St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-02-12
CITY HALL CHAT.

ndiiy III Tue CITY OulClulS T6pOSe very little
confidence in the Davidson auditorium
scheme. This is particularly true of the
members of the council who have most
actively espoused the cause of u public audi
forum. But it should be related, in Justice
to these gentlemen. however that they are in
no sense opposed TO the work being done by
private capital. On the contrary, they have
frequently regretted that no public-spirited
citizens came forward when the exigency
seemed most pressing with proposition of
that sort. 1t was conceded that it might be
best to relieve the city of the responsibility
in such way, but no capitalist manifested
Willingness to speculate in colossal hall
such as public sentiment demands in the
best interests of the city. City officials, in
other words, would be glad to get rid of the
burden, if il can be done without delay and
the city supplied with the kind of public
hall that will accommodate national gath
ering.
~
This feeling that the Davidson plan will
notresuit satisfactory is not born from dis
trust in Mr.. Davidson's sincerity or integrity
1t is because they doubt the possibility of
putting up suitable and adequate building
on the site of the burned grand opera. Even
should Mr.. Davidsons architect advise that
II.
to the council committee be correct, there
will be strong opposition to the movement.
Mr. Davidson believes ne can erect a hall
that will seat over 1000 people, but the city
officials, or a majority of them, feel that such
an auditorium will really avail nothing, save
perhaps. offering an inducement to state con-
ventions and gatherings OF a second magni-
tude. 1t Will not be half large enough, say
they.
The city officials are conscious that St Paul
is an ideal summer convention city. Nature
has been especially nlayish in its gifts to con-
tribute to the conditions that MAKE the city
such. The climate is as nearly perfect as
can be found in America i'll June. St. Paul
Is beautiful city, with picturesque and ro
mantle surroundings. and no one who ever
spent the ides of summer here is 10th to re-
turn the next season. 1t is, moreover pre-
eminently a hospitabie city, peopled with
public spirited and chivalrous citizens who
delight in vieing with each other in afforiing
pleasure to visitors and guests. Then it is
not alone to accommodate state convention
that the city aspires. 1t wants the mighty
national conventions = political. religious,
civic-of every kind, as its guests.
~
great deal has been said about the ca
pacity of the beautiful and elegant Chicago
auditorium by the few who have looked with
indifference upon the city's proposition to
build. 1t has been stated that Chicago, with
its auditorium to accommodate 5000 people,
was a successful competitor in the canvass
for the Democratic national convention.
But it develops that this auditorium was not
the touchstone of the success of the worlds
faircity. The reasons that influenced the ma
tional committee in its election were of quite
a different nature. This fact is evidenced by
the course that is being pursued to entertain
the convention. The auditorium is too small
and Chicago will build a mighty wigwam.
That solves the problem III the minds OF the
st. Paul councilmen. 1t will be vain to ex-
pect the Davidson hall with q capacity of
5000 will have any attractions for big ma
tionsl organizations.
1T
Assemblyman Van SIyke is not satisfied
that to remodel the old market house will be
the wisest course to pursue He has an aver
sion to the location, and he insists that a
much more profitable and practical thing to
do is to sell the market property entire and
use the proceeds in an elegant structure else
where. which shall have all the adjuncts
needed by metropolitan city like this-ptb'-
y,
possibly an armory. In this project he is met
by the statement that there is no charter au--
thority for either selling the market or appro-
priating the money to auditorium purposes.
Mr.. Van Slyke is well aware of this, butt he
aveis that citizens can be found who viii
readily advance the money TO proceedh at
once with the construction and wait for the
return until the right to sell the market and
appropriate the proceeds shall have been
granted by the legislature.
+t+ - .-,,'.e
The harvester works location its pro5a-
bilities aud possibilities. is scarcely second to
the auditorium agitation among the city Off
Gals They feel lively interest in the new
institution about to be established here, and
they watch the progress with eager zest.
Yesterday the committee on site visited two
of the locations that have been rendered by
citizens, namely, the Burlington heights and
the Crosby fats. The committee protested
to be pleased with each, but they were very
guarded about voicing any preferences
Several city officials attended them on their
trip. 1t was not thought likely that a loca-
ton will be selected under two weeks, and
possibly not for a month
IL
There is no truth in the story that W. H.
Sanborn has resigned his position in the
common council. II was intimaLed at the
city hall yesterday. moreover, that the
chances are that he will not take that step
until compelled to by force of circumstances
However. the more popular idea is that the
resignation will be forthcoming by Tuesday
next. when the board of aldermen have a
regular session. Several Democratic alder.
men are already on record as favorable to
the election of Republican TO succeed Aid
Sanborn although the body is overwhem-
ingiy Democratic. It's too one-sided now,
they maintain. and it will be more lonely not
to have the opposition of politician from