Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-08
WHERE CONVENTION IS HELD
Description Of Auditorium and It's
Decorations.
BEATS FOR TWELVE THOUSAND
Decorations and ulumInRtions Upon
Elaborate neutrality-suspicious.
of Hall are Unusually
Complete.

DENVER. Colo, July z-Practical test
was applied today to the great convention
hall which the people OF Denver have
erected especially for the democratic ma
tional convention. Let no ore entertain
the idea, as did many OF the delegates be-
Gore their arrival here, that the conven-
ton fs to meet in a great barn-like temper
airy structure. hastily flung together with
frail and inflammable materials, to serve
somehow for one occasion; Of doubtful
acoustic properties and scant fitness for
even a temporary purpose.
The first impression the stranger gets
from a Wow Of the building is that OF
permanency. Granite and s,eoi. brick and
concrete have been used without stint. This
IL first Of all a vast house for the meet
ing Of large conventions; not only this one,
but many yet to gather from all parts Of
the country. on the other hand, for the
people Of Denver It is to be a home theater,
we'll planned. convenient and Of reasonable
proportions TO house in comfort audiences
20 be gatheted in a wideawake city of
nearly 20.OO people.
Occupies Half Block.
The building. of pale gray brick and
granite, occupies the entire Fourteenth
street half of the block on Nhe east side OF
Fourteenth between Curtis 'and Champs
streets. on the western edge Of the bust
ness section OF the city, and within easy
walk OF the hotels and railroads. 1t is a
massive structure effective In design and
with a beauty OF its own There is an
entire absence Of tawdry. gingerbread
effects and the lines are simple and stately,
yet graceful and pleasing.
Within, the auditorium appears to be es-
pecially well-planned to Secure the utmost
of capacity and the greatest conveniences
of the delegates and others with a view OF
seeing and hearing. The arrangement OF
the platform and seating differs from that
of the Chicago Coliseum in that while their
platform was at one end of the auditorium
here It is at the side, so that no auditor
is more than half the length of the hall
from the speaker. The reservation for the
delegates and alternates is In the center
extending clear across the hall; the spaces
for spectators are at the ends and in the
ample galleries.
Entrances and Exits.
The arrangement Of entrances and exits
IL more than ordinarily effective, and II
is said that in case of emergency the audi
forum could be emptied and every person
be on tho street within two minutes. Fire
apparatus Is located at convenient points
ana IlIleen streams OF water are I'M
medfately available. As a matter OF fact,
the building is practically fire proof; the
floors are OF concrete, and the only ma
terial of an inflammable sort is in the
temporary platform and stairways erected
for this convention, and the immense
amount Of bunting used In the elaborate
decorations.
These decorations are more profuse than
at Chicago in Il harmonious scheme of ma
tional flags and red. white and blue stream
ers. Masses Of flags are placed at APP
propriate points, while the ceiling is COW
cred with red, white and blue stars, each
bearing the name of a state.
over the ,rostrum is, an mmens portrait
of Washington, with Jefferson at one side
and jackson at the other, while from the
middle of the opposite wall, facing the
speakers. is another large portrait of the
late ex-President Grover Cleveland. A
large number of incandescent electric
lights Is used in lighting the hall; the mum.
Der being considerably over $500. repre-,
senting a total candle power above Sc. 900
These are in addition to a system of cell
ing sunbursts." fourteen in number, and
each containing eighty siXteen-candl,
lamps. A red light indicates the location o.
each exit.
Place for Twelve Thousand.
The exact number of seats in the audi
forum, undev present arrangements. il
HISS, but in , inch more than 1900 peopl,
can be accom-. iodated. on the first flooI
alone. there are 6,O72 regular seats.
Upon the platform there are AS seats, re
served for members of the national commit
Tee and for guests OF honor. The number o