(Published In 1892.)

Current plumbing practice, in its application to a modern metropolitan theater building, may be held to be illustrated in the work in the new Fifth Avenue Theater, in New York City. This structure is situated in West Twenty-eighth Street, near Broadway, and replaces one burned a year before. It was built according to the plans of Francis H. Kimball, architect, of New York, and all the work described in this article was designed or approved in accordance with his plans by William Paul Gerhard, C. E,, consulting engineer for sanitary works, of New York. The contractors were John Toumey & Son, of New York. The fire service in this theater is notable as having been designed with the intention of conforming to the latest revised requirements of the New York Board of Fire Underwriters and of the new building law, and this is said to be the first large theater system installed since the adoption of these rules. The plan and general features of the plumbing, gas, and fire-service systems, are shown in the engravings, the details conforming in general to the illustrations familiar to our readers.

Figure 1 is a diagram showing the pipe system and general arrangement of the apparatus in the cellar. A A, etc. are 2½ - inch fire-line risers. B is the gas distributer. C and C are 3-inch and 1 ½ inch-risers of the automatic sprinkler system and are supplied by the independent 3-inch pipe D, forming the outside connection to which the hose from a fire engine may be connected, and from a downpipe, not here shown, from the special elevated fire tank. E E, etc. are sinks to receive overflows, drips and for other purposes. F is the suction tank. G is the Worthington compound duplex house pump. H is a 6-inch meter. I is the 20"x11½"x 10" Worthington fire pump. J is the hot-water boiler.

Figure 2 is a plan of the gallery floor and indicates sufficiently the arrangement of the other floors, which are similar, at least, as regards that portion of the building which adjoins the stage. The riser pipes are indicated by the following reference letters: H, hot water; D, cold water; S, soil pipe; T, trap vent pipe; L V, local vent pipe; I, house-pump pressure; J, tank pressure. F is the regular set of hot, cold, circulation, soil, and vent pipes.

The plumbing equipment and fixtures comprise: On the roof, one 6,000-gallon fire tank, for fire supply only; at the top of the stage, one house tank, on the gallery floor, two water-closets, three urinals, one porcelain washbasin, one slopsink, five iron enamled washstands; on the second intermediate floor above the balcony, one water-closet, five iron enamled washstands, one painter's sink; on the balcony floor, four iron enamled washstands; on the first intermediate floor above orchestra floor, one water-closet, four iron enameled washstands; on the orchestra floor, four water-closets, three porcelain washbasins, one iron enamled washstand; in the basement, two water-closets, four urinals for men's toilet-room, two urinals and one slopsink, two water-closets under Twenty-eighth Street sidewalk, one engineer's sink and connection for future engineer's closet, connections under stage for supernumeraries' toilet-room and washtrough, one water meter, one receiving or suction tank, one fire pump, one house pump, one hot-water heater, one carpenter's sink in carpenter shop.

The 1,500-gallon cold-water house tank is on top of the loft over the stage. It is made of ¼ - inch boiler-iron, with riveted joints, has three coats of Prince's metallic paint inside and out, has a 3-inch galvanized wrought-iron overflow pipe to the nearest roof gutter, a 1½ inch sediment valve and blow-off pipe, and is fitted with a cut-off connected with the house pump to automatically start the pump when the water in the tank is drawn down.

The hot-water heater J, Fig. 1, is a 200-gallon galvanized-iron closed tank containing a brass steam coil to the water. The tank is guaranteed to be tested at 300 pounds hydrostatic pressure, and is covered complete with asbestos and canvas covering.

The open receiving tank F, Fig. 1, is supplied direct from the city mains and serves as a suction tank for the pumps. It has a capacity of 1,000 gallons, is made of ¼ - inch boiler-iron, and painted with three coats of Prince's metallic paint The house pump always draws from this reservoir, as does the fire pump when filling the fire tank. In case of fire the house pump will draw directly from the 6-inch main. The 3-inch overflow discharges into a sink, the waste from which is trapped and connected with the sewer. The weight of all cast-iron pipes was specified to be as follows: Six-inch pipes to weigh 20 pounds per foot; 5-inch pipes to weigh 17 pounds per foot; 4-inch pipes to weigh 13 pounds per foot; 3 inch pipes to weigh 9½ pounds per foot; 2-inch pipes to weigh 5½ pounds per foot. The branch waste and vent pipes from fixtures were specified to be drawn D lead pipes of the following weights: One and one-half-inch pipes, 3½ pounds per foot; 2-inch pipes, five pounds per foot; 3-inch pipes, six pounds per foot; 4-inch pipes, eight pounds per foot. Where nickel-plated pipes are exposed at fixtures they are drawn brass pipe of iron pipe size. All pipes were tested by the usual water-filling method.