The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-05-01
$4,000 IS NEEDED
COMMITTEE APPOINTED To AS
CERTAIN If 1T CAN BE RAISED
FOR REUNION IN 1904.
TO REPORT BACK TO MEETING
OF TRADE BODIES AND CON-
FEDERATE ASS'NS.

Need of an Auditorium for Savnn-
nah was Urged Mt the Meeting OF
the Committees from Council,
Trade Bodies and Confederate
Associations Last Night-The COM
mittee Appointed VIII Report at
n Meeting to BE Held mt De Soto
on Monday Night.
At a meeting of representative citi-
zens at the De Soto last night. a COM
mittee was appointed to canvass with
a view to ascertaining whether a sufn-
Gent amount can be raised to justify
the city in extending an invitation to
the United Confederate Veterans, to
hold their reunion here in 1904.
The committee, which was appointed
by Chairman of Council James NJ.
Dixon. who presided at the meeting, IS
composed of Messrs. r. NJ. Hitch,
chairman, Simeon E. Theus. j. W.
Jackson, d. B. Morgan and C. H. Dor
sett. They were instructed to begin
their labors at once, and to report back
to d meeting to be held Monday night,
at which time the question will be
finally determined.
The meeting was comprised of COM
mittees representing the Finance Com
mittee of the Board of Aldermen, the
Chamber of Commerce, Board of Trade.
Confederate Veterans Association, Nc
Laws Camp of United Confederate Vet
Grams, the Sons of Confederate Veter-
ans, and the Retail Merchants Assoc
citation.
ha Ran1 do 1NxyC mt Y
D. Bloodworth, at the suggestion Of
Col. G. ~. Gordon, was arrived at aft
er exhaustive argument on both sides,
which was characterized by a unani-
nous desire to bring the reunion to Sa-
Vannah, the breach being occasioned
by difference of ideas as to the prac-
ticability of the undertaking.
An Auditorium Necessary.
1--WE must have an auditorium" was
the sense of the meeting, every speak
er stressing the need of such a struc-
ture. Whether it is determined to
bring the reunion to Savannah or not
it was unanimously agreed that an au-
ditorium must be built. 1t was esti-
mated that at least $4,000 must be
subscribed, in order to justify the ex-
tending of the invitation. OF this
amount $4,000 is estimated as the cost
of an auditorium, which, of course
would be more than a temporary
structure.
NO sooner had the meeting been
called to order by Chairman Dixon
than the discussion began. Mr.. Hitch
moved that the city of Savannah eX-
tend the invitation to the veterans,
and Maj ]. r. Sheldon made a con-
trary substitute Maj. Sheldon was
the first speaker. He said that while
he yielded to no man his loyalty to the
city of Savannah or to the Confederate
veterans, he did not believe there is
time now to make the necessary prep
arations or raise the necessary amount
for the holding of the reunion. He
thought the amount should be raised
before the invitation is extended.
Snvannah's AdaptabIlity.
Mr.. Theus said that Charleston had
entertained an enormous crowd of vet
Grams at an expense of about 100000
The greatest expense, outside of an
auditorium, he said, is the hire of
horses. He spoke of the peculiar adapt
ability of Savannah for entertaining,
and said that he believed the reunion
could be held less extensively here than
anywhere else.
Mr.. D. B. Morgan said that he had at
tended many reunions and that in
every city where one was held it be-
came necessary TO erect an auditorium.
This would have to be erected, any
how, and the bringing of the reunion
to Savannah would be the greatest adj
vertisement the city ever had. He
agreed with Maj. Sheldon that the en-
tertainment should not be undertaken
unless success was assured. He spoke
of the Louisville reunion, the only bad
feature of which was an excessive
amount of rain. 1t was suggested that
too much water need not be anticipat-
ed in Savannah.
To Use Uncle Sans Tents.
If the committee decide that an invi-
tation be extended and it is accepted,
it is probable that the state and the
general government, as well, will be
called upon to furnish tents for the
veterans, Mr.. ]. II. Jackson said that
he believed that the government would
be glad to lend the tents that it had
done so in the case of the G. A. r. re-
union, and that he thought such action
would be in accord with the generally
expressed sentiment toward the Con-
federate veteran.
Mr.. D. Y. Dancy said that he thought
1t best to first ascertain what amount
could confidently be counted on. He
called the attention of the meeting to
the fact that the railroads and other
corporations who would be most bene-
flied by the reunion. should contribute
handsomely.
THE auditorium is going to be built
anyhow said Mr.. Hitch. in arguing
have one. whether the veterans are
asked to come here or not. 1t is a cry
ing necessity. We need it for other
conventions, and l am confident that
one will be built by the time the next
reunion comes off. This is a good way
to insure one. Even if it costs $50 900
to entertain the veterans. will we not
have $4,000 auditorium?
Would Leave a Million.
''And think of the money that will
be left here. / believe it was estimated
at a meeting the other day that ST.
O00 900 would be spent by the forty
odd thousand visitors Every cent
that is advanced for entertainment by
the citizens will be spent right here
in Savannah. 1 know we can raise the.
necessary amount. and / am also con-
fident that the auditorium is a thing
of the near future"
Others spoke in support of the ex-
tension of the invitation, all of whom
favored postponment of action until it
could be ascertained whether the re-
quisite amount could be raised Among
these were Capt Chestnut. who acted
as secretary of the meeting, and Mr..
j. NJ. Solomons, who is a member of
the joint committee of the Confederate
veterans camps which was appointed
TO confer relative to the advisability
of extending the invitation
The Final Motion.
Col. Gordon said that he fbo,,ot,.