The record-union., 1896-02-25
a PUBLIC NECESSITY.

One of the most pressing needs of
Sacramento is a public hall of ample
proportions, good taste and modern fit
tings. It should be large enough to hold
1000 or 5000 people easily and be ca
pabIe of reduction by a closing parti
tion of being thrown into two or three
lesser halls.
Tt should be constructed so that there
will be the attachments of banquet and
committee-rooms, a kitchen and
movable stage, with some neat, simple
scenery It ought to contain an organ
also. Tt should be fitted with the best
movable seats and have hat and cloak
rooms, plenty of exits, broad and easy,
and be provided with fire hydrants and
fire escapes. The floor should be con-
structed so as to accommodate dancers.
and yet be firm enough to hold all the
people who can be accommodated in 1T,
and the stage be so built that all can
see from a level floor.
It should have a spacious gallery,
that it may be a ''two-price" hall. 1t
should be so well lighted and ventilated
that it would be ideal, and in this re-
spect such a hall can be more easily
constructed here, where space is ample,
than in a larger city, where realty is
more valuable The exterior character
of such a hall is of little moment for
the ends of which we shall speak pres
emily, though of course if it is a hand
some structure exteriorally it will be
that much more a credit to the city.
However, the great needs for hall
are these, for concert and lecture pur-
poses, the matter of acoustics being
given especial attention, for bazars,
festivals, society entertainments and
conventions. The fact that the city has
but one hall worthy the name, and that
though neat, it is too small is
constant reproach to the Capital of the
State.
The sum of money expended in fitting
up Temporary halls, in using the Cap
ito1 building (Which ought to be for
bidden), in decorating and adapting old
and ill-fitting barn-like places, has been
enough in the last ten years to have
paid the cost Of a hall such as the city
ought to have.
Thirty thousand dollars would pro-
vide just such a hall as we have out
lined in brief. and leave a lower story
for business purposes, but would not
give it the light and air advantages of
occupying a corner lot. But one-half
that sum Of money will construct such
q hall on a cross street on the ground
level without exterior finish, and that
II would pay for the investment no one
doubts who has taken any account of
the money expended for hall makeshifts
In this city.
a pavilion half could be erected for
SO. 600, capable of seating 5000 people.
or in divisions, two or three smaller
bodies, as the need might be, and as to
the interior have all the conveniences Of
banquet-rooms, kitchen. parlors
cloakrooms. good acoustics. handsome
finish. light and ventilation in plenty
1t will easily pay 10 per cent upon the
money net. OF course such building
would be of rude exterior, but If capital
cannot be induced to give US all that is
needed. it ought to be organized to give
as at least a spacious handsome in
terror.
This matter had the attention of the
Record Union" some years ago, and it
was then confessed on all sides that the
proposed hall was pressing need, and
one capitalist assured US of his readi-
ness to build it, but death overlook
him too soon The hall is far more a ne
cessity to-day. That schools of the city
should be driven to rent the theaters
for their public exercises; that fairs and
bazars cannot be held in suitable quar-
ters; that we have no decent place for
conventions. grand bodies and great
conVocations. and in consequence have
to go TO great expenditure to fit up
properly other buildings to make them
decent and attractive, and beg the coin
to do it in order to secure State conven-
tions: that there is not a concert hall in
the entire city capable of containing an
audience of 700 people. and that the
makeshift for it is church with fixed
pews and no stage and insufficient exits
and chair-crowded aisles-these things
constitute a reproach to Sacramento.
The people felt it bitterly when the
horticulturists from the East assembled
here It is common comment when the
masonry floor of the Capitol has to
be used for dancing at inaugural balls.