The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-05
must COMPLETE
City AUDITORIUM.
Strong Petitions Sent to Council
to Adequately Equip
Structure.
COMMITTEE APPROVES PLAN.
Chapman Meetings and Conven-
tons Not to Conc Unless
Work s Ordered.
COMMITTEE APPROVES PLAI

Work Is Ordered.
Need FOR a convenient and well-ar-
ranged auditorium is again apparent,
and an effort will be made to have the
d City Council. at its meeting Tomorrow
night. take the necessary steps for the
completion Of the present structure at
Linden and Cary Streets. which was
hurriedly converted from nnrkct to
an improvised auditorium for the
Southern Baptist Convention and the
i Confederate Reunion In 1907. So in
adequate were tho provisions that a
resolution. introduced In the Baptist
convention, to leave the building on
account OF It's lack OF acoustics. was
only defeated by a narrow vote.
After experiments in great mass
meetings, the Episcopal convention OF
the fall abandoned the use of the
Auditorium, holding simultaneous
meetings in several churches.
blocks Convention Ilnns.
Since the Chamber OF Commerce has
been aggressively at work in a cam
paign to secure for Richmond some
of the great conventions of the coun-
try, the question has again been
brought to the front Of providing ade-
@quate quarters for such gatherings.
ALREADY Richmond has lost several
great national conventions which were
willing to come here, but which had
to go elsewhere because the city had
no public hall large enough and suit
ably arranged for such gatherings.
Perhaps the most urgent reason for
Immediate action is the plan of the
churches of all denominations to Join
in an evangelistic campaign in this
city In January next. the services OF
the Rev. j. Wilbur Chapman, D. D., an
evangelist Of worldwide fame. having
been secured. provided suitable local
arrangements can be made for the
l,neetinEs. A petition from q commits
tee OF sixty representative business and
professional men and ministers, In
charge OF the plans was presented to
the Council Committee on Grounds and
Buildings some weeks ago. On consul-
tation with the City Engineer. 1t was
found that to complete the Audito-
rum as originally contemplated, with
n complete heating plant. ceiling. plat
Form and interior fittings. would cost
about $4,000. The committee recon-
1nended that the work be authorized
at once, and the report will come up in
the Council meeting Tomorrow night
when 1t is understood that representa-
itives of the Chamber of Commerce,
Business Mems Club. and other organi-
cations will be present to urge the
passage of the measure.
"Wednesday Clubs Petition.
The following formal petition will
also be presented to the Council:
TO the Honorable Council Of the City
of Richmond:
Your petitioners, the wednesday,
4 Club, OF this city, h,Imbly pray your
honorable body to make such an nppr0-
priation MS will enable your Commit
tee on Grounds and Buildings to 40
improve the present City Auditorium
as to make 1t available for concerts md
great public gatherings. Such Inn
9prOvemcnts ns are con- cmplntcd by your
above mentioned committee nrc nbsO-
lutely needed If tic Auditorium IL to
be available for the uses Of the We'd
nesdny Club.
Respectfully submitted, by order OF
the Wednesday,. Club.
GEO.sW. STEVENS; President,
II. IT, MELONEY, Nicc-Prcsidcnt,
M.aT.s SPICI1R, Secretary.
Ministerial Union Acts.
To the Honorable Council of the City
of RichmOnd:
Your undersigned petitioners consti-
{ Ministerial Union OF Rlchmond. Man
3 chcAter and vicinity, to make nrrange-
9ments for the Chapman cvnnEcllstic
NEE tfnEs, which are to he held In this
city during the first three weeks of
january. next It Is essential TINT II
proper hall be, provided for the meet
1nEs, and the City Auditorium is the
only one nffording sufficient capacity;
but 1t cnnnOt be used without certain
improvements, including provision for
hentinE and for better acoustics. Your
petitioners are advised that the maxi
ing of these improvements Is essential
TO the advantageous use of the Audi
tOriun for the purposes of Its erection,
and we feel sure that the benefit ia
the city from the Chapman meeting,
alone would more than Justify the cx-
pcnse of improvements.
We therefore respectfully uctlflCc,
such action on the part OF your hon.
nrnble body an will insure not only
the use of the Auditorium for the Chan
man meetings, but the putting OF the
same In such condition that 1t cnn bc
used to advantage for that purpose. =
Respectfully Submitted.
D.. NJ. Ramsay, J. j. Scllcrcr, r.. III.
Rawlings, J. II. Moss. r. II. NIcFa,lcn,
60; y. hNiliups- W.. Ball, Russell
a. Goodwin. John c.. Freeman, ". ID
Duke, james w. Gordon, NJ. S. Co
lonna,J. X. JolliT, f. G. Kelly
1'homas Scmmes, o. j.. Sands, Duyi.
nottom' II. ID. G. NIncInchlan. Jerc
Nftherspoon, j. n. Latham. j. W
Morris, o. A. Hawkins, II. T.. IInrri-
son. 80
For Chapman Meetings.
no the Honorable Council OF the CIT,
OF Richmond, $50
= our undersigned petitioners constI
tute committee nppOintcd Nv, ~.
boa I'd of Directors of the Younr.Ncn..
EhriHttnn -tssocinuon of Richmond. ",
4 believe 1t essential TINT n proper mi