Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-01-13
SCaNT ENCOURAGEMENT
SOLICITING ADDITIONAL STOCK
SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR
NEW THEATRE BUILDING.
The Enterprise Must Receive More
Substantial encouragement = A
Suggestion for Stockh elders in the
Company-Many New Members of
the Beard of Trade Secured-Board
of Trade Matters.

of Trade Matters.
The committee appointed by the
stockholders of the Board of Trade
Building Company, to solicit 5000
additional stock subscription, met
with scant encouragement in a con-
vass of individuals and firms yester-
day. At least one member of the COM
mittee, when seen by Register re-
porter last night, expressed himself
as very much discouraged over the out
look for securing the requisite amount
He was very unfavorably impressed by
the refusals on the part of theatre pat
rons who have been most conspicuous
in the clamor for new theatre He
stated that the committee met with the
same excuse of cannot afford it,
from a score or more of persons who
were approached, and who should have
had sufficient public spirit to sub
scribe the amount asked, even if there
were not every assurance of annual
six per cent dividends upon the stock
The committee started out with an eff
fort to secure so additional subscrip-
lions or $500 each,g and secured very
small number. Another effort will be
made on Monday.
The determination to try to secure
SIS, GOO more was reached after it was
learned that with capital stock of
500, 0C0 it would be next to impossible
to float 100000 of bonds at lower
rate Of interest than six per cent; while
if the capital stock were $4,000, it
would be possible to float 5000 worth
of bonds at Az or five Per cent in
terest The annual saving TO the COM
pany would amount to a considerable
sum.
The promoters of this enterprise
have demonstrated to persons whom
they have approached that stock in the
company is a very fair investment In
addition to an assurance of $4,000 a
year rental for the proposed theatre,
the company has been notified that
Wheeling lodge No. %, B. P. 0. Elks,
will rent permanent quarters in the
building. The Board of Trade will
also rake tAe building it's permanent
home In addition rental from office
rooms, store rooms, and the cOnyen-
able revenue.
A suggestion by Walter H. Rinehart
anent the Board of Trade building, is
worthy of the careful consideration Sf
the stockholders. Mr. Rinehart thinks
the store rooms, on account of the To-
cation Of the building, would not yield
a sufficient rental to justify the COM
pany in devoting the ground floor
space to that purpose. The location
would also operate against heavy rent
al for office rooms. The building is to
be located on a residence street, yet
but one block removed from the heart
of the retail district, and Mr.. Rine
hart suggests the company dey0<e a
portion of the building TO flats. He has
many demands for flats, and thinks
an opportunity for profitable invest
ment is afforded, in the erection OF
an apartment house.
The idea of cutting down the seating
capacity OF the proposed theatre, from
1000 to maximum of 1900, has caus-
ed criticism in some quarters. People
who favor a big theatre, should defer
to the opinions of experienced theat-
rical managers in this respect. A
theatre with a seating capacity of
1000 would be veritable white ele-
plant" These are the figures on
some of the largest theatres in the
country; Academy OF Music, New York
2,500; Grand Opera House, New York,
2,241; Alhambra, Chicago, 1859; Aud
itOrium Chicago, 4,079. Pittsburg Is
considered the best show city in Amer
lea outside OF New York, and SO far
as resident patronage is concerned. the
very best. Here is the seating capaci-
ty of Pittsburg theatres: Bijou, 1925;
Alvin, $500; Duquesne, 1875; Grand
Opera House, 2,78S; Academy of Music.
2,480.
Secretary Thompson. of the Board
of Trade, felt very much gratifed yes
terday when the German Fire lnsur-
ance Company, without solicitation,
subscribed $3.50 "a year to the Board,
and gave him check in payment for
the first years absorption. There
has never been such an unanimity of
interest among Wheeling merchants in
any enterprise, as is being manifested
in the Board of Trade, and it is re-
garded as a very encouraging sign.
Another indication Of the death Of
"old fogyism" among Wheeling bus
mess men is furnished in the success
with which Mr.. Walter H. Rinehart
has met in his canvass for new mem
bers of the Board. Mr.. Rinehart start
ed his work on December 18th, and
has added over 100 names to the roll
of membership in the Board, which
now exceeds 800. Mr.. Rinehart will
continue his work OF canyassing I'M
til the 18th inst.
Secretary Thompson hopes within
few days to be enabled to make pub
lie the details concerning new in
dustry for Wheeling, which is already
virtually assured.
Dozens and dozens of styles of Cor
sets Covers, DnintiIy Trimmed, at
BE each and the very best made
that is possible TO he sold at that
price, at Stifei & Co.'s Annual Open
ing Display tomorrow.
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