St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-11-28
WHO SAYS WIGWAM?
Prominent Architects Discuss
a Convention Hall for st.
Paul.
A Temporary Wigwam Could
Be Erected for About
$4,000.
What Could Be Done in the
4 Way Of an Auditorium
Building.
The City Can Easily Accom-
modate the Democrat tic
Hosts.

1t is conceded that before st. Paul can
consistently enter the lists of rival can
didates for the Democratic national con-
ventiOn, suitable auditorium must
have been provided or assured. This is
the initial problem to be solved. but it
is scarcely of the reconcile sort, how
ever. Architects and builders are
agreed that there are only two condi-
tons presenting difficult phases, and
these should give but little annoyance
when the patriotism of a royal city like
ST. Paul is aroused.
The means and the location. They
are the conditions that may give some
trouble, but when the people of this
city once enter upon a practical and
earnest cOmpaign, the trouble will
speedily disappear. No matter what the
cost, the means can be provided, and
the location OF suitable site will fol-
low in natural sequence. The matter of
raising The fund is detail TO be worked
out after the amount shall have been
determined.
An auditorium is among st. PauPs
chiefeSt needs. The romantic and piet-
uresque surroundings, the superative
| climate. and the presence OF all the
other facilities and adjuncts, all con-
| Spire to make St. Paul the ideal cOnven-
| ventiOn city. That this fact is geuer-
ally recognized throughout the nation
| has been elOQuently accentuated by
| frequent gatherings that would task
| the hospitality of a city whose people
are less inspired with the proper spirit.
| Hitherto the theaterS or the Peoples
| church have sufficed. True, they have
| often been inadequate, but the guests of
! the city in the past have been satisfied
| that the inconvenience in this respect
| have been made pleaSurably endurable
by that spirit of insuperIble hospitality
for which the city is Droverbal.
The proposition is 20 construct 4 wig
wan. Then comes the question should
/ it be a permanent or a temporary
! structure. And it IS a question that
| must be left TO the
Citizens to Answer.
| A structure to Accommodate from ID. 900
| to 10000 people, of course. under ordI-
! nary conditions, would seldom be called
! into requlSition and might be conSid-
| cred somewhat of an Improbable in
vestment. A consultation wiIh NUM-
Der of leading architects, however. re-
! vealS the possibility of IN lkin5 this
| mammoth structure frequently useful.
| There are often musical festivals and
stat conventions, and mass meetings.
| and many sorts of gatherings where
| from 5000 to I5.000 people would assem-
| bic if provided with an auditorium, and
| Architect Clarence Johnson gives the
| GLOBE many valuable pointers now a
| colossal building can be made practical
and available for all such audiences.
| In an auditorium that VIII seat 15.00O to
| 10000 people. an audience of only 5000
or 4,000-which is large gathering for
| ordinary ccaSiOns-wOuld be lost. His
| plan is to have the building so con
| Structed that it can be readily saOdi-
| yided to accommodate smaller cOngre-
| cations. This he considers a vital point,
and he urges that it is persecJly feasible
and practicable. This done, the invest
ment would be found more profitable
| but he goes one step further in
his curSory calculations, in considering
permanent building of iron and wood.
| lie suggests that Beneath the raised
| seats will be large spaces that should
be utilized, and would be. ii nearly fire
| proof. That would be big item. The
ma terial must be largely Of iron, and
| such building is quickly and easily
erected, and IL is substantial and fire
| proof. Another necessary feature is
| architectural effect. While it need not
| be expensive, or namentatiOn and gen.
eral convenience must not be lost sight
| of. An arrangement of galleries will
| contribute largely 10 the seating capac-
| ity of the entire auditorium. when
| onpn IN