Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-02-20
WOULD BE BIG DRAWING CARD.
While City Has the Tabernacle, a
Most Famous Structure, il Can.
not be Used for Everything.
Plan IL to be Put Forth for Construc-
tlon OF "A Pretentious Conven-
ton Hall

An Auditorium building for Salt
Lake? The matter is being talked
OF among business men. and the won
der Is being expressed why there hasn't
been general movement in favor Of
it and towards the erection OF one years
ago.
1t Is suggested that the time Is now
opportune to launch a movement Of
this kind. and that within the next
week under the auspices Of some com.
mittee Of citizens. or the manufacturers
ana merchants association a plan viii
be put forth for the construction in
this city Of a gigantic hall,in which large
conventions, large state affairs, dances
and banquets may be held.
The need for the building has been
recently impressed upon Salt Lake cltl-
zens by the fact that the National
Educational association with It's Il 900
members all but decided TO come here.
Since then, and under the invest iga lions
resulting from the awakened interest
IN home manufactures, II has been OBJ
served that Denver has tre-
mendous list OF conventions
for the coming summer, and that the
coast cities on beyond Salt Lake are
dated up with dozens OF big meetings,
while salt Lake Is comparatively free
from engagements of this kind.
What Is not Salt Lake entitled TO "A
large part or the Denver business III
the convention line? 1t VIII bring hosts
OF people here, who win leave money
in all the general avenues OF commerce,
and In every way Is desirable, becauae
II sends out boosters for the city TO all
corners Of the nation.
In figuring out why Utah does not get
the business many business men have
reached the conclusion that a big cor
Vention hall--an auditorium such "a
that at Kansas City or at Chicago is
what IL lacking and Il Is proposed to
see II the missing building cannot be
supplied OF course with II the com
panion need OF hotels is considered. and
It IL urged by many that the addition OF
these two features would make Salt
Lake an ideal convention city, surpass-
ing Denver In every respect
SALT LAKE QUALIFICATIONS.
Among members OF the Manufactur-
ers and Merchants association who
want 20 see something DONE is O. n.
Hewlett. He IS strong advocat to
for taking immediate steps TO secure the
building.
why" he declared this morning.
salt Lake has twenty natural quail
fcatlons for "A big convention city 10
Denver's one. Denver has garden.
and buildings. and that is about all.
while we have dozens and dozens OF
places to take visitors places that are
of real interest. Yet Denver gets for
~ and fifty big conventions year be.
cause she has tie place to accom-
codate them all, while Salt Lake gets
scarcely any.
I'VE must have an auditorium hall,
not only for outsiders, but for our own
use. There Is now no good place here
for winter amusements, or 10 hold a
large dance in, or even big conven-
ton. Salt Lake is getting 10 be a big
city now, and what WAS good enough
for town, isn't going to be good
enough for her in the future. The
thoaters are getting more and more
where they can't be hired Oh account
OF having their dates full and, any
how, they are not good convention
halls
WHAT MURRAY HALL DID.
down al Murray INty Oullt Y ok
hall, spending about $1,000 on II. and by
using II for dancing when not otherwise
engaged. they have cleared the cost la
a year OF course what we need Is n
much bigger proposition. but It could
be made to pay Just about as well.
IT wouldn't advocate putting 1t up Oh
a main street, where business property
is most expensive. but on a good CEN
trally located side street. IL ought to
accommodate from 1000 TO 1000 peo-
pie, and ought TO be heated sufficiently
TO allow winter meetings as well as
summer meetings
Through the winter We could keep IL
IN use ourselves, with the big dances,
tho local conventions, and mass as
semblies, which are now without a good
place TO meet, In the summer we would
reut II out to conventions, and IL would
In this way pay the whole year round.
COMMITTEE OF CITIZENS.
4 suggestion OF Mr.. Hewletts is
that committee OF citizens be organ
iced 10 take up the proposition solicit
subscriptions, and go ahead with the
erection OF big auditorium. He feels
confident that It would receive general
support II the committee were com
posed Of reputable business men, and
VIII probably bring the matter befora
the Manufacturers and Merchants as
ISOLATION IN a few days.