The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-02
Awarded to the w. W. KimbaI
Co., OF Chicago.
MUCH FOR MONEY.
That Topeka Has Sc
cured Magnificent Feature
For the Auditorium at the
Capital City.

After a deadlock of several weeks, the
Pipe Organ association on Friday night
awarded the w. w. Kimball Company
of Chicago the contract to place a $12,-
900 instrument in the Auditorium. The
meeting was held at the Commercial
club rooms. All nineteen directors
were present. Six ballots were taken.
the final vote being Is for KimbaH and
6 for Hook & Hastings
The nTts three ballots were 10 for
ktmban and for Hook & Hastings.
The fourth and fifth resulted in IL for
Kimball and for Hook & Hastings.
The next ballot gave the necessary
twO-thirds to the kimball make
Representatives from both companies
were invited to be present and made
statements relative TO the merits of
their instruments, and to explain their
bids. ME-. Hedgelaud of the kimball
company was the only outside repre-
sentative present. The association had
decided to spend $12, 600 for an organ,
and was simply divided as to- which
organ should be bought.
At previous meetings the Hook &
Hastings instrument had generally re-
ceived majority of the votes, but not
the necessary two-thirds- Several
friends of this organ had urged that
the minority should come over to the
majority. Last evening was the first
session a which every one of the nine
teen directors was present. when the
ascertained they had a majority last
evening, they suggested to the OPPOSE
ton that the minority come over and
decide it. This was done.
The Kimball firm has been building
pipe organs for twelve years. and has
Installed some Of the greatest ones in
the United States. Among them are
the following; Salt Lake Temple; Grace
Cathedral. Chicago; the Temple, Wash
1ngton, D. C.; Cathedral. Pittsburg,
Pa The Kansas representative of the
firm is the W. F. Roehr Music COM
pany of Topeka.
Prof Penny assured the directors be-
fore he left for St Louis that the Sc
lection of either organ would give To-
peka a magnificent instrument; that it
was essential to the work he had map
ped out here to make this a great mus
teal center to have pipe organ this
winter. While the delay has been an
noying, still it has Spurred the bidders
to make remarkable additions to their
. original offers and this city will now
undoubtedly secure an organ that is
usually sold for several thousand dol
lars more than the awarded contract.
The organ will be ready by Decem-
Der. 1t takes almost half a year to
build such an instrument as the Tope-
ka association has ordered. The organ
stops, 5000 pipes and accessories.
Chimes of tubular bells form one of the
features. The organ Will give the effect
of a full orchestra, every instrument be-
ing initiated. Work will be commence
ed at once at the KimbaIl factory in
Chicago, and the instrument can be set
up in the Auditorium in time for the
opening of the musical season just be-
fore the holidays.
The organ will be of the same type
as a series of large concert organs
built by this company and placed in
a number of prominent cities in the
United States in the last five years.
The instrument will have four man
uals and pedal. The manuals are:
Solo organ, swell organ, great organ,
orchestral or choir organ and pedal
organ. The organ will occupy a
space SO feet wide. 80 feet high and
feet deep, covering the entire east
ern portion of the stage in the Audi
forum, and will be master piece of
architectural beauty in the symmetri-
cal arrangement of the pipes.
The action, which is exclusive of its
kind, is considered the highest
achievement extant in organ building.
there being no labor weight, resist
with, and so perfect in manipulation
as to require only the natural touch
of fingers or feet to. produce fnstan-
taneous response. the repetition being
voicing and tonal effect will be of the
same high quality as the organs built
by this company in the Mormon tab
ernacle, Salt Lake City, and The
Temple, Washington. D. c.. which are
of international reputation.
General Henry Strong. formerly pres
fdent of the Santa Fe road. announced
through the Kimban representative
Mr.. Hedgeland. last night, that if a
Kimball organ be chosen by the Tope-
ka association that he would contribute
an orchestral self-playing attachment. |
. This was not announced until after |