Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-23
WIGWAM At ST. LOUIS.
Work Has Been Begun on the Big Hall Tor The
Republican Convention.

St Louis, Mo. March 22.-tround has
been broken for the Republican convention
auditorium at the south end OF the new
City hail. ON Clark aycnne. \ biz force
OF men and POO teams were put to work
Yesterday, They will have to remove 5000
OF 1000 cubic wards of earth before the
foundation can be laid The building will
1T back sixty feet from the streets, and 4
space of fifty feet will separate the ,truc-
ture from the City hall.
1t is expected that the binding will be
completed and ready for occupation by the
first week in June.
When it was first decided 10 hold the
national Republican convention in ST.
Louis ii was supposed that the gathering
would meet in the exposition building L
substantial structure of brick and stone $50
by 800 feet, capable of accommodating H.
600 people. But the hall committee dcCid-
ed that the proposed alteration Of the
building would not meet the requirements
of the convention, and a new building is To
be put up expressly for the use Of the Re
publican hosts. The plans have been ac-
ccpted and the site has been picked out
The building will cover an area OF TO-
500 square feet. with a frontage of 260 feet
and depth of $50 feet. II will be renaS-
sance in style and will be built of wood. It
is estimated that 300. 600 feet of lumber
and 300 kegs of nails will be used. The
interior will be in hard wood finish Light
will be supplied from Il Skylight measuring
$50 by 100 feet. The building will also be
equipped throughout With are and incandes-
cent electric lights The total cost will be
$50. 600
The space allotted to the delegates and al
tcrnatcs will cover an area Of Is. 900 square
feet. in the center OF the auditorium. The
seats in this immense Enclosure will be ON
the Level, and not in tiers. Immediately in
front of the speakers stand viii be 92i
seats for the accommodation of delegates
There will be two Enclosures for altcrnatcs,
one to the right and the other to the left of
the delegates seats. Each of these in
closures will have accommodations for 462
altcrnate>. The entire space allotted TO
the delegates and altcrnatcs will be open.
with no pillars 10 obstruct the view.
The speakers platform will occupy Il
central position on the northern side of
the hall, just in front of the delegates
and just opposite the main entrance Di-
rccty back Of the platform will be seats
for the national committee. and still fur
Their back accommodations for invited
guests will be provided Extending from
the speakers platform to the right and
left will be seats for $50 newspaper repre-
sentatiyes and POO telegraph operators.
Surrounding the immense open area on
three sides OF the hall will rise great tier,
of seats for spectators, forming an am
phitheatre The total seating capacity Of
the ground floor will be 5000. Overlook
ing the convention hall proper there will
be gallery forty feet wide for spectators.
with seating capacity of G.o00. In the
center of the northern section of the gal
lery stand large enough to accommodate
II band of $50 pieces will be erected The
total seating capacity Of the immense struc-
ture will be II, 900.
There will be four main entrances. one
on each of the four sides of the building.
In addition to these there will be five
entrances on each of the four sides lead
ing to the ground floor There will be
separate entrance and exit to and from
each section of the auditorium. making it
possible, according to Architect Taylor for
5000 people TO pass into the building in less
than ten minutes. The gallery will be
reached by II separate entrances and six
flights of stairs. | feet wide. and can be
filled with almost equal celebrity
Mayor Cyrus p Walbridge has given the
Business Mems League permit to erect
the hall on the southern portion of the
block partially occupied by the new city
hall. The site extends from Twelfth to
Thirteenth streets on Clark avenue Clark
avenue is two blocks south of Market street
which Is the dividing line between the
northern and southern portions of the city
In point of easy access Il better site was
not available.