Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-06
CORNERSTONE PUT IN PLACE
Weather Maker Finally Permits Ceremonies
at Auditorium Building.
SENATOR WILLARD PRINCIPAL SPEAKER
Acting Mayor Karr, T. J.. MahOney and
Alfred Willard Also Express Sem
timents on the Public En-
terprise of Omaha.

terprise of Omaha.
Amid the applause Of the multitude, ora
tory. music. lower and the rattle Of traf-
&c, the cornerstone Of the Omaha Au-
ditorium was laid Saturday afternoon, and
now, with a copper box full Of exhibits
in its core, rests securely in its bed Of
mortar. There is no possible doubt that
1t was an epoch-marking event In the his
tory of Omaha, since each of the FIVE ora
tors so declared II, and each denies that
the declaration was the result Of a precon-
certed agreement. II was also gathered
from the speeches that the building Of
the Auditorium indicated a transition from
sordid commercialism to a more exalted
intellectual plane, and that II was a monu-
ment to the civic pride of everyone who
had contributed toward it's construction.
Alfred Willard acted as master of cere-
monies, and delivered the first address.
He was followed by Acting Mayor Karr,
who spoke briefly In behalf Of the city.
Then T. ]. Mahoney presented the matter
from the standpoint of the Auditorium
company and the Commercial club. Sena-
tor Willard who made the principal ad-
dress, took an optimistic view of 0maha's
future, and spoke IN glowing terms Of the
enterprise which had made such = struc.
ture as the Omaha Auditorium a posi-
billty. ]. r. Lehmer read off a list Of the
articles which had been placed in the her
metically sealed copper box, to be con-
signed to the heart of the cornerstone.
F. e. Sanborn, who had arisen from a sick
bed to be present, made the closing ad-
dress, and a%fterward, fguratively laid the
stone.
ThOusan People Attend.
1t was estimated that there were about
1000 people present, and OF these the
greater number stood In the street, In the
boiling sun, throughout the somewhat
lengthy program.
Among those who occupied seats on the
platform were the following: Senator Mil
lard, Judge w. w. slabaugh. John g. Bar
nard, Emil Cermak. ]. e. Sunderland. ].
Frank Carpenter, L. N. Gonden, H. F. Nc
Intosh, Fred stubbendorf, E. NJ. Andrea
sen, George F. Lee, H. X. Burket, H. N.
Wood, Peter e. Tier, NJ. @. Peters, J. J..
Donahue, c. F. Wheeler. G. s. Elgutter,
G. G. Pearse, John Steel. James Walsh,
James Dining. j. E. UT, T. J. Mahoney,
Alfred Willard. Isaac Hascall. NJ. D. Kari
and Frank Hamilton.
The cornerstone, which was a great
block Of Bedford Qnd.) stone, Of steel
gray COlOIb WOlBniub NtVVV pOuhuo1 "n9
suspended from a derrick leaning against
the northeast corner Of the building, and
by means Of block and tackle was held
about eighteen inches above the bed of
omaha-made brick, upon which 1t was
destined to rest. In response to a signal,
John Latenser, architect. and F. z. San
born stepped down from the platform to
the top course OF brick, and Abbott's
band struck up THE Dance Of the White
Rats" a selection, by the way, which will
be played at the formal opening Of the
Auditorium. 1t is the Auditorium tune.
Then came bricklayers in white duck over
alls. bearing trowels. They were: John
s. Ferris, John Kline, Theodore Barg. Au-
gust Jranewski and Ed Linosky, In charge
Of w. p. Deverell, foreman. Mr.. Ferris
spread a layer Of mortar under the block;
Mr.. sanborn put the copper box in place;
the band struck up America" and the
signal wal given to lower away. A roar
Of applause went up as the stone sank into
its moist bed. Then the handsome young
woman, Miss Nellie Rubin, threw garlsnds
Of smilax and roses upon the block.
1t was announced that $3.50 had been
realised from the recent policeman's ball
game, a check for which had been pre-
sented to the building committee.
Alfred MiIIard Speaks.
Alfred Willard spoke In part as follows:
This is one Of the victories of peace
the reward Of honest, earnest endeavor,
and we who have labored so long, come
here today satisfied with our work, to
congratulate you who have so generously
aided us to this end. For IT Is an end, as
me builSinS of an Auditorium and the be.
ginning of a noble structure. In this day
or eommercialism, In this rush OF eager
dollars and dollars measure men, II is well
that we should find an hour like this from
o& oime oS l ime this Gr for the asSe eontemp %Sf9 OF Of
an important fact, namely, that 1t is not
enough to o build gItIs q, a city city TO WORK C,tv and md die ied IN,
people who best appreciate THIS truth are
In the long run the most successful. While
prosperous. II is most wise for us to con-
slider an enterprise which makes for the
and IL ia my prophecy that one day our
parks and bouleyards, our Auditorium and
other features q like character which con;
be found to be our most important and
valuable possessions.
be an artistic triumph for the man who
conceived IL. Its graceful lines and splen-
our city and be a constant source Of pleas
ure and inspiration TO us who live here.
SO today let US eopsecTats ourselves anew
which lies nearest US, because the dignity
of our city and the voice OF the people
demand II. And we will build a temple
in the spirit of unselhshness, whose noble
front shall bear the seal of our civic pride
and the purity Of Its purpose will be a
legacy to OUR children.
Acting Mayor Karr spoke briefly Of the
progress made by Omaha In the last few
years. He remembered the time when tht
Coliseum was considered much larger thar
necessary and something Of an architecture
extravaganza.
Talks for Auditorium Company.
T. ]. Mahoney compared the building Il
the advent OF the Union Pacific railroad. L
the establishment Of the South omahi
stock yards and to the Transmississippi Elk,
position. 1T may not mean so much e
Omaha in a commercial way as these,
said he. but in the world of religion, o
art, Of science and OF learning It will NEAR
vastly more"
]. r. Lehmer read the following list o
articles which were placed in the corner,
stone:
History OF the Omaha Auditorium build.
ing project from its inception to present
time.
Articles Of incorporation and bylaws o.
the Auditorium company.
List OF first board Of directors Of Omaha
Auditorium company.
List OF second board OF directors o.
Omaha Auditorium company,
let - unaRnhara ~ aAulzoTU hoard n