The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-28
TO TAKE 1T UP.
The Question Of an Auditorium
For Topeka
viii Be Considered By Ener-
getic Citizens
WHEN FOOD SHOW ENDS
The Project That Is Beginning
to Form Itself
Is For a Building That Will
Seat 5000.

Topeka might have had an auditorium
long ago if those who have talked of the
project had been persistent enough. But
during the period of agitation the city
had no Commercial club whose scope OF
duties would include that of securing
such building for Topeka as would
accommodate large gatherings.
But fortunately that period has passed
and the city now has an organization
of live, wide awake business men known
as the Topeka Commercial club who
can and should see that an auditorium
is built. 1t is believed that they VIII
do so. Many of the leading members
of the club are now interested in the
Pure Food show and do not, this week,
have time TO give the matter much
thought When they have completed
their labors in connection with the ex-
hibition now in progress they will con-
slider the auditorium project
President Wilder, Secretary Adams
and r. S. Brigham of the Pure Food
association have witnessed with dis
may the surging crowd of people at the
food show and they have been brought
face to face with the question in such a
manner that it cannot well escape
them.
Food association told a Journal reporter
last evening that the exposition would
more than pay expenses, but he was I'M
able to tell or even form an estimate Of
how much of a fund would be on hand
after the expenses have been paid.
1.-The expenses have been heavy" said
Mr.. Green, land no one knows what
they are, but I am satisfied that there
will be some money left. AS far as it's
disposition is concerned, that is a mat
ter to be left to the directors. I would
not be qualified to speak concerning
it,
superintendent Newland said: This
exposition was not started for a money
making scheme No member of the
association expected to make any money
out of it. If there is anything left
after the expenses are paid 1t will be at
the disposal of the board Of directors.
and I think that nothing better could
be done than to start q fund for an
auditorium
Neither Secretary Adams nor Treas
urer Green would say whether or not
they would favor starting an alidito-
rum fund.- with the residue of the re
ceipts from the exposition.
One man suggested that money be
raised to extend Hamilton hall to Sixth
street which would make hall large
enough to accommodate an audience or
any size, but such a plan would not be
considered practicable because there
would be need for such a hall as that
owned by DR.. Hamilton even If an du-
ditorium were built, and also because
an auditorium must be on the ground
floor. In large gatherings there IS al
ways more or less danger of panic
in case of fire, and it would be fright
full if the people were on the second
floor Of a building.
A Topeka man in speaking of the pro-
posed auditorium said The building
must be from $50 to 200 feet square
the bigger the better. 1t must be pro-
vided with wide exits and must be on
the ground, so that there may be no
brushes in leaving the building, no mat
ter how large the crowd. 1t must ac-
comrnodate at least 5000 people, so that
it may be large enough for any kind or
a gathering at any time The stage
must be large enough to accommodate
a chorus of four or five hundred PEG
pie. and it must be so arranged thai II
can be Thoroughly heated in winter
s'Such building would be an attrac-
ton for the city, and Topeka might
then become a formidable competitor
for national conventions-even a ma
tional political convention might meet
here. The city is situated in the CEN
ter of the United States, and with an
auditorium large enough for all pur-
noses it would become the natural place
for holding all national gatherings