The evening times., 1900-01-23
THE CONVENTION PLANS
Philadelphia Republicans Arrang-
ing for the Assemblage.
Wori. VIII Soon Begin on the Recon-
structioB of the Exposition Build
ing for the Accom- m odatiOn- of the
Great National Gathering in June.
\ Seating Capacity of $4,000.

PHILADELPHIA. Pa, jan 23.--After
considerable deliberatiOn and a number of
revisions the National Republican Com
mittee chiefs have finally approved of the
plans for the reconstruction of the ex-
position building into the convention hall
1t now merely requires the ratification of
the local committee of this action and
work can be begun at any time to place
the hall in condition for the holding of
the National Convention in June next.
William d. Hewitt, the architect in
charge of the alterations, has completed
all plans and specifications, and has made
minute and thorough investigation of the
present condition of that portion of the
exposition building to be utilized
Mr. Hewitt has assured the committees
that there is no necessity OF making any
alterations in the foundations and floors,
their present strength being ample for the
purpose. OF course. there will be some
changes required on both sides OF the pres-
ent auditorium-the east and west arcades
owing to the elevations needed to make
the new stage visible to the audience. But
the building is pronounced more than suffi-
cientIy strong to hold all of the auditors
that may be crowded within the walls.
The plans as now settled upon, Mr..
Hewitt shows, will provide seating capae-
ity for $4,000 besides standing room for
5000 without interfering with the comfort
and safety of the assemblage. A gallery
will be erected and across the entire north
ern end OF the hall. In the centre OF this
will be the bandstand on either side of
which will be space for spectators. The
horseshoe of the present auditorium viii
be reserved for the delegates and alter
mates exclusively. giving more than ample
room for these. The present stage will be
torn out to make room for quarters for 500
newspaper men.
There is at present between the back
wall Of the stage and the front wall of
the centre pavilion a space so by 200 feet
which will be utilized for the platform
accommodating 300 to the rear of which
Will be seats for ! 800 invited guests. Be
low the platform will be rooms for tele-
graph operators, press bureaus. committee
rooms. and reporters lounging rooms On
each side of the space below the platform
will be placed telegraph operators room
each containing room for fifty instruments
There will be stairs leading from the re-
purters' section TO the lower rooms thus
providing convenient arrangements for the
expeditions transmission of the news.
From the outer edge of the present
horseshoe in the auditorium there will rise
in gradual elevations to height of nearly
thirty feet tiers of seats covering all the
space now occupied by the east and ives,
arcades. The architect claims that the
line of sight will be excellent from all sec
tions of the hall to the platform. The
ground floors OF the north and csntre pa
vilions will afford ample space for COM
mittee rooms and such other quarters as
may be required for the convention.
Mr.. Hewitt claims that in its completed
state this convention hall will be the most
commodious placed at the disposal of the
party in recent years. As to the question
of having TO put new foundations in the
hall Mr.. Hewitt says this will only be re-
quired in case the auditorium is to be made
a permanent one, as suggested by Mayor
Ashbridge and some cOunclmen. But. for
this convention, he pronounces it entirely
unnecessary TO make any alterations be
low the flooring. The cost OF Teconstruc-
tion will be So, 600. This amount does not
include the cost Of restoring the buildings
10 their present forms as stipulated by
the pNnO y. on management