The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-30
A FEASIBLE PLAN.
For an Auditorium Large
Enough For Topeka
Is Proposed Today by Mr.. Hal
NeiSwanger.
SITE AMI All. coo AOA
SITE AND ALL, $4,000
Bonds to Be Issued by the Pro-
motors.
And the Building to Furnish an
Income.

CluO, f1aI w. NelSWanSGr. Will
the matter of an auditorium before that
organization at the next meeting and
ask for the appointment of three trus-
tees to take charge of the active work
which will precede the building of an
auditorium in Topeka large enough for
all practical purposes.
Mr.. Neiswanger is in earnest. He
says an auditorium will be built in To-
peka in time for the big gathering next
fall and he knows what he is talking
about The only thing necessary is two
other men who will act with Mr.. Neis-
wanger in carrying out his ideas.
The plan is comprehensive one and
does not contemplate any private con-
tributions. The building will be erect
ed as an investment and will pay for
itself and then be the property of the
city. 1t will insure an income of 6 per
cent to the people who will buy the
that there will be trouble in dispos-
ing of the bonds when the security will
be ample as it will be in this case
Briefly stated Mr. Neiswanger'S plan
which has been approved by architects
is this The promoters issue $50, 900 of
per cent bonds maturing at different
periods up to Is years. Pay 10000 for
a site and put $4,000 in the building
which will comfortably seat 5000 peo-
pie Have a high basement which may
be rented to concerts which demand a
basement to be placed each year in a
building and loan association which will
pay the bonds as they fall due The
interest on the bonds to be paid either
annually or semi-annually a the asso-
citation in which the annual investments
are made The building to be in charge
of three trustees but to be the property
of the city and under the control of the
city council.
BY this plan the income from the
building will pay for it in Is years and
one Will be COnn0llR6 n h.
burden. 1t is the same plan as is fol-
lowed where lands are sold on monthly
payments.
Mr. Neiswanger has already consult
ed the officers of various building and
loan associations who tell him that the
plan is feasible and that an auditorium
with safety He has already opened
negotiations with the officers of an or
ga ton which will take almost the
entire basement and he has also had
interviews with another firm which
would take the remaining space.
An important thing will be TO have
the building situated where the base
ment would rent readily and the pro-
jector contemplates placing it in the
business portion of the city. He pre-
fers to keep the proposed location Sc
cret until the plans are more mature
but the site will be 125 by It's feet in di-
mansions and the building will seat s.
900 people without a gallery. If a gal
lery is put in it will provide seats for at
least 1000 more
The place Mr.. Neiswanger has in
mind would place the building within
easy reach of the hotels and it would
also be in the best business portion of
the city. He places the income from
the basement at 81, 600 per annum which
would mature the bonds in building
and loan associat ton at 6 per cent inter
est The plan is to use. the shares of
the building and loan association Dur-
chased with the income, for cola teraI
security or if that is not satisfactory 10
make the bonds mortgages on the build
ing.
The basement of the building would
be high so that light would be admit
ted from at least three sides The plan
is to have numerous exits so that the
building could be emptied almost in a
moment The main floor would he
high probably ornamented in one cor
ner with a tower which would give the
structure a pleasing appearance and
it is erected.
The details of the proposed building
have not yet been worked out but Mr.
Nelswanger says he is satisfied that
structure such as is needed almost if
not altogether fire proof can be buiIt
for not more than 500, 900 and perhaps as
little as SIS, 900.
One feature of the plan which should
commend itself TO everyone who lives
in Topeka and owns property here is
that after the building had paid for it
self 1t would be a constant source of
revenue to the city.
Mr.. Neiswanger said to a Journal re-
porter: Il have long realized that an
auditorium in Topeka is an imperative
need. 1t is something that the city
cannot very well do without The great
drawback has always been the inability
to raise sufficient funds to put up a
building adequate to all the needs of a
city like Topeka.
Il know a great deal about the in
stallment business and consequently
/ know what a continued investment will
do, and 1 am satisfied that the plan
which have studied out is practicable
in every particular. I have written
to several building and loan associa-
tons in the east and have also dis
cussed the project with some of the
they agree with me that my plan is
feasible and can be carried out.
Il feel that such an investment would
be safe thing, and in support of my
belief l stand ready to put some money
into the bonds. BY this plan one
is asked to donate anything. The bonds
will be an excellent investment and
People who bought the bonds would not
stand in the position of making dona-
ton.
My plan is to have the trustees ap-
pointed by the Topeka Commercial club.
but that the building shall belong to the
city. II should be the property of the
city and the trustees should formally
turn it over when it is paid for be
heve, however. that at all times the
trustees should work under the direc-
ton of the mayor and council If the
building belonged to the city it would
escape taxation. AS this would be
purely a public enterprise for the bene-
fit of the city at large it should not be