Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-06-30

Chicago 10 going to build . colosseum
which will seat 1900 persons. and II a.
poets &C make II pay by inviting to tina
city numerous national conventions. o.
course. Chicago means to claim the grea'
presidential nominating conventions
which are TO be held next year. and
expects to show. not only that It II tn
most central OF the great cities Of thi
country. but that 1t has accommodation
for large conventions superior to an,
other city Of the United States.
We doubt not that the colosseum vii
pay the city directly and indirectly. W.
are not conceited enough to believe that
Richmond can rival Chicago an a con
vcntion city; but we arc sure that there
are many conventions, State and national
that would gladly meet In this old rebel
capital II We had the desired accommo
dations for them. The Jefferson. now
nearly ready for occupancy. is a great
addition to our hotel accommodations
great in the sense that II Is large build
Ing. and great in the sense that It Is
beautifully located. and will be luxurious
ly furnished and elegantly kept. 1t II
going TO be the gem OF southern hotels.
and, We believe. viii be credit to Rich
mond and a monument to the good sense
and public spirit Of Its owners.
This hotel. added to the half dozen other
good hotels here, will put us on a good
footing in the matter OF hotel accommo-
dations. Now. what We need Is large
hall--call 1t colosseum. wigwam. taber-
nacle, or what you will. so that 1t will
seat from FIVE 20 ten thousand persons.
and be- conveniently located.
Such hall we must build TO accommo-
date the southern veterans who will hold
their annual meeting here next year.
when the cornerstone OF the Jefferson
Davis monument is to be laid. 1t will
only be possible for us now to procure
money to erect a temporary structure.
but II suitable arrangement as to a site
could be made. we see no reason why this
temporary building should not be al
lowed to stand until a permanent hall
could be put in its place. The site most
generally spoken OF as suitable for the
Nt''iahc Wis - oi tNiiH via
gonaiy opposite the jefferson Hotel, and
whether 1t would be allowed to stand there
for two or three years would depend upon
whether the owner Of the property, MIR.
S. w. Venable, of Petersburg would re-
quirc possession Of the lot sooner than
fourths of the square is unoccupied now,
and may be unoccupied next spring, but
the owner may want TO make use OF II
before the year Is out. But so desirable
is IT for Richmond to have n convention
hall, we should make II a. point to see II
We cannot make the veterans wigwam
serve that purpose; and we trust that
the Lee Camp Committee OF Arrange
ments will keep in view the double pur-
pose that the wigwam may be made 70
serve.
The Venable lot (old penitentiary spring
loD IS near to Monroe Park. where the
cornerstone is to be laid. and
Is close by tho Jefferson. while the
Main-street line of electric street-cars
passes the lots front. We can think of
no lot more suitably situated for the vete-
rams wigwam, but, having in view the
twofold purpose which we have stated,
1t Is quite possible that other lots are
preferable.
We observe that General Peyton Wise
Is at the head OF the Lee Camp commit
tee appointed to make arrangements for
the veterans visit; and he has the energy
NJ Dprcua ciyApacc ~ epoacb
to do all the work allotted to him by
the camp. besides carrying out this pro-
ject, which is so dear to hundreds Of
our public-spirited people, and which we
hope that he will favor.