San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-07-20
ITS ULTIMATE END.
Disposition to Be Made of the Big
St Louis Convention Hall.
After November LIST Its Days of Useful
ness VIII Be Over and It WIN
Be Torn Down-Is Now
Dismantled.

Inc crstwhlle bravely adorned Audi
forum that rang with the defiance of
the free silver men and the cheers of the
McKin,eyites and Hanna camp follow
ers is dismantled and lonely monu-
ment to departed enthusiasm.
j. Anthony German, of San Francis
CO, to whom belongs the credit of the
simple but beautiful decorations, has
completed the work of dehabilitating
the big hall. He will ship all the silken
paraphernalia to the city by the golden
gate and it will be used in carnival
to be held in CALIFORNIA; metropolis
this fall. He presented souvenirs Of
the convention in the form of flags and
pictures to John NJ. Thurston, C. w.
Fairbanks and Chauncey Depew, and to
Mrs. Mckinley he sent one of the larg-
est flags. The background or founda-
ton of the decorations wiz be left for
the inspiration of the populist brothers.
The draperies of the wooden columns
and the bands of red, white
and blue bunting that defined
the ratings of the galleries, as
well as those which softened the
light that fell through the monitor"
or big skylight, will serve as substan-
tial nucleus of such adornment as the
populists desire. But the big building,
guarded by two policemen, is gloomy
now in contrast with its aspect when in
stinct with life few days ago. The
furniture will remain there until the
close of the convention, which will be
held July %, after which the building
committee will probably sell the $4,000
chairs and dispose in similar fashion
of the remaining accessories.
The hall itself will stand until Novem-
Der /. After that it will become the
property of the contractor, Richard p.
Mcclure, who will have it torn down
and sell the salvage as old lumber. By
the terms of the contract the building
will be for rent for big meetings and
rallies until that date. 1t will be use
less during the winter, for it would cost
not less than $4,000 to put heating
plant into the immense building. The
ground it occupies will be converted in
to city park next spring.
The structure is not only of interest
because of the convention just closed,
and the one shortly to be held therein,
but because of the fact that it was
erected in less time than any other
building of it's class in the history Of
architecture, says the st. Louis Repub-
lie. Work was begun on it April 1 and
in six weeks it was ready for occu-
pancy. No one, unless it were the busy
contractor, worked overtime. The
cight-hour rule was strictly adhered
to. Another notable fact was that there
was not an accident in connection with
any portion of the work. Few large
buildings there be which have not been
to some degree affairs for the sacrifice Of
human life. Every precaution was
taken to prevent injury to the work
men. The contractor enjoined extreme
care, with the happy results referred to.
Although Mr.. McC lure will have 1,600,-
900 feet of lumber at his disposal when
the big building is torn down, he says
his will be small profit, If any, as the ex-
pense of undoing the work Of April will
cost as much as he can realize from the
lumber, which will then, of course, be
secondhand. 1t took $4,000 pounds Of
nails to put the great structure to-
gether. and such as these that remain
true to their original rectilinearness
will also be available. The timber 10
all yellow pine, brought from Williams
vile, on the st. Francis river. Until No
vember 1, which will see the initial
work In its demolition, the building will
be in charge of Sam Kennard, William
III. Thompson and Richard c. Kerens.
Doubtless it will be popular place for
rallies in the early fall.