The Washington times., 1908-11-19
Convention Hall Project Is
Brought to a Head
Today.
FIGURES
ARE THE PROMOTERS
Plan to Rush I'm
mense Building to Completion.
Personnel of BaCkers.

A company, 10 be known as thu Ma
tional Auditorium Company, of Wash
ingtOn, d. G.. is TO be Incorporated
within the next few weeks for the pur-
pose OF financing and erecting a magnih-
cent auditorium in this city, national as
we'll as local in scope of its usage. Capa-
bic of seating about l.. 600 people.
comprising this company will be some
or the most prominent people in Wash
ington, in business. banking and politi-
cal circles. There will be twelve original
lncorporators- These will ask hfty more
men 10 join them. and among the fifty
viii be men of national prominence,
residents of different parts OF the c0un-
try.
The original capital Of the company
will be $4,000. and the articles of in
corporation viii probably allow for
this being Increased, If desired, 10
$l,5o0oOO whicn will be the approx
mate cost of the new auditorium.
Bacon Presides.
A meeting OF the committee of
twelve which has been carrying out
the project of giving Washington the
great auditorium was held today in the
directors room OF the Riggs National
Bank. Robert Bacon, Assistant Secre-
tary of state. presided. The committee
Is now organized with Mr. Bacon as
chairman; George H. Hamilton, vice
chairman; George Z. Schutt, secretary.
A special committee of three was ap-
pointed to suggest the names OF the
nifty additional ncOrpOraJors. and to
draw up the necessary articles of in
corporation or the company. These are
Robert Bacon, G. c. Glover. and CfeOrga
T. Hamilton. They viii report at the
next meeting OF the committee. Tn
cate was not set, but viii be held al
the call Of the chairman.
At the meeting today an hour and "a
half was devoted 10 discussion Of the
various phases OF th- undertaking. One
of the principal subjects dWelJ upon was
that concerning a suitable site for the
convention hall
Three sites are under consideration.
They are situated ln different parts Of
i...-s l..s tltys ar -se sat- 20 be about equal
IS suitable II Is understood that Iu
case the owners OF any one site quote
selling figures that smack OF fancy
prices, now that the movement has be-
come known, then ore OF the other two
sites VIII Immediately be chosen.
Patriotic Undertaking.
The meeting tcJay followed several
that have been held during the past
weeks. The project has been planned
chiefly as a patriotic undertaliug-one
that will add 10 the prestige of the city
as well as TO provide the people OF the
country with a suitable hall when they
wish TO hold conventions in Washing
ton. 1t is considered not unlikely that
in time to come the national cCnveu-
tioEs of both Of the leading political
parties Of the country viii be ueld IN
the new han.
The prime movers in the undert. ~
n =, ,Der6d nve. They were G. e. q /
- dent Of the Riggs National Ban
Il Fl. Rudolph, OF the hardware hTl-
Rudolph * West and former presi-
SienL OF the Washington Board OF
Trade John 7. Deyine, OF the Shoreham
Hotel, George +. SChUtt, OF the Ma
uonal Hotel and James L. Oyster.
president of the Board Of Education of
the District of Columbia
AT the taiTd meeting of these five men,
George E. Hamilton, attorney, and pres-
ldenJ OF the Capital Traction Company.
became one of Lhe original committee al
the invitation of the first five Six more
men Increased the number TO twelve,
later these being Robert Bacon, AS
s1stant Secretary of State; Chris Heur-
ichr Of the Chris. HeuriCh Brewing Com
panyi Edward SteuWagen, president Of
the real estate firm Of Thomas J. Fish
er * Co.; C. J. Bell, president of the
American Security and Trust CouUguv.
o
Gen. Henry G, CpTbu, T.. $. A Getiredl
former auluJant general OF the United
states, and Clarence T.. Norment pres
ldenJ Of the Central National Bank and
Of the Washington Railway and Elec-
trio Company.
1t IS possible that EIihu Root. Secre-
Iary or State, may be asked To lend his
name TO the undertaking later and that
the same VIII be true Of John r. Nc
Lean, president of the WASHINGTON Gas
Light Company. Neither Of these men
is now an active member Of the commit
tee Of twelve.
1t is expected that the new coruDany
viii be Incorporated and in active 6Der-
alton by the time Congress cOnvenes
II Is possible that the work viii be car
ried on so vigorously, and that men
OF such extensive influence and means
VIII contribute to the undertaking. that
The new auditorium will be cOmpleted
IN time for the inaugural bah next
March.
SUES FOR $4,000.