insurance of which against 

 fire would amount to no less than £6300 a year. If, as I 

 suppose, scenery and dresses be not included in this esti* 

 mate, the insurance would be still more to cover the whole. 

 And to insure only one third of this, or £50000, as on the 

 old theatre, the premium would be £2100 a year. Would 

 not the saving such a sum annually more than repay the 

 additional expenditure for rendering the building proof 

 against fire by the general use of iron ^ to say nothing of 

 other advantages. C 



X 2 XI. 



