The daily gazette., 1876-06-26
The St Louis Convention.
ArricaJ of Delegates

ArricaJ of Delegates
WHERE THE CONVENTION WILL BE .
HELD. /
Sc. Louis, June 24.-At this writing
there are not over fifty OF the dele
gates in town. During the night, how
ever, many from the South and New
England are expected. Once the rush
begins thele is no telling where it will
end. One thing seems settled, how
ever, viz: that there will be by far
more people in attendance than at
the Republican gathering. One of the
finest buildings in this section of the
country, the new Merchants Exchange
will be The scene of the deliberations.
1t has frontage of 233 feet on Third
street and 1877 feet on Pine and Chest.
nut streets, and while externally
unit is in reality divided into two
distinct structures. The hall is 221
feet long and little over 80 wide, lit
on all sides by seventy windows, ar
ranged in two tiers. Not a column or
other obstruction exists in the hall,
and the roof has clear span from wall
to wall. The entire woodwork is of
solid walnut, mahogany, and other
hard woods, and is finished in the
highest style of art. The ceiling is a
marvel of beauty, being frescoed in
three large panels. The central figure
is emblematic of the city, surrounded
by groups typical of the agricultural,
mineral, and industrial. products of
the Mississippi Valley. One group of
figures represents the four quarters OF
the world bringing their various Offer
ings to the West, which with out>
stretched arms offers its products in
exchange. Two figures complete the
representations of the West with the
Mississippi river. OF the end COM
partments one represents charac.
teristic types of European nations, and
the other characteristic types of Asia
and Africa-Arabia, Egypt, Judea,
China and Japan forming the principal
group, surrounded by Ethiopia, Cau-
casia, India, Persia, Abyssinia, and
Mongolia. A careful estimate of the
seating capacity of the hall is as fol-
lows:
On platform. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 80
For the delegate. ............... 7S4
Chairs for distinguished guests
| and press correspondents. ..... 800
Other seats on the floor. 2, ,355
In the galleries. ................1,25 $50
4,748
The plans for the exterior and inter:
ior arrangements and decorations are
now in course of completion. AS far
as exterior is concerned the work will
be very simple. There will be no de.
corations, save two trophies, one on
either eide of the main entrance, They
are to consist of two Corinthian
columns, placed upon suitable bases,
and festooned with flags, garlands, and
emblematic notices. Each column
will be surmounted by gilt globes, on
which will be perached golden eagles,
Suspended from eagle to eagle, directly
lover the entrance, will be a broad silk
banner, on which will be inscribed. :.
National Democratic Convention. !"
Inside the hall will be decorated in
more elaborate fashion. In front of
the galleries surrounding the vast
chamber will be hung oval shields, on
which will be painted the coats-of-
arms of all the States in the Union.
These shields will be framed with
cereals, and suspended from each will
hang festoons of laurel, interviewer
with brilliantly colored flowers. On
the front of the gallery. over the
Speakers stand. will be large oval
painting of the coat of arms of the
United States, surrounded by frame
work of magnolia leaves, intermingled
with magnolia blossoms, and supported
on either side with displays of nation
al flags. Upon the pedestals surmoun-
ting the balustrade on the speakers
stand there will be placed vases of ma
tural flowers, and at the head of the
stairway leading to the hall will be
numerous trophies of national flags.
The present platform will be the
speakers stand, and will also be devo-
ted to the accommodation of the pre-
sident and vice presidents. At each
end the platform will be extended, so
as to include the whole western side of
the hall, the additions being intended
| for the seats of distinguished guests.
The seats for the delegates will be ar
ranged in an elliptical form, in the
centre of the hall, and directly facing
the presidents chair, with a railing
separating them from the audience,
Chairs will be provided for about seven
hundred and sixty delegates. This
will leave large vacant spaces at either
end of the halls on which two amphi-
theatres will be built, with seats rising
gradually from front to rear. All the
passages, corridors, etc., will be carpe-
ted. The press accommodation will
consist of seventy nine seats immedia.
tely in front of the rostrum, and addi-
tional seats at either end of the central
desk, which will give total accom-
mediation for about one hundred and
sixty five reporters. The matter Of ar,
ranging the, seats of the various deleA
cations will not be completed till to-
wards the end of the week; but when
it is done, the location of each will be
-..-i.-.l kl.,a c;llz r;lxxos f.ix,s,d