St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-05-06
Six Thousand Can Be Seated
With Plenty Of Space for :
Standing.
Work Of Construction Pushed
Almost to the Point OF
Completion.
Grand Opening on Tuesday
Night. When a Musical s
Festival Occurs.


more than the most vague conception of
the magnitude of the auditorium that is
now in course of construction at the cor
ner of Eighth and Cedar streets. More
over, that have no idea of the vast good
that will certainly accure to the city
through its instrumentality. st. Paul.
it IS conceded everywhere. is the ideal
summer convention city of the Union,
but the ordinary national convention
has of late years outgrown the accom-
modations that this city is prepared to
tender such institutions. There has not
been convention in this city, indeed,
for the last two or three years that has
not more than taxed the facilities that
the city has had to offer.
The educational association. for illus
tration. was scattered almost from one
end of the city to the other. There were
meetings held in the capitol. in the va
rious churches and in the high school.
Of course all this initiated against the
city. and some of the visitors, while
they unanimously admired the pictur-
esque and romantic surroundings. felt
:
there was no adequate hall or audlto-
rum in which 10 hold large gatherings.
This brings to mind the interesting
discussions and even struggles that
characterized the movement to secure
the national Democratic convention for
st. Paul. 1t went to Chicago, as many
of the most Jealous and patriotic hus-
tiers that were engaged in the enter
prise claim, mainly because st. Paul
could not offer suitable convention
hail. and because of the I'M JUNCTION case
that had been brought prohibiting the
city from erecting the proposed audi
forum upon the market house site.
a Want Well Filled.
But ST. Paul will have one of the
most commodiouS convention halls or
auditOriumS in the country on Tuesday.
And how the work of construction has
been rushed. In contemplating the
size and capacity Of the structure, one
should not overlook the fact that it is to
be dedicated on Tuesday, and that yes
terday was only the sixteenth day since
the work was begun. 1t has required Il
crew of $50 men to perform this her
culean task, and the most aSSldiouS at
tention of George }. Grant. the super
iutendent and builder.
The auditorium will be square
structure, 150xl50 feet. and will have
seating capacity of 5000 people. This
can be increased If occasion demands
by placing additional chairs. 1t has
double galleries. built at slope that
will facilitate the best possible view of
the stage from every part of the build
ing. The architects. Reid u Stem. have
drawn the plans with a special view to
giving concerts on a grand scale. A
musical festival with chorus of 800
voices can be accommodated by the
chorus chairs behind the roStrum. In
the very center of the building is
space S0XSO feet, which will be styled
the parquette.
To insure the safety Of the patrons of
the auditorium, twenty-five exits have
been provided. These are located all
around the building, and the best Judges
estimate that. the building filled to its
full capacity, eau be entirely emptied
in three minutes, which seems to be a
fair estimate. 1t is massive and
strong structure, and has the strength
to hold with perfect safety fully double
Its capacity.
The Opening Concert
Tuesday evening. May 9, will be most
successful event. This is assured by
the interest taken by the different COM
mercial and business organizations of
the city and the people at large. The
Commercial club has tickets on sale,
and they are being quite freely pur.
chased, and the jobbers' union last
evening sent out the following to each
member of that body:
IN 'TnnS6aV evening Nav q the new
st. Paul Auditorium will be formally
opened.
On that occasion a musical event will
occur, such as is seldom afforded our
people. The dedication OF the magnif-
icent new convention hall will De
marked by the presence of two of the
worlds most famous singers. together
with the very best musical talent OF St.
Paul and Minneapolis.
Frau Amalia Materna dramatic So
prano, of the Imperial opera house at
Vienna, will make her initial appear
ance in America, this season, before a
st. Paul audience. and Plunkett Greene,
of Covent Garden, London, now in his
first American season, will render sew
eraI of the selections which have ere
ated such furore in the musical circles
Of New York and Boston. recently.
In conjunction with these two great
artists. the combined choral associations
of St. Paul and Minneapolis, 800 voices,
will present programme Of rare excel
| lence. 1t is proposed TO make this OPEN
ing event success that will beit the
| occasion.
| The new Auditorium has been erected
as a convention hall. for the purpose of
| drawing large gatherings to our city,
| and the grand opening ought certainly
to receive a liberal patronage from our
different commercial organizations, as
we'll as from the citizens at large. We
| desire to give the management of the
| Auditorium our hearty support ard
show our good will, and to this end re-
| quest that all members of our organiza-
ton purchase tickets for the opening
| concert.
| HNT TTCD TYYYCD KYn