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| 1933 Century of Progress Exposition Documents |
Policewomen to Be On Duty at World Fair
Protection for Women, Young and Old, Is Provided.
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Source: Chicago Daily News, 13 May 1933, pg. 4.
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By Malcolm McDowell.
Half a dozen policewomen will be on duty at
the world's fair to take care of women, young and old, who need
protection. This information was given out at the administration
building today. Talking about the police phase of exposition
administration, Maj. Lenox R. Lohr, general manager of A Century of
Progress exposition, said:
"The world's fair will need a different sort of protection
from that which is required in the loop. We do not expect the commission
of any major crimes, such as holdups, for example. The fair is entirely
fenced in from the lake at the north and to the lake in the south end.
It is steel fence with an alarm system connected with every entrance.
There can be no escape from the grounds by automobile—so we have sound
reason for not expecting any holdup on the grounds.
Banks to Be Guarded.
"The branch banks which handle the money taken in at the gates
are amply guarded. On big days the entrance money will weigh tons-- on
an average of 350,000 paid admissions a day it would require seven
trucks to transport the money.
"The most a man could steal in pennies, nickels and other
small change would not be more than $300 or $400. Its weight alone would
prevent a robber from carrying more. The main safes will be guarded with
combination locks we can't open ourselves. They will be so protected
that no employee in the office can open them.
"The chief offenders we must guard against are the
pickpockets. The defense against them is being able to recognize them.
We shall have an expert pickpocket squad here familiar with the
light-fingered gentry, and these pickpockets will be run out of the
grounds the instant they are recognized.
"Pocket picking is a work for expert; the amateur cannot do it
and get away with it, so the pickpockets are pretty well known to the
police.
"Drunks will be put off the ground at once. I think our
exposition guests may feel perfectly secure while they are with us."
Fire Patrol Day and Night.
Every building will have in it a fire patrol day and night. This
service has been on duty for some time. Every precaution is being taken
against accidents to visitors. For instance, there will be a life line
with floating buoys around the lagoon paralleling the shoreline.
A strong steel pipe railing will be set up entirely around the
lagoon and, in addition, wire netting will be stretched from post to
post so that small children, running on the walks, cannot slip through
the fence and roll into the water.
The structural safety of the fair is guarded by a buildings code
committee of which Melville Clarke Chatten is chairman. Other members
are George Wallace Carr, John Christopher Sanderson and Frank Alfred
Randall. Every building has been scrutinized for potential
accident-makers.
No flight of stairs, for example, will have more than twenty steps,
there must be a landing twice as wide as the width covered by the
stairway and any low step which may happen to be placed in a heavily
traveled area is summarily ordered out as quickly as it is discovered to
prevent even a chance of stumbling.
[End of news article]
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Page compiled: 29 December 2005
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