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439 Your committee at first intended to inspect and report on all theatres of Philadelphia, as was done by a similar cSmmittee of the Citizens' Association of Chicago, but on due consideration doubted whether it was vested with sufficient power by the Institute to carry this plan into effect.
Your committee in closing its report cannot help referring to two most necessary factors in reforming our theatres. (1) The education of the public on this subject by popular lectures, articles and papers : and (2) the co-operation of prominent mechanics and scientists. While the mechanical engineer of to-day, through the arm of a child, moves enormous loads by his hydraulic cranes, the numerous hoisting apparatuses of the stage are of a truly pitiable simplicity.
The problem of building theatres properly, is eminently one of the mechanical engineer, and will never be solved if the technical resources of our age are not taken into account, and brought to bear on the question.
C. JOHN HEXAMER, C. E. THOMAS Sinew, M. E. HENRY R. HEYL.
MINORITY REPORT.
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