The Washington herald., 1909-04-25

By FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

proper acoustic properties in the pro-
posed structure. Prof Heinrich Hammer,
a celebrated musician. VINO has started
fifty symphony orchestras all over the
world, is backing this scheme. It Is
also suggested that the new building
should provide for an armory. a riding
academy. and a suitable arena for in
door athletic meets. Subscriptions az
gregatiDg a large amount viii depend
upon provision for these features.
Two Of the newest auditoriums IN the
United States are located at St Louis
and ST. Paul TIE Coliseum at St Louis
was occupied one OF the first times by
Mr Taft in addressing an audience Of
1900 last year The St Paul Audi
torium. seating 1000 people. and costing
$4,000. is said 10 be one Of the most
modern in the country. II has a movable
wall. stage and proscenium arch. so that
the hall may be made large OF small.
according 10 requirements.
The Democratic party is a sort n
? -0Inoter OF auditorium construction. Five
sears ago a fine auditorium was built
a. Kansas City, TO accommodate the
Democratic national convention. Seating
1900 persons. this building has an auto
rletie sprinkler system for FIRE pFOtec-
tion purposes, being the only building OS
the sort so equipped. It Is claimed As
a result OF the installation OF that I'm
rroTsment It IS said that the Kansas
City Auditorium viii pay for Itself in re-
NJ.
last year an auditorium was built az
Denver especially for the benefit cf the
Democratic convention, at a cost OF $50
CO., Il can seat 1860 people. and IFS
exits are so numerous that II can be
completely emptied IN tao minutes. Be
sides conventions. It is used for roller
sketins, horse and stock shows, dancing
festivals. &c.
Perhaps the most historic auditorium
IN the country IS Madison Square Gar
den. New York City There the greatest
orators C the world have addressed vast
audie lces for many years The building
has also seen innumerabIe horse shows,
bicycle races. cavalry drills, and all sorts
OF OCher gatherings Carnegie Hall ana
cooLer Union are also used for conven-
t,f purposes In the metropolis. The New
Z Hippodrome. with its enormous
stage and its artificial lake, Is familiar
20 every visitor.
The Coliseum az Chicago is known 10
almost every politician IN the country. as
both political parties have held their na-
tional conventions there az Intervals dur
ing number Of years. It can seat ID
ward OF 12.oo0 people The Annex. con-
nected Herewith. has a floor space OF
400 square feet The Coliseum is con-
sidered out Of date b. many, and Il f.
said that a new and greater auditorium
VIII be built in Chicago. Philadelphia has
long felt the need Of d modern avdito-
nun. seating 1000 OF more. In the pssr
that city has erected temporary build
ings for such purposes from time 10
time.
In Boston, Mechanics Hall has replaced
the ancient and historic FaneuH Hall as
a place for political and other GATHERINGS.
Mechanics Hall seats 500. which IS nor
considered large enough for Tie Hub. 50
the Fenwsy Garden has been projected.
70 cost $4,000. and earn Z per cent div
ioend from rentals for conventions. horse
SHOWS. ctrcuses, operas. concerts. and an
-ce-skating rink which can be attended
y duAAtAS6S o. A4.tl 66C1-
Cincinnatis Music Hall has been the
scene OF many notable conventions. poIit-
ical gatherings, and music festivals. Il
csn hold 500 Los Angeles has probably
the only auditorium buildings constructed
entirely OF concrete. L cost s75a00a Z
IS comparatively small. however onlv
seating 400. but from the standpoint o.
acoustics, ventilation. and lighting. II
has been pronounced one OF the mosr
suditoriuns ever built Ths
auditorium al Salt Lake City, famed for
It's great organ, has another wonderful
feature. its dome. said 70 have been de-
signed by the old Mormon prophet Brig
ham Young. This dome has no pillars
or supports Of any kind. The scou=1c
properties Of this structure are 50 fine
hat If pin Is dropped. or a person rubs
his hands together, the sound can Be
plainly heard on the opposite side Of the
hall
Milwaukee is building a big auditorium.
Ind Atlantic City is contemplating doing
so Ocean Grove. its sister resort on the
Jersey Coast. has a hall seating I0G0
people, which has proved a great sue
,ess. Ocean Groves next-door neishbor.
Asbury Park. has a similar project on
'oot. Some Of the cities which have large
audttoriums or similar halls are Topeka.
indianapolis, Scranton. and HARRISBURG.
Pa: Columbus Ohio; Springfield and
Peoria. Ill; Louisville. Des Moines. Chat
anooga- Dayton. Oklahoma City. Cleve-
and, Omaha and Spokane. The list Is
constantly growing larger.
Whether the auditorium idea deveIoped
from the convention habit, or the con
vention habit followed the construction
Il auditoTiums. the two are nov travel
ng hand in hand throughout the length
md breadth OF the land. Il is estimated
hat there are ~ least 500 conventions
held every year II the United States. Sup
bose 800 people attend each convention
md that probably is a fair estimate II
Zach one Of the 250a000 delegates and
7isitors accompanying them spends s..
he enormous total Of S62500.00o IS made
-early on account OF conventions. Is T.
my wonder that there is a great anu
growing demand for auditoriums to az
the conventions and warmer
competition to secure conventions FOR the
luditOriums7
Copyright. iEs b. Frederic J. Hzskiu}
To-morrow-RaIIroa Construction,