Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-06-04
CONVENTION BUILDING.
n Description of the Immense Ann
phithcatre Where the COnvcn-
ton il Held.

CHIcAco, June THE immense amphi-
theatre in which the convention is
held is 400 feet long, $50 wide. SPAN
ned by roof resting on arches 100 feet
high and capable Of seating upward of TO-
900 persons. The hall is the south halt of
the Exposition building on Michigan avenue
at the foot Of Adams street. and really con-
sists Of one great hall built inside Of a still
larger hall. The form is that of an elipse
with the rounded south end of the EXPOSE
ton building for one extreme and an inn
mense partition stretched across the middle
Of the building for the other. The seats
begin at the bottom of the large windows
which run around the roof of the building
near the arched portion, and slope down
like an amphitheatre on each side to the
floor. The speakers stand is near the
south end of the ellipse, about ten feet
above the auditorium floor; it is about 80
by rs feet, and is carpeted with rich green
material. Immediately behind it, on q level
with it, are seats for distinguished men. just
back Of these are seats for invited guests. In
front Of the speakers stand, and little be-
low, is broad platform on which are ar
ranged eight long tables for the reporters
In front Of these on the ground floor are the
seats for the delegates proper, arranged in
four sections and extending back about one
fourth the length of the auditorium to where
the main floor narrows to the sections and
here the alternates are seated. These two
classes Of seats occupy about two-thirds of
the main floor on either side Of the platform,
and running entirely around the building are
commodious galleries. capable Of seating
5000 persons. Immediately over the chair
mans stand, among the iron trusses, hangs
an immense portrait of the late Zach. Chan
der, draped with the national colors, and
festoons of flags cover the ceiling above. In
front Of the chairman's desk stands palm,
wreathed at its base With the Stars and Stripes,
and Just below il is the insignia of Chicago
upon shield. In great folds from the roof de-
pend large festoons offlags. while upon the iron
girders are sheaves and clusters of the
flags of all nations. Hanging from the CEN
ter of the root Is a portrait of Washington.
and on the north wall is placed portrait of
Abraham Lincoln, around which is inscribed
his immortal words spoken at Gettysburg.
that "a government of the people, by the
people and for the people shall not perish
from the earth An enormous flag stretches
from the wall, above the chairman's head.
the entire length of the hall. All round the
hall and in the roof glories Of flags are hung,
the whole presenting an extremely attractive
appearance. Nearest the platform on the
east eide of the building hangs the portrait
Of General John A. Dix, and then in order
around the hall portraits of Owen Lovejoy,
Joshua r. Giddings, Salmon P. Chase.
Richard Yates and Charles Sumner. On the
west side are the portraits of Oliver p. Nor
ton, Ben Wade, John A. Andrew, William
Pitt Fessenden and William II. Seward.
The platform arrangements are COM
plete and well arranged. The chairman
Is supplied with an elegant black walnut
desk and easy chair; the gavel is made of
wood taken from = house in. which Abraham
Lincoln once lived. AT the right Of the
chairman is table occupied by the official
reporters Of the convention. On the left are
tables occupied by W. H. Smith, and his as
sistants of the Associated Press. In the CEN
tire Of the stage, in front of the railing, is a
marble statue Of Liberty. The arrangement
for pages, messeneers, etc., are wellnigh
perfect A local firm furnishes handsome
tally sheets for the benefit Of the reporters
and deleentes, and the Chicago, Burlington
ana Qnincy Railroad Company had distrib-
uosd essr 10000 fans, With ! pencil and
v1313ng - aAtAehed. To these fans were
~ e1enched litels books giving die Presi-
ntinl voee nom The year 1924 down
The present time, With IL
nmber q ballots received By al H.