The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-30
THE PIPE ORGAN.
The Interior of Auditorium a Busy
Place just Now.

The transfer company was busy this
morning hauling the last two carloads
of the pipe organ material to the big
hail. The entire pit of the Auditorium
| is now covered with crates and the
elevated sides will also have to be
used. 1t is a matter of wonderment
as to how all of the different pieces
can be included in a space such as
is designated on the platform. The
magnitude of the instrument is ap-
parent.
The workmen placed the "uprights"
this morning. They placed dynamo
at the fore part of the stage to oper-
ate a block and tackle by which the
heavy pieces will be lifted from the
pit to the stage.
| Late yesterday afternoon City En-
gineer McCabe and several members
| of the city administration and the
pipe organ directors held a conference
about a number of matters. All agreed
that the city engineers views about
Strengthening the foundation by an
I-beam and pillars was the right thing
| to do.
There was some discussion about
tine elevation of the console or key
board portion of the organ. protecting
a few inches above the line of the
stage floor. Mr.. McCabe was at first
disposed to take the view that the
console should be sunk into a pit In
the floor of the Auditorium, but he
said that that was rather a musical
question than an engineering one
and he thought the views of organists
and musical people should be taken
into consideration
The plan of sinking the console in the
floor of the Auditorium was thoroughly
discussed by the directors OF the pipe or
gan association and the lkimball experts
months ago and was decided to be unde-
sirable and impracticable. The console is
about the size of ordinary roli-top desk
and is five feet wide, is to be placed up
against the front point of the stage on
the Auditorium floor, projecting a short
distance into the stage and seventeen
inches above the front edge of the stage
floor.
The matter, according to the contract,
is in the hands of the building commit
tee of the council, the executive commit
city engineer, who will doubtless arrange
the matter to best conserve all interests:
today that if the console is set below the
AUDITORIUM floor the use OF the organ alo1 Iof
be absolutely precluded.
IF the instrument were only for organ
recitals," said Prof Penny; the arrange
ment to have the console below the floor
of the Auditorium would be less objec-
tionable, but it will never do for concerts
or oratorios. The only way that we could
do anything then would be to engage a
professional organist every time we have
a concert and have the director remain on
top of the stage with the chorus or con-
Now what would hurt" continued Mr..
Penny, Ito have that little projection a
few inches above the top of the stage in
order to make it convenient for the or
but slightly, not at all, even with the
vaudeville which the midwinter show
brings here.
Some people have the foolish notion
that desired the elevated console SO as to
be seen by the audience when performing.
There is one thing, though, along that line
that is worth thinking Of There are
great many people who like to watch the
operation of the keyboard organ
and by placing it according to the plans,
the 6ouid f5s co 1o n5d of the
association will meet tomorrow afternoon
with the city engineer and Prof. Penny
The console will be unpacked and placed
as nearly as possible in the position called
for according to the agreed plan, in or
der that it may be shown exactly what is
CONTEMPLATED.