Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-18
General Wise and the Auditorium.

wealth. OF tllt SNdIhbS h'N''
General Wise and the Auditorium
The letter of Chairman Peyton wise on
the subject Of the auditorium (Which we
publish this morning. is interesting. lie
agrees with all the Dispatch has said on
this question except that he favofs the
observation-disclosures as the site Tor 'ne
building. At ieast We think mat this Is
n fair inference from what he says
though in view OF his official position.
ne wisely refrains from committing nm
self TOO far. One OF the chief arguments
that he uses is that n building-lot can
he secured upon the Exposlton-Grounds
free of charge whereas, to erecI the au-
ditorium In the city with view 10
permanency would require too great an
expenditure for a lot.
If the auditorium is to he built with
view to permanency II ought TO be put
where II will best serve the public. In
our judgment. the observation-disclosures Is
not that place. one of the great heeus
of a large public hall is 10 accommodate
the bazaars that are held here every
winter. There are TWO such bazaars I'M
der way now. and each would. we doubt
not. make use Of the auditorium If IL
were in existence at this time and were
centrally located.
Hundreds of those who patroniZe pa
zaars. concerts. music festivals. etc. are
persons Of small means. TO whom car
fare is a matter of consequence. Bes!d-s
II is incredible that we shall have in the
course Of the next year or two street
car system reaching to the Exposition
Grounds which Will be able 10 give
nlick transportation to ten or fifteen
thousand people, all of whom wish TO
rush back to the city at once This rush
for the cars would be bad enough in the
DAYTIME; at night il would be overwhelm-
ing and confusing.
In our opinion. an auditorium erected
upon the Exposi don Grounds would not
serve one half of the public uses that
an auditorium erected in the city Wouih
serve. Besides we should very much
dislike TO see the visiting veterans heavily
taxed to pay car-fare when they come
here next May.
should there be two or three sessions
of the Grand Encampmeni each day.
ones car-fare would amount TO some
thing considerable. if he attended All
these sessions We repeat. We fear mat
even with the Broad-street car-llne punt
as 1t will be. our transportation facilities
might prove 50 sadly unequal 10 the de-
mands of the occasion. that instead OF
winning reputation by the veterans fe-
union here we would have our city dls1
credited. All of us know how worthy
INADEQUATE are our streei,car facilities
TO handle the crowds when great base
hail eames are played. Now. think Of the
difficulties that would be ours where the
crowds outnumbered the baseball crowns
Two or three to one. Remember. too, mat
yhe majority of these crowds would pe
strangers, upon whom We would wish 10
make good impression as to the great
ness Of our city.
IL seems to us that the Nenable lot or
the Allan lot or some other suitaoiy-i"-
Gated lot might be leased for term OF
years. with the option of purchase wheh
we are ready to substitute the temporary
structure with one OF granite and iron.
While we have named these two lots as
the most suitable there are other lois
which would no doubt. serve our purpo-
ses. The Allan lot is not as large as
the Venable lot, but it has the advantage
of being more central. And for our use
i'm Nav next an auditorium erected there
ON might with the consent Of the city
Council. be extended so as to cover some
portion of Fifth street. The use of the
street need not be interfered with at all
and it's appearance would not be marred
for more than week.
In building an auditorium our foremost
purpose should be to accommodate the
veterans who are coming here next May
as well II not better than they have been
accommodated at any place at which they
have met heretofore. If with this prime
purpose in view we can so arrange as
that the central portion OF the building
shall be preserved. for use as public
haIl-preserved until We can build bet
ter one-well and good. But dear 10 our
heart as is the desire to secure for Rich
mond "A great public hall in which State
conventions and other large bodies may
meet. we would advise no course that
would imperil in the slightest degree our
purpose TO give the veterans Il reception
and entertainment which will do Rich
mond credit We feel perfectly sure that
If the convention hall be erected at some
central point in this city We shall be able
to do our duty az hosts more satsfacto-
rily than if IT be erected upon the Expo
sition Grounds