Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-02-15
FOR AUDITORIUM
Rock Island Club Committee
Proposes Elan to Get Much
Needed improvement.
BUILT BY A POPULAR FUND
Public Spirited Organizations to Con
troll and When Debt Free to be
Turned Over to City.

Definite plans for an auditorium 20
meet the needs of the city as a popli-
lar meeting place TO be built out of a
popular fund were presented at the
monthly meeting of the Rock Island
Club last evening by the committee
appointed at the last meeting for the
purpose and composed OF Maj c. w
Halves, H. f. CasteeI and c. J. Lar
Kin. In addition to detailed sugges-
tons as to methods of raising the nee
essary money ami providing for the
control of the building blue prints pre-
pared gratis by Architect L. NJ. Draci
| outlining about such a structure as the
| committee believes is needed were
| shown. These are left with the secre-
tary for the inspection of members and
others interested and steps TO get the
project under way will be taken later.
The report stated that to meet the
needs of Rock Island for a meeting
place for local uses and for conven-
! tons held here there should be pro-
vided a building with an auditorium
/ SSttllbE HUN -,JbO W O,bbo PSISOnS
! This it was estimated. could be built
for between 49, 900 and $4,000.
AS drawn the plans contemplate a
building about 80 by 120 feet with
two-story front and one-story auditor
ium at the rear with high ceiling. \
wide entrance to the main hall would
extend through the middle of the front
with small Offices on each side and
lodge rooms on the second floor,
small hall being placed over the en-
trance to the main hall. The sugges-
ton was made that the front might be
raised to three stories and as much
extra room provided for lodge halls
and small halls on the second floor
as the people feel like furnishing funds
to build Such a structure as is out
lined in the plans it is estimated Will
cost about $4,000.
From the main hail there would be
stage large enough to hold 100 per
sons and a movable stage that might
be placed in any part of the room was
recommended. 1t would also be nee
essary to provide seats with at least
500 desk chairs for the use of dele,
gates to conventions.
Three sites Proposed.
Three sites were suggested, all hav-
ing the advantage of being near the
hotels and provided with street railway
facilities They were the lot between
the postoffice and the Rock Island
Club, the old rink, on Sixteenth street.
and the Searle lot at Fifth avenue and
Seventeenth street. Suggestions as to
Cd
A complete plan to provide funds for
the enterprise was given. 1t was pro-
posed that a number of public-spirited
citizens incorporate the Rock Island
Auditorium association, issuing $4,000
shares of stock or such part of that
number as might be deemed necessary,
at 81 per share, to be taken in limited
number by citizens. These certificates
of stock would be used as tickets to
high class entertainments of nature
to be determined, and to be given in
such manner as not to conflict with
the regular public entertainments, and
TO be given monthly. A certain part
of the fund accumulated would of
necessity have to be used for provid !
ing the entertainment and the remain |
der would be used in purchasing a site |
and erecting a building When this |
had been done and the association was |
free from debt or before that time if |
the arrangements could be made, the |
ownership of the auditorium would |
pass to the city. to be kept up by the |
municipality and to be given free for |
meetings of public nature and lauda- |
bic purpose.
Prior to the passing of control to |
the city it is proposed to place the di- |
rection of affairs in the hands of a |
board on which representation should |
be had by the city council, the Rock /
Island Club. Retail Merchants associa-
ton. and churches, lodges and labor |
organizations of the city.
Committee Continued.
The club last evening continued the /
committee for more fun development |
of the project before the next meet
ing. Then il is the idea to ask the CO
operation of the bodies which il is pro-
posed TO share in getting the enter
prise on foot. so that all may work to-
gether in the laudable endeavor to I
give Rock Island a much needed public /
meeting place.
IL opening INC injecting IdSJ eNenIuS,
e Fl Guyer, the newly elected presi-
dent, in taking the gaveI for the first /
time, expressed his appreciation of the
honor that had been conferred upon
him and asked the cooperation of the /
membership in furthering the various /
enterprises for the upbuiIding of Rock
Island that are now under way or that /
may be taken during his term of Office.
chamberIain,s Stomach ana Iiverr.b-