The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-05-31
THE CONVENTION HALL.

The building In which the Next President
Is to BE Sominnted--Its Convenient Ar
rangements with Regard to Light. Sound.
Seats, Etc.
CHICAGO, May 27.-That portion Of the
Exposition Building In which the Rspub-
lican National Convention is to be held Is
now being put TO use by the May Festival.
It is wide area Of space covering 6l,25O
square feet. The immense floor, ,75x350
feet, is divided into two amphitheaters,
seven aisles and two galleries. The amphi-
theater at the north end of the hall contains
the stage, on which are arranged l,3OO
seats. During the convention one thousand
of these seats will be reserved for invited
guests, and the remaining three hundred
will be occupied by the officers OF the con-
yention. members of the National Commit
tee and guests Of honor A space contain
ing three hundred seats Immediately In front
of the stage will be reserved for the press,
and the ground floor under the stage has
been arranged for committee rooms, tele-
graph Offices and dressing-roOms. The
seven large aisles on the ground floor con-
tain |, $50 seats for the delegates and alter
mates, and 9, 195 seats for the general pub
lie. The latter will also have the use OF the
1925 seats in the amphitheater at
the south end of the hall, and OF
the 1000 seats In the two gal
leries at the east and west sides of the hall,
making 5, 720 seats in all for those who are
fortunate enough to secure tickets of admis-
sion. No provision has been made for an
orchestra during the convention, unless the
musicians are placed in one of the galleries
or at the extreme north or south end OF the
building.
The means OF entrance and exit are ad.
mirably appointed. One large double door
at the north end of the hall next to the EN-
CINE house serves for the occupants OF seat
on the stage and members of the press, sep
aratc corridors leading from the lob
by to the various departments. From
the large lobby Of the main D
trance, at the foot OF Adams stree,
three large double doors lead to the
seats for the delegates and alternates and to
the stairways for the galleries, and seven
corridors, painted yellow, blue, white, red,
brown, green and orange, corresponding
with the color of the tickets--lead to the
isles on the ground floor ami to the seats
on the amphitheater. Adding standing
room for one thousand TO the nine thousand
ScdIS tne ldli " III Soihioisooiy hoiu VII
thousand people.
The management claims that the accous
ties of the hall are perfect, and any ordinary
voice can be distinctly heard in any part OF
the hall. Two large sounding. boards, ore
on each of the ends of the hall, have been
placed in position.
The building is amply lighted by window;
and sky-lights, and gas will be used for the
evening sessions. The May Festival AssO-
citation and the managing committees Of the
two conventions share equally in the cost oi
construction, which is $4,000. 1t is
claimed that the hall can be emptied in ten
minutes If ordinary care Is used by the
public.
SOME CHANGES MADE.
The architects of the Convention Hall
give the following official statement OF the
seating capacity:
Total number of seats. ............ e,lS
Tor convention purposes there
should he deducted from the above:
Space on the stage for the Chairman,
Secretaries, National Committees,
and other officers OF the conven-
t1On..... OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. +Uu
Space on the floor set apart for the
public press and for additional
7,9s.
OF these the delegates and alternates
require. ............ ............... l,o4'
Leaving for pubic distributions. 6,34: