San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-04-03
FAMOUS ARCHITECT
DESCRIBES THE NATIONAL RE-
PUBLICAN CONVENTION HALL.
A Word Photograph of the Building Where
Our Next President Will be
Nominated.

4
vention hall of st. Louis, in which
the approaching national republi-
can convention is held, is to be in the
city at the Menger. Col. Taylor is
in consultation with Mr.. II. d.
Ksmpmann regarding the pro.
posed alteration of the Menger.
Concerning the object Of his
mission be had nothing to say this
morning, as Mr.. Kampmann's in
tentions are not definite.
II am equally blank as to the
political situation," he said to a
reporter today, "but L can tell you
about the convention hall" which
he proceeded to do to the following
effect.
The hall has a convenient loca-
ton just south of the new city
hall, with a frontage on Clark
street Of 262 feet and depth OF 1872
feet.
1t is to be of substantial frame
construction. The exterior will be
rendered in staff somewhat SINH.
lar to that used in the Worlds
fair buildings, except Of harder
material. 1t will appear as il built
of colored marble.
The general design o, the inter-
ior is one large expansive first
story floor, with forty-foot gal
lery around the entire structure.
The 91S delegates will be placed
Immediately in the centre Of the
building, and on either side will be
room for the alternatives.
The speakers stand will be at
the side we'll toward the centre,
thus affording the best opportunity
to command the whole room.
The national committee and dis
tinguished guests will be seated
Immediately back Of the speakers
stand.
On either side of the stand will
be 204 seats and desks for press
representatives, making 40S press
seats in all.
The first floor back OF the dele.
gates will be pitched up in amphi-
theatrical style, making an excel
lent point Of sight for visitors. The
first story contains seats for 5000,
and the gallery seats for 5000,
making a total Of IA 900 seats.
The whole structure has been
most carefully planned with the
object of affording all people occu-
plying chairs the beet facilities for
seeing and hearing.
Underneath the pitched portions
are rooms for the Western Union
telegraph, the Associated and
United Press, Postal Telegraph,
committee rooms, one large room
for restaurant, and eight large
toilet rooms.
The testimony Of prominent men
who for twenty years have at
tended conventions all over the
United States, shows that the
building, as an entirety, will be by
far the best adapted and the best
constructed for this purpose in the
country.
The entrances and exits OF the
building have been the subject of
the most careful consideration.
Under no circumstances will more
than $50 persons at one time be
compelled to use single exit. The
structure has been divided on this
principle. The delegates, alter
mates, and visitors have separate
and distinct entrances, all of am
pie character.
No expense has been spared by
The citizens OF st. Louis to make
the building comfortable for the
national committee and the pub
lie at large.
About 100000 have been ex.
pended in the construction of the
building.
| The work of remodeling the
Menger hotel will be expedited as
soon as the plans and specifica-
tions have been completed, and
the new hotel ready for tourist
trade by next December.
The details have not been set
tied, but the general ideas pervad-
ing the plans for the structure are
commodiousness, comfort and ele-
gance. The new building is to be
six stories high, with deep base
ment, and roof garden Of tropi-
cal plants. 1t will cover almost
the entire block, bounded by Blum,
Bonham, Crockett streets and the
plaza. The frontage on Alamo
plaza will be 800 feet, $50 feet on
Crockett and the same distance on
Blum.
The building will accommodate
about $50 guests, and will be
!; modelled on the most advanced
| hotpl nrincin1as