Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-01-11
THE Old COURT HOUSE
WILL BE THE LOCATION OF THE
NEW BOARD OF TRADE
BUILDING.
A MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Was Held Yesterday Morning, and
the Purchase of the Property Tor
$4,000 Was Authorized-Capita
stock to BE Incrcased--Comm
to Consider General Plans.

The stockholders of the Board or
Trade Building Company held meet
ing at 11:30 o'clock yesterday morn
ing. The object was to receive and act
upon the report OF the committee on
location. Only two offers were submit
ted, and the stockholders decided to
authorize the purchase Of the old court
house property, corner Chapline and
Twelfth streets. for 100000. 1t is I'M
derstood that the other offer was for
the lot owned by the Forbes estate, and
partly occupied by the Luke livery
stable building, for which the price
asked is said to have been $4,000.
The court house property has figured
in several theatre projects. 1t will be
remembered that plans were prepared,
and an attempt made to organize a
company several years ago failed. va
rious other plans were made, one OF
them by a local man who had complete
drawings prepared, but abandoned the
idea of erecting a theatre because the
bids received were far in excess of the
amount which he felt justified in eX-
pending. The property is on a back
street. but is centrally located, and
very convenient of access. Street cars
nassing within a block connect with
towns within radius of fifteen miles,
with an aggregate population of 3d.
900.
The Register Yesterday was in error
in stating that the German Fire In
surance Company would submit a
proposition to the stockholders, for
the present opera house property
Nothing of the kind was contemplat-
ed but it was reported that the stock
holders would ask the German Com
pany to fix a price upon its property.
The name of the new theatre will
not be selected until the charter ar
rives from Charleston and the COM
pany is legally organized. This, and
other matters will properly come be-
lore the Board of Directors to be chosen
at that time. The Board will also en-
ploy an architect and give directions
as to the nature of the building. A
committee was appointed, consisting
of Joseph Speidel H. w. Mcclure, Geo.
E. Stifel, Jacob Snyder and Chas. F.
Paxton, to look into the general prob
lem of the Board of Trade building.
They will recommend a rough outline
for the structure. which will embrace
the amount of space to be given to
ofSo of nh dir
report. if adopted, will form the basis
of plans by the architect to be en-
ployed.
The first idea was to have theatre
with a seating capacity Of 1000. 1t is
generally recognized now, that this
was a mistake, as a theatre of that
size, OUTSIDE of city of half a mil
lion population, would be an "ele-
plant" 1t is the general opinion,
backed I'D by the views of theatrical
managers, that the maximum seating
capacity should not be greater than
1900. What is especially needed is a
modern stage, and an attractive and
comfortable interior, both of which
are lacking in the present theatres.
The stockholders also decided to in
crease the capital stock from 100000 to
SIS 900, and a committee was appoint
ed to solicit the additional $4,000 Of
stock. The committee consists OF Will
E. Stone, George e. House Harry W.
Mcclure, and rs Speidel 1t has
been roughly estimated that the build
ing and ground will cost $3.50 600 This
will permit the expenditure OF $120,
600 on the building, and will necessi-
tate the floating of bonds to the
amount of $4,000.