The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-09
PROPOSED AUDITORIUM.
THE DESIRED dPPROPRIITf0Nf FOR
THE ERECTION or ONE
Discussed at a Joint Session of tho Council
Committee aud the Confederate Esecu-
tive Committee Meet Again.

The special committee appointed by the
/ City Council 20 confer with members OF
{ the Executive Committee to receive and
Z entertain the United Confederate Vet
rams during Their reunion to be held in
this city next June. held a conference
( with the memtors Of the Executive CON-
mittee at the residence Of General Peytoh
Wise No. 100 west Main street last nlsnN
! and were I'm session for four hours.
There were present from the Connch
l Committee Messrs. Lawder. Nallerstein'
and Woody. From the Executive COM
mittce were present Colonel John y. cary,
Major Norman Y. Randolph, Hon. J. Tay-
lor Ellyson. Judge George J.. Christian
and city Engineer Cutshaw, and Architect
/ q Wiley Anderson. who has drawn plans
for the proposed auditorium, were also
! present. .... 90
Mr.. Walierstein was made chairman @.
the meeting. and explained the onJtct o.
I Inc conference. which, said me- was 10
/ consider the proposition of an apfFcpiE' IA
/ ton of $1,000 by the city CouncH 10Y ~"
/ rurnoeo of erecting a suitable auditorium
+ !, which 10 hold the meetings o. we
/ Confedcrate reunion next June ana also
for public gatherings in the fuiufs'
MORE CENTRAL PLACE
/ Mr.. allerstein expressed the we" ma
while he was perfectly In sympathy WIN
the movement for the Counch 10 90 any
thing IL could reasonably do for the en-
tlrtei,,nent az the veterans. he thought
/ that IL $1,000 was 10 be appropriated IL
/ should be so expended as 10 be A
nermanent benefit 90 the city. lie ana
not think the Exposition Grounds was
/ suitable place for the edection OF an audi
todium. and IL seemed to him that
/ more centrally-locatcd site would be pre-
ferable for the election Of such a build
ing
Mr.. Lawdcr said he did not think the
! city was Oblga- TO erect such struc-
/ lure. lie would like to see the veterans
/ properly entertained and cared for, nut
/ he thought the city WAS obliged TO I'M
prove her streets and sidewalks before
/ outside appropriations were made his
! views might Ice changed n sufficient ar
1 gumemts were advanced 10 show him
where his views were erroneous. but at
that time he thought there We're other
THINGS more important TO receive appro-
prlauons. and he was afraid he would
) have 90 oppose the movement 10 erect
such a building as contemplated.
Mr. Woody said he was I'm favor Of the
( appropriation. and while he was not so
sure that the Exposition Grounds would
/ be the best place for the building, he
was willing 10 agree TO that If no better
arrangements could be made.
JUDGE CHRISTIANS VIEWS.
judge Christian. on behalf of the Nete-
| rams Committee. stated that be thought
the city OF Richmond was under obliga-
tons 10 help 10 entertain properly the
/ Confederate veterans, inasmuch as the
/ organization bad been invited 10 Rich
/ mond through the city Council Moth
a no Of I'D hn
thought. than TO have the veterans as
semhle here without having the proper
/ facilities for thcir entertainment The
/ Committee on Auditorium had made in
I quiries ON an Sides and had made every
I EFFORT 10 secure q suitable place for the
I election Of building but the Exposi-
ton Grounds was the only available site.
General Wise also made an explanation
OF the work Of the Auditorium Commit
tee in their efforts TO get a suitable Site
and stated that there would be two lines
OF electric cars 20 the place before the
{ Time for the veterans 10 assemble. and
: the Richmond. Fredericksburg and Pc
/ tomac railroad would also carry ms
/ sengers 10 the grounds
Major Randolph spoke against the idea
4 81 the cry being under any oblipafions
/ To the Virginia Agricultural and Nc
/ chahlcai Society in case the city should
make the appropriation asked for The
! society was already virtually the n~on-
! erty OF the city, as Richmond citizens
| owned the controlling stock I'm that or
/ ganization. The site was not inaccessible
! by any means but was quite centrali,-
I -ocated as compared With auditoriums.
( lalr grounds, and the like in other places.
! The crowds that would come TO Richmond
/ ON this OCCASION as We'll as in July. when
+ branch of the Christian Endeavorers
were 10 come here would leave an
amount OF money I'm the city greatly I'm
access OF the expenditure incurred for
/ the building. The erection of the build
/ ing would give a large number OF people
/ work, and the large crowd i'm Richmond
Tor sevral days would help the city.
SANGER HALL OFFERED
\ communication from Mr. j. Thomp-
son Brown offering to sell the city the
Sanger Han property, fronting sixty feet
/ on seventh street and running back 1870
/ feet. for $4,000. was read. The COM
/ munication suggested that this property
/ be so arranged as 20 be used in con-
/ junction with the army so as 10 have a
/ large auditorium.
Mr.. Ellyson thought the committee was
/ shut up 10 the site at he Exposition. as
| he thought there was no other practical
/ plan available. lie thought the Sanger
/ Hall proposition, 81 accepted. would mean
am expenditure on the part Of the city
OF from $4,000 TO $4,000. This would bee
the last opportunity, in all probability.
/ that The veterans would have 10 VISIT
/ Richmond. the city they loved so dearly.
/ lt was refreshing to see the love the
| veterans all over the South bore Virgin
ia. He thought there would be the larc-
est assembly in Richmond since the war
| They were an organized body represent
ing all parts of the South. and they ought
TO be properly received and entertained.
and given suitable place in which 10
hold their deliberations
Colonel Cutshaw explained that the San
ger Hall proposition was impracticablc
This arrangement would not admit OF the
proper amount Of space. and could not be
completed in time for the reunion. The
plan he perfected would incur an expense
on the city Of from $4,000 10 sl00O00
Colonel Cutshaw further explained the
Efforts OF the committee to secure "A
suitable place for the auditorium. II was
finally decided, said he, that an addition
he made 10 the Music Hall AT the Ex-
position Grounds 80 that some 500 peo-
pie could be seated. In answer 10 the
argument why the city Of Richmond did
not erect a large. permanent auditorium
for public assemblies, Colonel Cutshaw
said that 10 have such a structure OF
brick or stone. reasonably proof against
fire or panic would require an expense Of
from 100000 10 500 900. and he was sure
the city was not financially prepared to
make such an appropriation. Colonel
Cutshaw thought that. taking an the
points into consideration. the only prac-