The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-05-19

! RkPusLscAS wIswAM Al cnIcAsO.
4 lis gigantic structure, The lsrges
as6ieses seen u ~ Usited States, N
formally nd ispesissiy dedicated . u
!. sasss Of Freedom = Saturday evening Last
|, Tho Wigwsn owes its erection to the spiri
Of hberalisy and Welcome Of the 1--we Rspab
lieans Of Chicago, and the exercises .
Saturday, wre mainly had with view =
supply deficiency Of about 5000 in III
building fund. An sdmission fee Of twenty
Eve cents was charged, and it IL estimates
that about shout 10000 persons yer
present. Letters from Hon. Chas. sumner
Hon. J. r. Potter, and Hon. c. n. Clay ves
read, expressing hearty congratulations .
the successfal termination Of the labors o
the building committee, and regress as no
being able to be presess to participate in tn
honors Of the occasion, and enjoy the socia
union Of friends, and share the PATRIOTS
fervor which viii there occur. Speeches
were made by Hon. Judge Goodrich, o.
Minnesota; Hon. z. II. Corwine, Of Gin.
cinnati; John Johns, "plain farmer-look
ing parsonage" from lows, whose " briel
remarks were sound and sensible, and her,
and there had telling bits J" D. W. Chees.
~an ~ rsi1fnpn;s. &ha vanarahfa faahus
r. Gidding., Of Ohio; Col. Henry S
Lane, the Republican candidate for Gov
ernor Of Indiana; Gov. Morreli, Of Maine
and Hon. Norman B. Judd, Of Illinois
We gather these particulars from the Pres
4 Tribune, ~ also the following remarks
concerning the Plan Of the Wigwam, it,
capacity, and decorations:
The Wigwam was commenced early in
April and pushed rapidly to completion,
1t is substantial wooden structure, loo By
| $50 feet.
The longest front Of the building 10 on
Market street. Both fronts are simple and
plain, yet neat and in keeping with the char.
acter and design of the building.
| The entrances are broad and ample, and
the area within, admirably we'll adapted to
meet the purposes Of the edifce. Advantage
has been taken of the height Of grade on
both streets, about ten feet, to give that
amount Of slope to the floor By a series oil
wide platforms, to the space in front Of the
stage. The platform is wide and deep, and
thereon is to be held the Republican National
Convention Of 1860, as the immense stage
/ oNat f.a, t<s krr H.
persons. 1t has on either end, as will BE-
seen, ample Committee rooms. 10 from,
Of the Platform is an enclosed space for tn.
music.
A judieially arranged and excellent fea.
ture of the Wigwam is the immense gallery
extending.on three sides. The pitch Of thi.
is such tina. from every part perfect view
Of the speakers stand can be gained. The
supports Of the editice are ample enough to
Danish all suspicion Of insecurity, yet such
as to interpose the least possible Interrupt
ton to seeing and hearing.
The entire cos, Of the building is between
$1,000 and $4,000. Its capacity has been
fixed by good judges, based on careful es,i-
mates, ut from ten to eleven thousand. Its
interior was left rough and implanted, the
wall back Of the platform being the brick
wall of the adjoining store.
Upon this rough interior, the light,
graceful, and entirely successful handiwork
Of our Republican ladies has been bestowed,
until when, for the first time the effect of
gaslight was added Saturday evening, the
effect was brilliant in the extreme.
Around the front Of the gallery are the
coats Of arms Of the States, and between
them wreaths Of evergreen. The pillars and
supports have been painted. white, and
wreathed with evergreens, and from each to
each have been twined draperies in red,
white and blue, with artificial flowers and
miniature national flags.
The pillars supporting the roof, which
form continuous row along the front Of
the platform, bear, on the side to tho audi
ence, busts of distinguished men, supported
by figures of Atlas. The speakers stand is
a double dais or platform on rollers, to be
pushed back to the rear of the great stage
when the Convention is in session, or brought
forward when the great area in irontis filed
for mass meeting.
This latter was the case last evening"
The dais bore elegant appointments of
furniture, and statuary on either side. The
chief decoration has justly been bestowed
upon the stage. The brick wall at the rear
has been painted and divided into arched
panels, in which are colossal statuary paint.
ings. Over the centre Of the stage is sus-
pended large gilt eagle. Altogether the
Wigwam is a success in design, and in it's
carrying out.
The utmost eagerness even among our
own citizens, had been awakened by the
announcement Of the dedication. which to ok
place on Saturday evening. To make up a
deficit existing in the funds in the hands Of
the Committee it was decided to make the
dedication for the 'Been6t' Of the Wigwam.
and twenty-five cents was fixed as the price
OF admission. The numbers that turned out
| on Saturday evening, was sufficient proof
Of the readiness Of our citizens to meet this
slight appeal.
| Long before the hour announced for the
opening OF the exercises the rush began,
and the doorkeepers were busy, and by
half past seven there were from seven to
eight thousand persons present. And still
they came. Gentlemen and ladies. citizens
ana strangers, men of all parties, all pressed
in. space had been rallied off dividing
midway the gallery through i,s entire len 9Th,
and IN front Of tbs were seats for ladies
ana gentlemen accompanying ladies. This
was filled at an early honr. The platform
was also reserved for the same, and there
/ were no vacant seats.
The great hall presents feature most
satisfactory IN its acoustic qualities. Du-
ring some OF the speeches Last evening We
visited the remotest portions Of the gallery,
aud could hear distinctly the fuller tones
Of tae speakers voice. During the coming
week doubtless numbers Of our leading
Republican orators will enjoy the rare priv.
iisge Of being listened to BY an audience
Of ever ten thousand persons under one
roof.
| tcorrsspcaicass Of The Hawssysl
Chicago, May IL, 1850.
Delegates 10 the Convention are coming
+ IN rapidly now. A number arrived from
New York last night. NJ. Zane, a delegate
= r. -