Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-05
THE VETERANS. AUDITORIUM.

Our Common Council. while expressing
rs willingness TO assist generously in
providing a han suitable for the meet
ings OF the United Confederate veterans
next June Is opposed TO spending any
city money upon the observation-disclosures.
The reasons given for this are that
the city has invested as much money as
it can afford TO invest in that property.
and because those grounds are not in the
city. but in Henrico county.
The Dispatch was the first paper to
seek to impress upon our people the OBJ
legation under which our community rests
TO provide a commodious hall for the
use OF the veterans When the city OF
Richmond, our Chamber OF Commerce.
and our veterans organizations united in
inviting the veterans of the South TO meet
here. we undertook tomake those veterans
comfortable. great convention hall is not
a luxury. but a necessity. OF the occa-
sion. The reunion cannot be success
without H. The people who are coming
here want TO see the big men OF the
South and hear them speak. They will
Idth anu Jam AH' birSNof 't"+i N'A''e
can provide. Not to have hall that
will seat eight or ten thousand people will
be 10 dlsappoint all expectations. But,
of course. we are going TO have such
a hall The present question Is merely
as 10 the site.
The Exposition-Grounds was not the
Dispatch's first choice for a site. We
preferred to see a wigwam or auditorium
erected upon the old Spring
lot. or upon the Allan lot. Further
more. we argued i'm favor Of having a
central building, TO which two wings
could be attached-the whole building
to be used by the veterans, but the
central building to stand until Richmond
was able TO provide herself with spa
cious house, or a great mechanics in
stitute hall But we were informed that
neither OF the sites we mentioned could
be obtained upon satisfactory terms as
10 the length Of lease and rental. In
other words. in the interest OF economy,
the veterans committee sought free
site. This they found at the EXPOSE
ton Grounds Moreover they found
there building dhe Music HalD which
could be enlarged 50 as to serve their
purpose. BY this plan they found that
they could save one third Of the money
that would be required 20 erect an
entirely new building. But now comes
the Common Council and makes obiec-
tions TO spending beyond the city limits
the $4,000 asked for. Well. as the City
Council is expected to vote the money.
they ought to have their choice as to
sites: but we shall be much mistaken II
at this late day they will be able to work
out a more economical scheme than
the one presented to them by the vete-
rams committee. We have heard II sug-
gested that a big tent could be gotten
to serve the purpose. tent might do.
If no rain fell: but we are yet to see
a tent that was rain-proof. But. OF
course. the City Council Is entitled TO
have its way. We know very well that
1t is not going TO put us I'm the
predicament Of having no suitable hall
in which to accommodate the veterans.
The councilmen are in hearty sympathy
with our purposes, and they well know
what is public sentiment.
IT viii cost less money to erect an au-
ditorium upon the Exposition Grounds
than in the city; but an auditorium
i'm the city Of IL be large enough will
be more desirable. But. at one place or
another. hall a very large and COM
Portable hail, we must have. Richmond !
must not do for our veterans less, but |
more, than other cities in which they |
have met have done for them.