Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-02-17
CONVENTION HALL ILLUMINATED
= FOB THE FIRST TIME.
EVERYBODY WAS DELIGHTED
MANY BALL TICKETS WE'RE DIS
POSED OF.
All Arrangements for the Great Sousa
Dedication Ball and Concerts
Have Practically Been Made
and Now 1t Is a Ques-
tion of Wait.

Convention hall was Illuminated last
night for the first time just as it will be
for the Sousa concert and the result was
perfect. The great room, covering acres of
space and without pillar or post any,
where beneath the roof, was brilliantly
lighted in every part and brought excla-
nations of wonder and surprise from the
200 or more members of the floor and re-
ception committee assembled 20 look 1t
over. The thousands of electro lights, the
dazzling white of the interior relieved only
by the tracery of the handratls about the
balcony, which are Of chocolate or terra
Gotta color. and the roof of natural pine,
which took on a golden hue in the light,
made a spectacle long to be remembered.
Exclamations Of grand" 'magnihcent,
''the finest sight 1 ever saw" and similar
expressions were heard on every hand.
Long rows of electric lights outline the
edges of the roof gardens, balcony and
arena balcony. like the effect produced by
the building outlines in the electrical dis
plays at the Worlds fair and Transmits
sissippi exposition. Thirty big arc lights
suspended over the arena floor give forth
a dazzling white light, which causes the
incandescents to look of a golden color and
shine like stars. And, like stars, those on
the roof gardens look far away. Prob
ably the most beautiful effect in the il
Elimination is the great half dome sounding
board. This is painted glossy white and
the 12O incandescent lights distributed with
in it's inner surface look like glistenins
gems In setting Of enamel.
Some of the other decorations were In
place also last night, enough to give an
idea of what the effect will be when this
work is completed. Large American flags
cover the rail of the balcony, two blue
fields coming together and the flags be-
ing draped off in either direction; the ENDS
caught up with bunch of small flags
The arena boxes are draped about with
flags also in much the same way, except
that flags are festooned from the rail
downward and back and are caught up al
the sides of the arena floor stalls. The
railing all the way around the arena floor
will be decorated with palms instead OF
flags. Palms will also ornament the sides
of the stage and an immense flag will be
draped back on either side of the sound
ing board, between that and the arena bal
cony at the sides. Large flags will also
be hung or draped among the great Iron
trusSes above the roof gardens which sup
port the roof. Near the south entrance
will be great banner. with the name oi
the hall upon it.
Not only were the lights thoroughly test
| ed last night. but the acoustic properties
of the hall and sounding board were also
| found to be perfect. James Military bant
| was there and played few selections. ant
| everybody was charmed with the perfec
| manner In which the sounding board dk
| its work. There was no echo to be heart
and the music. whether loud or soft, wa
clear and distinct in every part of TIM
| building. In addition to the test by thu
band. Herbert Charles Campbell. the IA
year-old son of President Charles Camp
/ hn nj o6 "
| paniment, and this. too. was distinct ant
| clear everywhere.
| Probably go committeeman were on th
stage last night. and it was scarcely one
| third full. An idea Of the vastness of tn
| building could be obtained by one standing
\ at the south entrance. Looking across tn
| great oiled eXpanse OF the arena floor tn
men on the stage looked like dwarfs o
| the experiment with the flute showed tina
any speaker with an ordinarily good voic
could easily make himself heard to tn
farthest extremity Of the great building.
| Those present last night realized NOR
than ever before what a wonderful build
ing Kansas City has secured in Convention
hall. how well calculated 1t Is for the pur
posed intended and how perfect are its ap
pointments in every way. The many bust
| ness and professional men on the com
committee were enthusiastic In their prais
| of everything.
1 Their praise took on more substantia
| form. too. than mere words. One gentle
man arose and said that as method o
expressing their gratitude for the Con
vention hall committee and their appre
citation of the great work they have don
for Kansas City and its people. the mem
| of the floor and reception committees, reI
resenting the business men and people q
the city. should take hold themselves an
help make the ball thoroughly representa-
ye and the tSs Msfer 81 .he
in the same way, and closed by saying:
will take twenty ball tickets and dispose Z