Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-30
The Auditorium.

For months the Dispatch mas ufBou
that when the auditorium was built TO
accommodate the grand encampment OF
United Confederate Veterans at their
sessions to be held in this city next
spring. II should be built with q view TO
permanently.
The committee of Richmond veterans
having charge OF this matter has cor
daily accepted our suggestion. and has
earnestly labored to find a site in this
city for such a building; but II has
found no lot that could be gotten for
any sum Of money that ii was in its
power to raise. The committee would
have preferred the Allan lot or the Vena-
BILE lot to the observation-disclosures. but
the prices asked were far beyond its
means and II has therefore concluded
to erect the auditorium upon the EXPOSE
ton Grounds. IL an arrangement can be
made to this effect with the Exposition
society.
We need scarcely say that this Is a
disappointment to us. AS we have here
toforeF argued at length, an auditorium
in the city would be useful in many
weathers particularly in the winter
tims), and for many purposes that an
auditorium upon the Exposition-Grounds
would not be available for. However. We
believe that the committee has done its
best to secure site in the city. That it
has failed IL no fault of its own. but
is due simply to the fact that the ac-
QUESTION Of site within the city de-
manded the expenditure OF a sum Of
money far beyond the power of the COM
mttee TO raise.
1t is believed that $4,000 will be needed
TO put up the building. and the COM
mittee thinks that this will be all the
money that IL can count on at this time
for this purpose-there being other very
urgent demands upon this community
for money to be used In connection with
the meeting of the United Veterans here
and the laying Of the cornerstone Of
the Jefferson Davis monument next May
So 10 seems determined that the audi
torium is to be built upon the Exposition
Grounds, because that is the best site
now available for an auditorium built
with a view 10 permanency. The site
selected fronts Broad street. and Is on
the corner OF the grounds nearest the
city. The letter of the committee to
the architects. inviting plans. calls for
building that will seat 600 persons Close
by the site chosen for the auditorium, is
the Machinery Hall OF the Exposition
in which overflow meetings may be held,
and so IL Is believed that altogether very
10, talt .laff
may be arranged on the Exposition
Grounds for the veterans meeting next
May, and Richmond will thereafter have
at her command a public hall in which
great conventions may Sit and which will
be useful to US for many other purposes.
We must accept the conclusion OF the
committee as the best that could be done
under the circumstances; but the com
mittee should see to il that our street-car
companies arrange TO meet the extraor-
binary demands that Will be made upon
them for transportation next spring.
The greatest baseball crowd that We
have ever seen here viii be as nothing
compared TO the crowds that will at
tend the veterans meetings when such
men AZ John r. Gordon. Wade Hamp-
ton Stephen d. Lee. Fitz Lee, and other
OF our great leaders are announced to
speak.
Yes: we must see to a. that ample
street-car facilities are provided, and in
asmuch as many veterans having once
gotten TO the grounds through the crush
and crowd will wish 10 stay there all
day, We hope that provision will be
made for serving them with lunch, either
free or at a nominal price. Great as
has been the attendance upon these en-
eampments wherever they have been
held. We may expect that the one TO be
held at Richmond In 1896 will exceed
them all in magnitude.
Richmond Is pledged, not only 10 pro-
vide suitable hall or halls for the vete-
rams meetings. but is bound to see that
there il sufficient means of transporta-
tion to the place of meeting.
With the question OF site practically
settled. the next matter of importance Is
10 raise the money necessary to build the
auditorium. We are to remember that
this auditorium will not only serve our
purpose next spring. but other purposes
for many years TO come. We are to re-
member that State Democratic Conyen-
ton Is TO be held next year, and that
with such hall as u Is proposed that
we shall have. Richmond may confidently
claim the privilege OF accommodating It.
We are to remember. too. that now
having better hotel facilities than ever
before In her history, Richmond may in
wife here conventions and other public
bodies that II has heretofore felt that II
MAS not prepared to accommodate suita.