Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1906-07-26
QUIT KNOCKING
Two City Papers are Object
ing to the New Opera
House.
Facts Prove II Will Be the
Best and Safest III the
State.

\ Both of the daily papers in the city
have taken occasion during the past
few days to take slam at the big new
Senterprse being conducted by Chas. l..
Hyde, which consists in the building of
Ma zig three-story business block large
department store, and the finest opera
%honse in the state, if not the best west
%ot the twin cities.
The criticisms of these two papers
have been directed openly against the
Smanner of the construction of the opera
HOUSE it being alleged that the front
for main entrance being too small to adj
Unit of sudden exod.s OF the people
who may attend the theatre in case OF a
ysfire or panic.
I'll The Free Press takes exceptions to
Nthe criticisms of the two papers, not
a, Wy on account of the way they state
4 case, but to the way in which they
#fry to conceal the facts. From read
ing of their structures one would SUP
/ pose that the only exit to the new opera
house was by way of the main entrance
in front, which is claimed to be too
MARROW 10 allow, free exit, eight feet six
yhes.
gsSingularly enough, these two papers
omit to state that on all sides of this
new play house will be found, when
completed, not less than fourteen other
seNits and fire escapes, in addition to the
main entrance. These lead from the
main floor, the balconies and the stage,
and will readily afford the people who
may attend the opera house on any oc.
& casion free acce SIS to the outside To
5s show that the. plans of Mr.. Hyde's new
q opera house have been drawn with
more than the usual regard for the
u safety OF its patrons we have only
to mention that the new thea
I tire, in Sioux Falls, which is the
{ only one in the state that is com
q parable with the Pierre play house in
size, has only six exits altogether, in,
Guiding the one to the rear of the stage.
n Mr.. Hyde's opera house has over twice
as many exits from all sides as the best
opera house i'll the queen city, and yet
you have never heard any person in
Sioux Falls, or any newspaper in that
city, knocking the opera house there
II because it was not safe. The people
of that city take pride in their theatre,
Il which, until the completion of the
Pierre opera house, will be the best in
q the state. 1t is a matter of regret that
q newspapers in this city should assail the
\ enterprise now going forward, and
q which promises to give us the best play
\ house in the state before the legislature
Il conyenes next January.
The Free Press cannot understand
\ what motives are behind this course on
y the part Of the city papers referred TO-.
Perhaps Mr.. Hyde gives them business,
4 and maybe he does not. Weare unable
to state That gentleman has patron
& lied this office to a reasonable extent,
hhs always received courteous treat
sanent and has had no fault to find with
the prices charged. We would hesitate
to think, however, that because he has
4 not received such treatment, possibly,
tat other offices in this city, is the rea
/, Sn that his opera house enterprise is
I Spg Knocked" in the way it is. There
!. .ust be some reason for the course pur-
4 sued, but it is not apparent just now to
those who are familiar with the facts
} that Mr.. Hyde is putting up the best
opera house in South Dakota, and is
providing it with the most modern fire
escapes and exits in case of danger to
the patrons.
The Free Press can say truthfully
that during its existence it has never
knocked an enterprise which is for the
benefit of our city we do not believe
in this course, never did and never will.
The building enterprises Of Mr.. Hyde's
now going forward on the hill are as
/ good as any Pierre ever had, and the
people and press of this city should en-
courage him instead of trying to dis
courage him with carping, petty cfisi-
cism.
Does it pay to do otherwise
Local News Notes.
ID. q. Jordan has a sample of wheat