The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-22
In the Auditorium Matter is
Sounded Last Evening.
The Sentiment Of the Meeting
Appeared to Be
PUT UP THE BUILDING
With the Money Raised and Do
1t Now.
Cut the Estimate and Proceed
With Construction.


peka to $4,000 without rejecting the
original plans as prepared by Architect
Stanton.
At the meeting of the board of direc-
tors of the Auditorium association last
night Mr.. J. s. Warner, Mr.. w. L
Miller and Mr.. J. B. Billiard were ap-
pointed as committee to confer with
Architect Stanton and City Engineer
Barnes with this object in view. While
retaining the original plans in general,
which give the building a seating ca
pacity of 5000, an effort will be made to
make reductions in different ways so
as to bring the cost down to $25, 900.
The last estimate of the cost of the
building, according to the original
plans, was $3S, 600.
The committee will meet with Mr.
Stanton and Mr.. Barnes this week, and
hopes to be able to make report at
the next meeting of the board of direc-
tors on Tuesday evening of next week
II 1t is found that the cost of the build
ing can be reduced to SIS, 900, the collec-
ton of the subscriptions already made
will be commenced and the additional
money necessary will be raised at once.
AT the opening of the meeting last
night President Anderson reported that
letters of resignation members of
the board of directors had been re
ceived from Messrs. G. S. Sutton, F. o.
Popenoe, Thos. Page, NJ. d. Hender-
son, Samuel T. Howe, J. w. Thurston,
VIM. Green and A. K. Rodgers.
The designations of Messrs. c. S.
w. ThurSton and A. K. Rodgers were
accepted, and the designations of the
remaining gentlemen were laid on the
table. In place of the five members
Messrs Chas. L. Wood, Thos. Hanley,
J. B. Billiard, VIM. Dransfield and W. L
Miller were elected directors of the To-
peka Auditorium association.
IN M E6Ua I~d Wilder a
amendment to the bylaws declaring
nine members quorum was adopted.
A letter from Mr.. J. P. Davis, chair
man of the special committee appoint
ed by the Commercial club to consider
the proposition of the purchase of
Hamilton hall as suggested by Judge
Horton, was read, stating that the COM
mittee had not yet had time to consider
the matter but that a full report would
be made at a later date.
Mr.. Wilder suggested that the treas
urer collect the auditorium buttons and
make a report of the amount in the
button fund. Treasurer Elliot stated
that the buttons were now being col
lected, and that a report would be made
as soon as possible.
Mr.. w. c. Stephenson-I think if we
mean to build the auditorium this year
we should get a working committee out
and raise some more money:
Mr.. Edward Wilder-I think there is
some question as to the wisdom of fix
ing the seating capacity of the auditor
ium at 5000 1 feel that this is excess
sive, and do not believe we will need a
building of such seating capacity.
think that we should take steps to Sc
cure a change in the ordinance reducing
the seating capacity to 1000. This may
mean that the question Will have to be
again submitted to the people. There
is no use of talking about raising SIS, 600
more than we have already raised, the
difference between the $23, 900 already
subscribed and the $4,000 necessary to
build the auditorium as the plans now
stand.
Mr.. Stephenson-I. too, feel that it is
practically impossible to raise the diff
ference between the amount already Sc
cured and the amount necessary to
build the auditorium. I also believe
that it will be necessary to resubmit the
auditorium proposition to the people in
order to change the seating capacity.
In order to determine this, move that
committee be appointed to CONFER
with the city council and city attorney
to see if such a change can be made |
in the ordinance without again submit |
ting the proposition.
Mr.. NJ D. HenderSon-If We change
the seating capacity, the question aris- |
eS as to whether we would have to |
raise these subscriptions over again as |
the subscribers might decide to with !
draw their subscriptions.
Mr.. Wilder-I don't think there would |
be any trouble on this point We |
might have to determine all the sub |
scriptions taken, but don't believe any /
of the subscribers would withdraw |
their subscriptions because the sub |
scriptions were for the construction of |
an auditorium without particular ref |
erence to seating capacity.
Mr.. J. B. Billard-I am personally OPP |
posed to making any change in the |
plans for the auditorium. don't think 1
ing subscriptions. and am in favor Of |
going ahead and raising the money /
necessary to build the auditorium ac-
cording to the original plans.
r. I I hos hoo
gested to me that we might use the old |
bridge iron with concrete in building
the auditorium: This would give
building, and one that
would be cool in hot weather.
Architect Stanton-A concrete build
ing would be an experiment, and either
stone or concrete would cost more than
wood.
Mr. Wilder-I don't think a concrete |
is by any means an experiment
because the Waitham Watch factory is
I concrete building. but 1 don't think
such a building would be less expensive
han a frame building.
Mr.. J. S. Warner-Gentlemen. there is
only one thing to do in this matter.
That is to build an auditorium with
what money we have. We can build an
with a seating capacity of !
900 for $25, GOO; there is no question
bout that. There is no use of talking
on can prepare plans for such build
ng, and if Mr.. Stanton can't do it we
an find somebody that can. There is
10 use talking about building a 5000
auditorium with but $4,000 raised at
his stage of the game. I have been
Intending auditorium meetings for
months, and we have made no progress
t all. I am willing to either go ahead
nd do something or throw the project
lp- (Applause.)
Mr. Otto Kuehne-Mr. Stanton, could
he old bridge truSseS be used as arch
s?
Mr. Stanton-I think probably.
you'd have to look into the matter be-
ore saying definitely.
Mr. r s Rrieham-In reference to