The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-10


THE COLISEUM, A LARGE HALL.
Some surprise has been expressed that
the coliseum project. which was aus
piciously launched and made such rapid
progress at the beginning, has latterly
seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep.
There has, however. been no feeling that
the project was abandoned. for the public
had entire confidence In it's promoters and
felt sure there were other reasons for the
apparent subsistence of the movement than
its abandonment Recent assurances by
Mr.. MCGOWAN that work on the project
would be resumed at the proper time and
that the coliseum would certainly be built
have satisfied the public that it will be car
ried through. There can be no doubt that
the city needs structure of the kind pro-
posed that will accommodate the largest
conventions and crowds that may be at
tracted by special amusement features. In
these days of easy and rapid railroad COM
munication. when thousands Of people can
assemble in day or two at a given point.
the possession Of a hall OK great capacity
is necessity for centrally located city
like Indianapolis. 1t has become q trite re-
mark that this Is pre-eminently a conven-
ton city. 1t is hardly necessary any longer
to seek or invite conventions to meet here.
They come voluntarily. because Of the
location. railroad facilities and attractions
of the city. 1t is the duty Of the people to
provide for them by erecting a hall that
will accommodate the largest and which
can be utilized for other purposes. Tom
linson Hall has answered a good purpose,
but 1t is not large enough nor properly con-
structed for all purposes Of a coliseum
Yet it will surprise most persons to know
that the erection even Of that hall was
strongly opposed by many persons I'M
necessary, visionary and hazardous. It's
erection was mainly due to the efforts of
Hon. John Caven. whom the Journal re-
Gently alluded to as zone of the most use
full and progressive mayors the city has
ever had" In 1879 he formulated a plan
for hall much larger than Tomlinson
Hall, and In a series Of special messages
to the Council showed how it could be con-
structed and financed successfully with the
resources then in sight. The Tomlinson
bequest did not provide for a hall. 1t was
made to the city Ito be used in the erec-
ton Of buildings Tor the use Of citizens
and city authorities (yhat are commonly
termed public buildingsD on the west end
Of the East Market House." On Sept. @,
1873, Mr.. Caven. then mayor. submitted a
vocated the erection of a building for a
market house. city Offices and public hall.
covering the entire market space, APO by 1875
feet. The ground-foor was to be occupied
for city Offices and market purposes. land
above should be hall as large as can be
made" The mayor gave his ideas briefly
as to the construction Of the hall so as to
secure the best acoustic qualities. and said,
This hall, without a gallery, would seat
1900 people and would be the largest in the
United States AS his plan was to occupy
the whole OF the market space the hall
would have been twice as large as Tom
linson Hall. In another message to the
Council. on Oct. 20. 1879. he amplified
his ideas and outlined a practical plan for
procuring funds to supplement the Tom
linson bequest. which at that time was pro-
ducing only 5000 year. The Council APP
pointed a committee, Of which Mr.. Caven
was chairman, to consider and report upon
the matter. and the committees report,
prepared by Mr.. Caven, still further elab-
grated his plans for financing the project.
They contemplated the erection of a build
the end OF seventeen years the city could
have "a superior market, the largest hall
in the United States, city buildings free of
rental. and a rental income of $4,000 e
year," The outcome Of this agitation was
Tomlinson ENTHUSIASTICALLY less than half
the size of the hall proposed by the mayor.
1t has been useful. but the city has out
grown it, and 1t is not suitable for the pur-
picking questions in connection with the
latter will be securing a suitable location.
AS 1t must necessarily be down town, the
site will be expensive. The present site OF
Tomlinson Hall would be an ideal one, and
IL the whole of the market space, 40 by
1s5 feet. could be had for a coliseum hall,
the second floor of which would seat 1900
people without galleries and half as many
more with galleries, indianapolis would be
an ideal convention city.