River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-12-12

plause. The diva wears half-mourning in
remembrance of her sister, Carlotta
Patti. who died about six months
ago. Patti sang "Home Sweet Home"
as Patti alone can sing it. When the
last strain of her magnificent voice had
died away the roar of 1000 pairs of
clapping hands greeted her, and she
gracefully bowed her acknowledgment
of the compliment. The audience was
not satisfied, however, and insisted on
an encore. In response to the honor the
madame sang Swiss echo song, but al
though the audience cheered and
cheered she declined to sing again.
Mr. Eddy gave scho .arly interpreta-
tion of a fantesie by de la Tombelle,
composed expressly for the dedication
of the big organ, and after the Apollo
Club had given a selection from Haydn's
Creation, The Heavens are Telling"
the address of dedication was delivered
by Governor Fifer.
The exercises closed with the rendi
ton of Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus"
after Governor Fifer, of Illinois, had de-
livered an address.
THE GREAT BUILDING.
Three years ago, less one month, ground was
broken for the Auditorium building Since that
time an edifce has been constructed having a
frontage Of 1872 feet upon Wabash avenue, 1862
feet upon Congress street and 1874 feet upon
Michigan avenue the area of the building be
ing 60 900 square feet. 1t is eighteen stories in
height to the top Of the great tower, which is
surmounted by an addition for the use of the
United States signal service which increases
its height to twenty stories. This addition is
noFtn 10 lyf cot
in area and 80 feet high, making the total height
OF the tower go feet covering an area Of 10xil
feet up to the eighteenth floor.
The foundations OF the vast edifce were most
carefully constructed, no expense being spared
to make them secure, for the holding up OF
pillared stone 10 last for ages. After 5000
cubic yards Of loan and sand had been exca
waited 100000 feet of pine lumber was laid
down for flooring upon which fourfoot
- Of concrete was disposed. Steel rails
enter largely into this basic structure, nearly
four miles of them being used in the
foundation OF the tower alone. The walls
OF tha building are OF Maine granite
ana bnsf Bedford stone There are over 1000
COO brick used in the construction and 5000
tons of iron and steel The tower weighs 5000
tons and the building 5000 tons. TO pursue
this interesting trend OF statistics II may De
further remarked that the cost Of the iron
work. including the stage, was over sJDO,OOO
There are 1900 windows and 1000 doors
in the building. The number Of electric
lights in the Auditorium proper is 4.JOO
and the hotel and balance Of the build
ing nearly 500, making about 1000
in all; there are eleven dynamos, eleven boil
ers, twenty-one pumping engines and thirteen
elevators; there are over twenty five miles OF
gas and water pipe; there are 30 miles OF
electric wire and cables; there are 5000 feet OF
polished plate glass; 10000 lineal feet Of fur
ring iron, and $4,000 square feet Of wire lath
were required; there are 10000 square feet Of
terra Gotta tile, arches and partitions, the cost
thereof being $1,000, there are over 5000
square feet Of italian marble mosaic floors, which
contain over 5OOO0,OO0separate pieces Of marble /.
The total cost of construction and equipment
OF the building Will reach g, 10000 and. with
carving charges Of about s90OO0O, viii approx
mate an aggregate OF fully &,9o-000 The
French Government paid over 100000 for the
Paris Opera house, besides s2Oo00S0 for the
ground. and its erection occupied thirteen
years: vet its capacity is but one half Of that Of
tho Auditorium. and the structure contains
nothing but an opera-house Il is furthermore
pronounced inferior both in beauty and in its
practical features This Is true Of all the great
opera houses Of Europe, including those OF
Vienna. Frankfort Dresden, Berlin and Milan
The plan Of decoration is consistent and ele-
giant throughout the building. the Auditorium
and main rooms Of the hotel being finished
mostly in gold and ivory tone OF color This
has been costly, the quality Of the gold leaf he
ing exceptionally hne Owenty-three earaisl.
but il is permanent and grows more beautiful