The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1864-08-26
The Democratic National Convention.


The people of Chicago expect very
great crowd at the Democratic National
Convention, and they are making prepare
ton to entertain it; for which, of course,
they will make the usual charges. Ap.
plcations at first class boarding. houses for
GARD and lodging permanently, are fire.
quently received with the prompt reply
1--WE want no boarders until after the
Convention" All the leading hotels have
already been engaged by delegates and
others. The convention is to De held in
mammoth amphitheatre, corner of Michi-
gan avenue and Park Place. The Chica-
20 Times thus describes the building:
In couple of days it will be passed
over. to the decorators, who will display
their taste in festooning it with hundreds
of flags, banners and streamers. The
building, which IS constructed entirely of
wood, is Of gigantic proportions. 1t meas
ures in circumference 62S feet, and has
Accommodations for an audience of over l5,-
600 persons. The roof in the centre is
thirty.fve feet from the ground, and
slopes gradually until it is only twenty
eight feet in height. At this point it is
broken for the purposes of ventilation
The remaining portion of the roof com
mepces at a point four feet below, and
slopes gently to the outer edge of the build
ing. The entire structure is covered with
patent felt roofing capable of wit standing
the heaviest of rain storms.
The grand entrance to the building is
on Michigan avenue, and is through spa
cious passage way fifteen feet wide. This
leads directly to the central platform on
which the officers of the convention, dele
gates and members of the press will be
seated. Running all round this platform
is a neat railing, inside of which is a mar
row pathway by which delegates can leave
the building without having to press
through the assemblage on the platform.
asse to this footway will be the desks for
'tBe use of the members of the press, who
will be largely represented. The number
of chairs on the platform will be six hun
dred.
On the south side of the mammoth am
phitheatre, surrounding and overlooking
the central platform, is the large gallery
for the use of ladies and gentlemen accom-
panied by ladies. 1t has been fitted up
with comfortable seats stretching along
the entire half of the structure. These
seats are placed on an inclined plane, so
that every one will have most excellent
opportunity of seeing and hearing whatev-
er is going on at all times. The north
side is set apart as standing places for the
male portion of the vast assemblage that
is sure to be present. The entrance to
these galleries is by three passage ways,
each four feet in width. TIE columns
which support the roof will be tastefully
decorated with national flags, while the
entire walls will be festooncd with flags,
banners and national colors.
Externally there is not much to attract
the eye, but the immense proportions of
the building challenge the attention of
all. On the top of the roof are several
flag stats, from which the national flag
will proudly float during the sessions Of
the convention.
The site of the building is very conve.
nieut, and the delegates aud others may
rest satisfied that there will be every ac-
commodation provided for their convey
ance to and from the convention. 1t is
within short distance of several Of the
principal lines of railway, and only a
couple of blocks from the State street cars.
Arrangements are also being made to run
a large number of vehicles between the
Court House and the ampbitheatre, during
the sittings of the convention.