The Saint Paul globe., 1902-02-25
CHAMBER FAVORS IT
AUDITORIUM PROJECT CAME BE-
FORE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
YESTERDAY
TO BE DISCUSSED NEXT WEEK
Resolution Introduced by Russ
Clarke Referred to Committee
on Municipal Affairs for
Report

The board of directors of the Chamber
Oh commerce went on record yesterday
as belng IN favor of the erection Of an
auditorium for st. Paul There were but
fourteen members of the board present,
ana they took the matter up in a eau
nous manner, not caring to take any
dellnlte position as long as there were
not more present. The sentiment express
ed on all sides was that an auditorium
was one Of the greatest needs of the city,
ana that In not having one the city was
a little behind
The matter of the coliseum, was bzorei,t
10 the attention of the board of directors
through the reading of the report of the
committee that went to Kansas City and
Omaha The report, which has been
printed in full in T h GIob e, was read
to the directors by l.. w. Corning, who
was chairman of the committee
In order to find out how the directors
stood on the proposition, Ross Clark in
troduced resolution to the effect that
the Chamber of Commerce was in ac-
cord with the proposition to erect an
auditorium for the city, and that the
building should be erected as soon as
the funds necessary for the purpose had
been raised
Maj. Espy thought the resolution in
troduced by Mr.. Clark was not emphatic
enough for the occasion, as in his opin-
ion the chamber should go on record as
being enthusias astically in favor of an au-
dtorlun1- In his arguments in behalf OF
more pronounced stand he pointed out
that st. Louis and other cities had re-
ceiVed great benefits from their audi
torium, which more than repaid the orig
inal cost of construction. He touched
upon the fact in sarcastic vein, that al
ready there had been three cornerstones
laid in this city with this end in view,
and these had been abandoned. He
thought that it was useless to start un-
less ST. Paul had made its mind up to
carry the project through to a successful
finish.
Thomas Cochrane reiterated the state
ment of Maj. Espy regard public opinion.
He said that the only way possible TO Sc
cure the desired auditorium was to have
It backed up by4vigorous and aggressive
action on the part of the citizens. lie
had no doubt that if that was secured
there would be little difficulty found in
building the coliseum. w. B. Dorr did
not think the chamber could go any fur
ther at the time than the resolution of
fered by Mr.. Clark, and he stated that
in his belief it covered the ground as
fully as was necessary for the time be-
ing.
Gen. ]. B. Sanborn proposed an amend
ment which provided that the funds 10 be
raised for the building should be secured
by subscription and entertainments, and
not by taxation. Otherwise, he thought,
the resolution was satisfactory. His
amendment was attached after some de-
bate.
The whole matter was finally referred
to the committee on municipal affairs
with instructions to report at the next
meeting, when the auditorium will be
made special order of business ana
discussed before the entire chamber. An
invitation will be extended to the general
auditorium committee to be present to
enlighten members of the chamber OH
any point which they do not understand.