The record-union., 1894-06-18
all READY FOR THE REPUBLICANS.
the Most Beautiful Convention Hall
of the Day.
Delegates Arriving in the City-The
Streets and Hotels Crowded-wh
is Being Said.

The hall in which the convention is to
assemble tomorrow has been styled very
aptly "Stars and Stripes Wigwam."
It has been constructed beneath the
dome of the Agricultural and Industrial
Pavilion, on Fifteenth street, between NJ
and n. 1t is polygon Of ten sides, 600
feet in circumference. One side, the
head Of the hall, is in pure white, and
consists of a sounding board rising TO
and above the gallery rail from the floor.
The other nine sides are of canvas. Inc
upper edge, of which thirty-fve 1eet
from the floor is a border OF twelve feet
depth in navy blue, into which are set the
stars of the national flag. From this bor-
der great red and white stripes run to the
floor.
Far aloft, beneath the dome, is fifty
foot-square soft white canopy. caught up
in the center with heavy rosette, as also
at each corner. From this center de-
pends an immense parti-colored umbrella
canopy, draped in red, white and blue.
Similar um brellas depend from the cell
ing at four equi-distant points near the
corners of the canopy.
From the dome center. and apparently
swinging from the edges OF the canopy,
sweep in graceful lines great streamers OF
red, white and blue to the dotted field OF
the ten-sided wall. Along the central
horiZonal line of this wall hangs ever
green festoons, and from far aloft swing
over the location OF each delegation ban
ners bearing the name of the county and
district of each delegation.
The entrance to this beautiful chamber,
which is chaste and artistic room. rich
and warm in color, yet its loftineSS and
free openings for the passage OF the air
cool, and refreshing in tone and charac-
ter, is on the east through a great draped
doorway, in front of which is the Octago-
nal band stand. The approach is through
broad aisle, rallied in, the sides beng
swathed in national colors and adorned
with tall potted semi-tropical plants. The
line Of these great shrubs continues into
and around the entire wigwam.
AT the extreme opposite side to the en-
trance, and directly In front of the sound
ing board. is the rostrum, fifty feet in
length, seated with arm and plush up
holstared chairs, and provided with secre-
taries and reading desks, and an oaken
column on which lies the Chalrman's IS
gavel.
Directly in front of this great platform
is another of equal length and two feet
daily press reporters. In the center OF
this platform and in front of the Chair
man is twelve-foOt tribune from which
speakers may address the convention.
Still below this platform and on the floor
is another tier of desks for press pur-
poses. The platforms are handsomely
carpeted and have broad easy approaches.
The floor of the convention is covered
with clean white sawdust, and divided
nj aiQin cr
from the rostrum towards the
outer lines of the room. In these Sec
tions are chairs for the delegates.
Back of the rail of the convention floor
are some 900 chairs for the general public,
and standing room for about 200 others.
1t was found not possible to provide
greater Accommodations for the public,
for acoustic convenience and too costly
for the committees purse. Thirteen arc
lights will illuminate the Wigwam at
night.
Not all the public need expect to find
accommodation III the hall, nor does it eX-
pect il. Those who wish to see the hall
III all lis beauty should visit it to-day and
before the convention meets tomorrow.
Back of the sounding board is an inn
mense room, l20 by l50 feet, in which are
rows of desks for assistants to press re-
porters, and on the north Of the platform
is room, 60 by 30 feet, in which are the
instruments Of the Western Union and
the Postal Telegraph Companies. Thus
the reporters messengers can pass from
the press platform by few steps directly
TO the etelegraph-roOm.
The entrances to the Pavilion are two.
One admits the people who come through
Capitol Park from n L or Tenth streets,
and is on the north side, with door
opening directly into the delegates SEC
ton of the Wigwam. The other is on
Fifteenth street on the east and is the
main entrance. In the front, or east end
of the Pavilion, committee rooms have
been neatly fitted up out of the Pavilion
parlors, decorated and provided with all
convenienceS.
For District Conventions the two Su-
preme Courtrooms and the Assembly
Chamber in the Capitol building have
been prepared, to which broad, we'll
kept walkways through the Park lead
direct from the Wigwam.
No stands or booths are permitted in
the Pavilion. Ice water. pure and clear,
is provided at four points just outside
the entrance to the wigwam. The entire
work OF designing and fitting the Wig
wan has been done under the direction
of the Hall Committee, Messrs. Hadley,
Wallis and Holmes, and does them in
finite credit. The decorators for the COM
mittee were Hevener IL Meir of this city,
and their work is thing in which they
may take iustifiable pride. Instead of
the old-time style of hanging flags innu-
merable and host of smalI-fry decora-
tions. the more artistic and elegant style
of broad, heavy strokes of color has been
adopted, with total absence of what
may be called ginger bread' work.
This broad, level, flowing style of strong,
heavy strokes, gives character of dig
nifty, loftiness and artistic finish to the
interior not possible TO be attained in
any other manner.