The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-20
RICHMOND Will
HAVE AUDITORIUM
.-- ~ --------.-----
Various Plans That Have
Been Suggested BY
Various Ones.
ACTION NEEDS TO
BE TAKEN AT ONCE
Councils Movement Seems to Be
Too Slow for Progressive
Richmond, and Other
Plans Are Under
Earnest Dis
cussion.

cussion.
great auditorium for Richmond Is
now a subject that Is under universal
discussion.
Mayor Mccarthy, who knows a good
thing when he sees it. did not hesitate
to recommend To the Council that the
building OF an auditorium that would be
credit and a big advertisement to the
city be undertaken ny the city itself.
The Common Council was disposed to
look favorably upon the llayors scheme
and referred his proposition 10 II COM
rlittee. The Board of Aldermen, how.
ever, came along nnl threw 1, damper
on the whole business BY refusing 70
consider the Mayors propositions How
ever. the Board can sometimes be read
between the lines. and It is possible that
its action mean, only temporary delay.
The night the Board was called upon to
hear Mayor McCarthy's auditorium rec
o'nmendataon 1t had some other very
big appropriations before It. The propo-
siton to give the State Fair project
$4,000 was up that night and some otEcr
appropriations OF considerable dimensions
had to be made TO have added hun
dred or two hundred thousand dollars
FOR an auditorium, and all in one and
the same night. was Just n little more
than the aldermen coull stand for and
they proceeded to black-eyc tile whole
auditorium scheme insofar as city owner
ship OF the same vas concerned
itis the opinisn of a great many that
this action on the part of the Board was
+ only temporary work, and that the mem
bers Will anlble upGto the scratch little
later on in much more favorable
humor.
Battle Abbey Scheme.
In this connection It should not be for
gotten that the City Fathers are in favor
OF an auditorium in the ownership Of
which the city Is to be at least a
partner.
It will be remembered that very
liberal appropriation was made. the pay
,nent Of which has been provided for, %
the Confederate Battle Abbey. A condi-
ton understood in this appropriation was
that the abbey must have big room OF
ten thousand seating capacity. that may
be--lndeed. shall be-used rs al audi
,ortum. The Battle Abbey is getting
along all right, and In due time will be
here with It's auditorium. but 1t will not
be here this year, or next year either,
and#nex year, above all other times Is
the very time when Richmond will need
an auditorium Of great Dimensions
Richmond must have jus: erch a house
for the Ter-Centennary year, even
though 1t be temporary lnalseshlft.
This is the general opinion; this seems
to be the mind OF Richmond, and The
mind of Richmond HAHN. been l:ndc
known. there Is nothing TO do bu: build
an auditorium
There are numerous suggestions and
not few plans on foot FOR an ardltoriuna
Third Market Schemes IN
Some time ago Mr.. Umlluf. st,iefy
business member of the Common Coun-
Gil, offered resolution providing that,
with an expenditure OF several thovsa nd
dollars. the Third Market, located on
Cary Street, between Linden and Cherry
i Streets. be converted into an auditorium
capable Of seating not less than 5000
people. This proposition was defeated.
hut 1t Is understood that since tina Cou,-
Z ell sat down upon 1t several members
who voted against II have undergone a
change of heart. SO TO speae, and Mr..
umlauf feels encouraged TO renew his
proposition and will d. SO. probably al
the next meeting OF the Council
In the meantime knowing that grea,
bodies, like city councils. snlLils ana some
other things, are proverbal for moving
with a calm elaboration. which the pru.
fame are too prone to stigmatlse as sui.
cidhl slowness. private individuals and
men of large means are becoming intense
~ Interested In the auditorium. subject
There is undoubtedly movement on foo
to have an auditorium In time for the
big convention and the big Ter Gentleman,
crowds of next year. Whether It be a
temporary affair or a permanent struc
ture depends largely upon what shape the
movement assumes the next two or three
weeks There is much deeper public
interest In this matter than has ,ye
appeared on the surface The dilltorl
tactics Of the Council may have hae
much to do with awakening TINS public