, 1883-08-04

| Neeueu.
There Is no doubt in our mind that
Spokane Falls will be one of the best
show stands on the line Of the North
ern Pacific railroad between st. Paul
ana Portland, as soon as the line Of
road is thrown open for travel. The
best class Of theatrical troupes, minis
trels, operas and hall performances
will either take this route for San
Francisco, via Portland, and thence
to the east, or return east after visit
ing San Francisco via the Union Pa
cl1c over this route. 1t will make
no difference in which direction they
may travel, the managers will always
make 1t point to stop over at the
Falls, knowing that the profits to ac-
crue from a visit here will amply
reward them. Our people are liberal
patrons Of amusements OF the higher
order, and at no time in the year
would it be difficult to secure large
audiences. In our present condition,
however, the city is not supplied
with sufficiently large hall accommo-
datlOns, and it would be a wise policy
If steps were Immediately taken to
remedy the deficiency. The winter
is the season when entertainments
mainly travel, and now is the time
to push forward the opera house pro-
ject We do not claim that large
hall, capable Of comfortably seating
the audiences that turn out here,
would be a paying investment to
those who may put money in 1t, but
at a reasonable rent 1t would be oc-
cupied frequently and those who
contribute to its construction would
not lose anything. We have at least
one hall in the city that is credit to
the place as far as its construction
and finish is concerned, but on the
first occasion Of its being thrown
open to the public it was clearly
demonstrated that it cannot be re-
lied upon to hold the number Of peO-
pie desirous Of attending a good per-
formance. We have heard cOnsid-
cradle talk indulged in this week
that tends to leave the impression
that the people are awakening to the
Importance of having a good large
hall. Let the proposition assume a
more tangible form than mere street
talk. The idea seems to prevail, and
a good one it is, by the way, that the
most feasible plan to follow would be
to organize a Joint stock company
and issue shares, putting the said
shares down 50 low that anyone and
everyone 80 disposed could con-
tribute to the object. We have not
heard a single person oppose such a
proposition. On the contrary, men
of not only large means but those of
limited resources have expressed a
willingness to aid the enterprise.
While we would like to see large
brick opera house constructed on the
plan Of metropolitan temples devoted
to that purpose, yet the time has not
arrived for so expensive a structure,
although one Of these days we expect
to see an opera house reared in our
midst that will compare favorably
with any in the land. The PROPOSE
tion now is to build a frame struc-
ture Of one story, large enough to
seat 800 or 1000 people, have it fur
nish~d and fitted out in good style,
making II comfortable and tasty on
the interior and neat and attractive
on the outside, great care to be taken
to furnish easy means Of egress, so
that no apprehensions needs be en-
tertained from a panic. A building
Of this description can be completed
throughout for $4,000, exclusive of
the land, sum that we believe could
be raised without difficulty. We
hope that some energetic person will
set the ball rolling at once, and that
the opera house will be compile tied
before cold weather sets in. AS we
said before there is nothing big in
the project for stock holders beyond
the satisfaction Of having an opera
house, thereby securing the means
Of passing many pleasant hours dur
ing the long winter evenings, a satis-
faction in Itself that can hardly be
measured by the dollar and cent
standard.