The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-08
COMMITTEE TO BE NAMED SOON
TWENTY-ONE MEN WILL BE COLL
scum COMPANY NUCLEUS.
Canvass for Subscriptions Will Be
Pushed Observation-Disclosures
of Kansas City Convention Hall.


they had prepared the most important part
the beginning-and the display of civic
pride that responded to it. Everybody
knew that il would only be few days un-
til the committee of twenty-one, to be ap-
pointed by Chairman George w. Bliss, of
the joint committee, will effect permanent
Organization and start the work of getting
the additional subscriptions needed to make
the fund $250,000. This committee will be
named in a day or two, and it is expected
that it will organize promptly and give
impetus to the project by establishing
thorough canvass, like Mr.. ClendenninS, of
Kansas City, suggested, that 'let no guilty
man escape" This canvass is to be sys-
tematic and persistent.
There are hundreds already anxious to
subscribe to the fund in considerable
amounts. John T. Brush could not wait for
formal organization, but announced yester-
day that he would give $1,000 to the fund.
When Chairman Bliss reached his store
yesterday morning he found Mr.. Brush at
the telephone ready to pledge his subscrip-
ton. n short time later DR.. Robert G.
Light telephoned Mr.. Bliss that he would
take 1900 worth of stock. In the afternoon
the Indianapolis News announced its SUBJ
scription of $500, thus bringing the total
to S69.5O0 in less than twenty-four hours
after the first subscription made
The impression left by Mr.. Clendenning.
of Kansas City, was such as to awaken
interest in the exploits of the convention
hall boomers of that city and their various
methods of raising funds. There is also
great interest in the description, in detail,
he read Of the Kansas City edifice. This
description was prepared by Superintendent
Shouse, of the Convention Hall Company,
and was as follows:
THE CONVENTION HALL.
Convention Hall is ga feet long and 1913
feet wide. Around the top of the building
there is promenade which is sixty feet
above the sidewalk. The gable of the main
roof is some thirty feet higher than this
promenade. The walls of the building are
of brick and stone. The cornice on the
street sides is terra Gotta of an elaborate
design, while on the two alley sides of the
building it is galvanized iron. The floors
are Of concrete, and, with the exception of
few short flights of stairs, there are no
steps in the building, the balcony and roof
garden being reached by inclines, which are
also of concrete The ascent of these in
clines is so gradual that it is possible to
drive buggy or an automobile to the top
of the building The inclines are about
twelve feet wide and are placed at three
corners of the building.
Excepting the frames of the windows
and the heavy timbers under the balconies
there is no wood used in the construction
of the building. The structure is as nearly
fireproof it could be made. The main
floor, which is called the arena floor, is oval
shaped, being ITO feet at the widest and 1S5
feet at the longest points. There are two
balconies, the first being called the arena
balcony and the second the balcony, while
above these balconies is a fiat promenade
inside the building, on the same level as the
promenade on the outside. This is called
the roof garden, and in case of flower
| shows or manufacturers exhibitions it is
used for display OF products. 1t also af-
| fOrdS place for the rigging loft, from
| which the scenery is worked when there
| is theatrical performance given, and the
electric switch boards are located here.
! While it is not ordinarily employed for
| spectators, yet in the case of large crowds,
| as during the Democratic national conven-
| ton of 1900. temporary circus seats can be
erected and from 1900 to 1000 people can be
| accommodated in that part of the building.
| There are sixty-four boxes, which are
| just below the seats in the first balcony,
| which provide accommodations for 3Si peO-
| pie without crowding. The first, or arena
| balcony, seats 5000, and the second balcony,
| or balcony seats $500. The arena floor is
seated, when occasion requires, with fold
| ing movable chairs. On this floor there is
| 17,754 square feet of space. and 5000 people
can be accommodated without incOnveni-
| ence-as many as 5000 have been seated on
| the floor. Reckoning the arena floor at it's
| smallest seating capacity, the capacity of
| the hall Is 1854, which can be greatly in
/ creased by placing extra chairs at various
| points which are not used on ordinary oc-
| FOR ALL PURPOSES.
Both balconies are provided with perma-
| nent folding opera chairs. Under the bal
comics and around the arena floor is a
promenade called the arcade, thirty feet in
width. This serves for smoking, reception
and lunchrooms on the occasion of big en-
tertainments, and during the horse show
stalls are placed in it and accommodations
| provided for nearly 200 horses.
LAS has been stated the floor OF the arena
is of concrete. and therefore it will stand
almost any kind of wear. When it is de-
| sired to hold a horse show this floor is
| covered with from twelve TO eighteen
inches Of dirt, which is rolled with steam
| roller, and tanbark is placed on ii for a
| top surface. This furnishes magnificent
arena for showing the horses. AS the arena
floor is on the street level wagons can be
| driven in without unloading.
IF it is desired to hold a dance there is
a floor of hard maple built in sections
This floor is carefully constructed thai
discover the joints. To lay the dancing
floor requires about twenty hours of time
When rot in use this dancing floor is piled
away in the fireproof property room at one
end of the building. There is also a stage
made in sections which is 10 feet wide
and sixty feet deep. with a fifty-foot cur
tain opening. This is the largest stage il
Kansas City, and will accommodate any
travelling production. The gridiron and rig
ging loft are complete. and there is every
facility for hanging and handling scenery
There is also a complete set of foot anC
border lights. and when the big stage is in
| use these lights are controlled by a small
switchboard which remains suspended a
| the top of the building except when in use
The stage can be placed in almost any par
of the building. and for a small concert i
| is possible TO cut the seating capacit,
down TO 1900. In our annual May Festiva
| we leave out the stage entirely, and at on
end of the building seat the 2,OCO singer
who make up the chorus. The building i
lighted by electricity, and is wired through
| out on the incanCescent circuit. Over tn
| arena floor are incandescent arc lamps
| while the ordinary incandescent lamps il
| clusters used i'm other parts of TIL
building There are also special power an,
| lighting circuits with which easy connec
|; | ton may be made in case of ball or al
| exposition where decorative lighting or mo
. tive power is required
There are four entrances 10 the build
ing and twenty-five exits, so there is n
| difficulty in handling the crowd. no matte
: | what its proportions. Among the uses 70
| which the building has proved itself 'es
pecially adaptable are for large balls, po.it
ical conventions. horse shows. winter cir