Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-06-14
THE CHICAGO CONVENTION
The building in which 1t will be Held
LErom the Chicago Times.l

The session of the Democratic National
Convention. which will assemble in this
city on the 4th of July next, will be held IN
a monster amphitheater, especially coll
structed for that purpose. Though the
building may not be expected TO be partlcu-
larly ornamental, it Will serve aamirapiy
the purpose for which it is designed. lt Is
to be a wooden amphitheater constructed
solely with view to comfort ana con
venience. and these once secured, the op)ects
of the design are fulfilled.
It isnot unfrequently puzzling question
how to design large temporary structure
which shall be able to accommodate con-
veniently and safely an immense number ol
people. The last exhibition building IN
London was simply huge and unsightiy
mountain Of brick, surmounted by more
unsigbtly dome. 1t served the purpose, |
however. for which it was meant giving |
accommodation to huger piles of manu-
| features than ever were collected In one
building before. So it is with this which Is
now being built. 1t is to be one OF the
largest structures ever raised in Chlcago,
anditwill provide ample accommodation lor
the largest number of persons. ever as
| sembled under one roof in this city.
The building will be of gigantic proper
tions, measuring 628 feet in circumference
and 200 feet in diameter, and planned TO
afford ample room for $4,000 people. Ex-
ternallv there will be little to attract the
eve T'he national colors displayed in pro-
t1sion from numerous staffs rising around
tbe roof will be the only ornament visible.
The immense size of the structure ana iIs
perfect proportions in every detall VIII,
however, excite universal amazemenC' III
fact IL will be matter of Just surprise that
the arrangements for the accommodation 1i OF
Ihe countless throngs of people. who VIII
attend the forthcoming convention shoui9
have been made so entirely adequate ana
satisfactory. At the same time the Demo-
cratic people of Chicago, by whose liberallty
this mammoth structure is to be ereceeu'
will have the pride and pleasure OF knowing
that this undertaking rivals by far anytmng
of the kind ever before attempted =.
The inclosure of the immense ampnl-
: tbeater will be twenty-five feet high. The
roof at its highest or central point VIII De
elevated thirty-seven feet above the ground.
It will slope gradually until it falls to an
elevation of twenty-eight feet. The rool
. is here broken, for the purpose OF ventlla-
ton, the remaining part commencing at a
point four feet below the overlapping cor
7 nice which forms the circumference 0l Iile
| central or largest division OF the puiiuiiig'
and from there sloping gradually 10 Ine
outer limits of the structure. The whole
will be entirely covered with patent 1el'
:, roofing. so that even the continued recuI-
y renee of the heaviest thunder-showers VIII
not interfere with the comfort of the Con-
vention. ..,4o,.;o,
;. A perfect understanding of the interior
arrangements of the building may De Cd.
tanned from the accompanying secGiona
view. A space seventy eight ieet IN oiain
eter, covered by spacious plaCiorlli, ., oil
cular in form, will occupy the main or cen
- tral division of the amphitheater. Inv
5 platform will be elevated four feet above TN
ground. and will be surrounded with hea
Failing. and will be devoted solely to the ac
commodation of the delegates, the officers O
the convention, and representatives OF Tn
=, press. Chairs will be placed upon the plat
bs form for the comfortable sitting OF SIX nun
dred people, SO that the delegates VIII neve
= he crowded while transacting the import
]. ant business of the convention. One sid
of the vast amphitheater, surrounding an
overlooking the delegates platform, Will .
devoted to ladies and gentlemen, and WI
he proyided with comfortable seats, wnll
the other half will be occupied as standin
room by the male portion OF the vas
throng which it is expected will epresen
The seats will rise in gradual ascent iroI
8. the circular platform to the rooi OF I'll
building, and five staircases, each seve
feet i'm width, opening from the entrance
. into the galleries, it is expected VIII pre'el
all crush or annoyance. ,.-..
The building will have grand entrane
from Michigan avenue, a spacious passae
hall fifteen feet in width, leading thence
r rectly to the central division, and will
used only by delegates and Others entltle
to sitting upon the platform. For the az
commodatiOn of the public there Will be pr
vided ten different entrances, placed
equal distances apart, around the EMU
building. These will open upon passas
n wavs four feet wide, leading to the stai
caises. which will afford easy access to Il
I'M raised seats of the amphitheater:
re- The plan adopted for ventilation is esp
ciallv deserving of attention. Around u
. whole of the building, at the top of the Il
closure, and oyerlapped by the cornice, w
con be an entirely open space four ieet
hight. The roof of the central divlSll
~, will project over another and similar oPe
ing. In addition to these, there VIII
other openings running arouna a Ihe emu sao,
:, building underneath the raised sea-
uit- through all of which will freely pass &
SI MS. confined atmosphere which generally re
ders large gatherings of people SO utter
intolerable. The fresh breeze which co
A.. t;nuallv sweeps off Lake Michigan W
mill plav around the interior, so that even
the hottest days the place will be kept pc
q . fectly cool. Suitable arrangements are
SO made for lighting the building 6y mea
of SkyllgnGS III Jno Iooh WhiSh, :,
1T, shielded on the outside from the rays OF =
sun, will admit sufficient light while at
ID same time they shut out the light.
u The committee of Arrangements ha
m contracted for the erection of the buildil
at a cost of $4,000, the contractor to ia
4 possession of the material at the close
,Es't the convention. ls~olis .1G lQ-. -!
W. Workmen are now busily engaged eret
hat ING the vast structure upon the open spa
G;,ty NY of ground lying at theicorner OF Michig
I'M ~ avenue and Park place, and overlooki
tiers the lake. 1t is q; the same time one OF :
rom pleasantest and mostconvenient sites whi
,,ts could have been selected. Those attendi
rect, the convention will find relaxation up
liam leaving Che building, byindulging in a str
IL. along the greensward which now Gov
sIiSs, ,lins, the park, across which comes ever tn,
/ 70 cool breezes, so welcome in the midst OF
~ summer solstice. 9 aGsiiit1 a9als olli
,Sn SnS Along Michigan avenue the deep. rolls
est, et~ ! of the trees renders the sidewalks pleasa
cling and at rapidly succeeding intervals patcl
etto of gardens filled with flowers, lie out
and yitfngly before the eye in those burnl
neer, Sumfier months. The white specks dott
q, the far horizon. the full sail distended