The Advocate and news., 1898-03-02
SETTLE BOTH QUESTIONS.
A Way to Combine Satisfactorily TOpeka'S
Auditorium Question and the Kansas
Exhibit at Omaha.

The people Of Topeka have an oppor-
tunity to receive the donation of an audi
tOrium building If they desire 1t, simply
by showing their pride in the city. The
Trans-Mississlpp and International Bx-
position offers the beautiful auditorium
building at Omaha as a donation at the
close Of the exposition upon the simple
condition that the citizens Of Topeka do
their share towards insuring a credltable
Kansas exhibit at the exposition.
The exposition auditorium is one which
would add to the credit of any city in
the country. In beauty it is not excelled
by any other Of the exposition buildings,
and it will be one Of the features Of the
exposition. While in Topeka Monday
e. s. Tucker, commercial agent for Kan
sas for the exposition, suggested that 1t
might be possible for Topeka 10 settle the
auditorium question by securing an op-
tion on the auditorium building Acting
on this suggestion, the Advocate and
News sent the following telegram to e.
ROsewater, manager Of the department
Of publicity and promotion of the expo
sition at Omaha:
Topeka, February 28.--Topeka is
now agitating the question of city
auditorium, and has fund of S15,-
900 for that purpose. Would 1t be
practicable to turn this toward the
Kansas display at the exposition,
and purchase the skeleton Of the ex-
position auditorium-that is, is the
skeleton of the exposition building
of material that is suitable for pur-
chase and removal after the close of
the exposition? What Is the seat
ing capacity of the auditorium?
Mr.. Rosewater wired in reply that the
matter would be presented to the exposi-
ton board, and later sent the following
telegram:
Omaha, February 2S.-The exposi-
ton auditorium seats 1900 people
and the stage holds 500. The struc-
ture is ON lumber, the exterior is
covered with staff and it is plas-
tered inside. We will donate this
building to Topeka at the close Of
the exposition conditioned from To-
peka citizens to insure creditable
Kansas exhibit.
e. ROSEWATER.
This affords Topeka an opportunity to
show the rest of the State that the cap
ital city takes proper pride in State
affairs and would give the city build
ing for convention purposes which would
be unequalled by a similar structure in
any city Of Topeka's size in the country.
Unless some special effort is made in the
near future Kansas will not be creditably
represented at the Trans Mississippi ex-
position. Other neighboring States have
asked for and obtained sufficient space
to make their displays. Mr.. Tucker
finally received assurances that justified
him in asking for 10000 square feet for
Kansas. The exposition board was un-
able to grant this request, but has ex-
tended the time for alloting space to
this State until March 10, which is ten
days beyond the limit.
The only way in which Kansas can be
suitably represented at Omaha is by the
erection of building The money al
ready in sight is insufficient to provide
a proper exhibit but Topeka can come
to the rescue. The local auditorium fund
is applicable to erect building which
can be so constructed as to form future
addition to the exposition auditorium
and be used as well as the Kansas build
ing at the Omaha exposition. The COM
bined buildings, moved to Topeka, should
give an auditorium with a seating ca
pacity of 5000, and Topeka would have
the reputation Of standing by the State
in matter of moment.