Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-13

ton of city building that seems to
bother most people is whether the hoor
of the auditorium shall be level or in
clned after the opera house style In
other words shall it be town hail or an
opera house. It is the opinion of many
that dances should be held elsewhere ana
that the city building should contain
modern amusement room Tor the granu
opera, the drama, the lecture ana thc
local concert. An opera house with 'ne
raised floor and stationary CHAIRS Wouiu
prevent the holding of fairs IN the nan
and dancing would be impossible
That the city moy have on easy terms
q suitable building for all city depart
ments il beyond question from the Ihct
that Hon. NJ c. Foster is ready and mas
made the proposition TO several citizens 10
provide building that will cost not less
than $40. 900, providing the city Will lease
the land where the old city hall now
stands for IA term of ten years, and then
tn lease Of Mr.. Foster the building tnat
ne will construct for the same number
Of wears at sum equal to the interest on
$40 900 at 4 4 per cent per annnln.
Anyone knowing Mr.. Foster also
knows that be will support any such
uroDostion if he makes it, SO the where
withal to get city building Is settled
nroyiding Watcrviile wants to accept Mr..
Foster s. offer. The question of ho" to get
the building being disposed OF the next
question is what kind of one is wanted.
In the first place the superstructure, it
Ia Thought should be of brick, iron or
steel and slate, with granite trimmings,
then the arrangement Of interior will be
the important detail in its construction.
Many ideas have been suggested rs to
how the interior should be arranged but
nothing definite has been arrived Mt and
Of course when the time comes plans
will be asked for of eminent architects.
The dimensions of the building, ground,
will depend on the lot Of land but in
arranging the interior the fact that an
opera house should not BE- pushed too high
in the air must be taken into considera
ton. There is "a suggestion that the city
departments might be- arranged on two
floors after the following order The
first floor which would h9 on Il level with
Front street would contain Offices FIR the
ASST ssors city engineer, liquor agcncy,
Judge Of the municipal court clcik ~ the
municipal, municipal court room, city
narshal's office. poles guard room, Gig
prison, toilet rooms and storage closets.
The second floor 70 contain Offices for the
city clerk, city treasurer and collector Of
taxes, board Of educatiou. mayor recep-
tion room and private Office, chamber Tor
the board of aldermen, TWO committee
rooms and common conncil room with an
apartment for the free public library On
the third floor would be- located the
amusement hall with galley extending
along the sides and rear Of the hall The
matter Of getting too high ia The air with
the hall when II Is situated ~ the third
floor is easily disposed by nature IF the
building let The old city hall is ap-
preached by number Of steps upward.
This might he the case with the new
building bu; by dropping what is now the
first iioor to level With The present base
ment floor, then the first floor Of the new
building would b. on level with Front,
and the basement would practically cease
to be. The first floor woud he reached by
inside steps Of marble and there might he
several entrances on the Front street side
from tho street level High lights in
front and on the Main street side would
only be present to Indicate that any
portion of the building set below the
ground and-this side of the building is
hidden and always will bc hidden from
view by the row OF buildings which line
Main street.
The second floor containing the city
government rooms need set but a little if
any above the present floor in the old city
hall, say half way from the present floor
to the bottom of the gallery, this would
make less than half story ascent which
could be reached with two short flights of
wide stairs that would have a half turn.
This would bring the opera house part
down to less than two Stories from Com
| mon street practically. Exits from the
hall should be made at both ends of the
building beside a regular stage entrance.
The above is the result of the journal
man conversation with some Of the bust
ness men of the city. The Journal under
stands that Manager Chase. who now has
charge of the city hall, says he can bring
first class companies to this city, the
receipts from which would more than
pay the interest money wanted by Mr.
Foster and there is no doubt but that
| many conventions and public meetings of
nearly every kind would find it most CON
venent to be held here in Watcrville as
the city is centrally located and easy Of
access from all parts Of the state 1t Is
only too true that the city departments
are scattered far and wide in the city.
large Sums are paid in rents for quarters
that are inconvenient and totally unfit for
use of the departments that now occupy
them.