The Forrest City herald., 1896-03-14
REPUBLICAN AUDITORIUM.

Description of the Building to BE Erecte'
In st. Louis In Which the Republican
National Convention VIII Be Heidi
WIN Play an Important Part In the His
tory of the United States, and, Incl
dentally, Of tho World.
ST. LOUIS, March 12.-The local com
mittee In charge of the arrangement
for the Republican national conven
tion met, and after considering tn,
bids from IA firms for the erection o
the auditorium in which the conven
tion is to be held decided on the bid o
Richard p. Mcclure.
Tho exact amount of the bid was not givel
out, but Mr.. Mcclure stated that 1t was abou
$4,000 Besides this amount several thousanl
dollars will be expended in the lighting an!
decoration of the building, both exterior ant
interior The building when completed VII
cost at least sep, 900 and probablya little abov'
that figure.
According to specifications, the buildinl
must be completed by June /. Failure to turi
over the building to the local committee D!
that date will impose forfeit OF $500 day OF
the contractor The contract also stipulatsi
that the structure shall be removed after No
vember / by the contractor, who Is to get al
the building material.
Great interest centers around the construc'
tion of the convention hall. as 1t promises u
play an important part In the history OF th'
United States, and, incidentally, OF the whol'
world, and the details OF the constructor
which follow will be read with much interest
The auditorium will be the largest that hal
ever been specially erected for national CON
vention. 1t will comfortably hold l4,C0o peo:
pie, and will be located on the northwest cor
ner OF Twelfth and Clark avenue, having 6
frontage Of 262 feet on clark avenue and ls'
feet on Twelfth street The height of the audi
torlum will be 80 feet, and the highest point o.
the building will be 20 feet above the ground
The plans throughout follow the graceful Re-
naissance style, The exterior Of the building
will be constructe Of combination OF cement
and plaster, in appearance not unlike the ma
terlal used in the Worlds fair buildings, bu,
of a more solid character. The entire exterior
will be Of this imitation stone work nodded IN
rustic style. From the roof Of the building n
large flags will wave from as many fiag-po
Entrances to the building will be on all -four
sides In all there will be ~ entrances and
exits with almost that number OF stairways.
The auditorium will be divided into ground
floor, seating 5000 people, and balcony ac'
commodating 5000 The galleries viii be sup
ported by pillars, similar to those used III
Immediately in front OF the stage The
alternates will sit in special Enclosures on both
sides OF the delegates. In all i,ss seats and
IS 900 feet OF floor space has been allotted the
delegates and alternates, all OF which space
will be open and free from obstruction by posts
or pillars, The remainder OF the floor space
will be taken up by the seats for spectators,
the band stands press boxes, committee
rooms, coat and hat rooms, sergeant-at-
quarters, press and telegraph offices refresh
ment rooms and retiring rooms.
All the material to be used in the construc-
ton OF the building will be furnished by st.
Louis parties About ls'0,0oo feet OF lumber
will be used. The lumber will come from Ar
kansas but will be purchased through st,
Louis concerns. Nails enough to lll over BOZ
kegs will enter into the construction. There
will be imitation stonework to the amount Of
1900 square yards. The natural light tc
the auditorium will be secured by
400 large windows, and by night
thousands of arc and incandescent
lights will brilliantly illuminate both the ex-
terror and interior OF the structure. The In
terror OF the building will be elaborately deco
rated. From easement to dome the national
colors will be everywhere In evidence The
stage, galleries, press and band stands, telc.
graph ofices and committee rooms will be pro-
fusely decorated in the national bunting.
Around the walls near the ceiling unique deco
rations will be made In the shape Of metallic
heads OF eagles, lions etc