The Washington herald., 1909-04-25

Another large modern auditorium viii
be available for public use after May 4.
when what is said to be the first musical
/ festival in the South VIII be opened in
Atlanta This new auditorium is strictly
up-to-date in every respect. Il has a
seating capacity OF $500. besi..s which
/ there are various assembly rooms con-
/ nected with the main hall, which can ac-
/ Icommodate many more people Il vas
IN one OF these side halls that President
Taft was entertained az the famous pos
sum banquet last winter
There are a number OF novel features
about the Atlanta Auditorium. The bal
comics are approached by inclined walks
/ instead Of stairs. which il iz believed.
viii reduce the danger from FIRE panics-
/ The floor Is portable. and may be taken
I up in sections. 50 that the building can
/ be used for the annual horse show.
I There is a stage accommodating coo peo-
[ pie, and a Big band stand az the other
end Of the building The building also
contains the armory Of the Fifth Georgia
Z Regiment. including a shooting gallery.
driu hail. and gymnasium and stables
The Atlanta Auditorium cost IS. 900.
and eighteen months were required TO
build It, The money was raised throupF
2 stock company which later sod the
property 20 the city. The several hun
dred State and national annual conven-
tions Of which Atlanta has boasted IN
the past are expected to be multiplied
several times when the new auditorium
is available. The new auditorium. II
present plans are carried out. will be
equipped with a fine pipe organ. such as
has made Salt Lake City famous. The
box Office receipts Of the music festival
VIII be devoted 70 that purpose. 4 num-
Der Of prominent grand opera singers and
other artists and a chorus OF 500 voices
viii participate IN five concerts which
I conclude May 3. L IS proposed TO make
the Atlanta musical festival a permanent
annual event which will rival those held
AZ Cincinnati and Worcester. Mass, and
thus. Il possible. bring the South % the
front rank in the music world OF America.
The auditorium idea is taking hold OF
the people Of the entire cc,natry. Each
year sees one or more cities added 70 the
number Of those which have large ardI-
I forums. Many millions Of dollars s ;
. invested IN these great halls. and the flr.
that more are constantly being built IN
dicates that they are regarded as paynE
investments. Many municipalities own au-
1ito-iums and II they DO not actually
get dividends IN money from them. the
good results 10 local industries and trade
from conventions and other great gather
ings IS very tangible
The movement for auditorium con-
struction IS probably an outgrowth Of the
old town hall idea Almost ever since
the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock
every New England town and village
has had a town hall. where the inhab-
itants gather from tine % tine 20 dis
cuss the state Of the nation. or local
political and government questions, 10
see some show" or 20 be otherwise en-
terts'ned. The effect Of such gatherings
is wholesome. With the expansion Of
the country. and the enormous Increase
in the population OF its cities. The town
halr idea has grown
Washington. the National Capital. Is
ore Of the most backward cities IN this
respect. For many years there has been
a demand for q great auditorium IN
Washington. but up 10 date the need has
not been supplied. Present indications.
however. are shat a movement recently
set on foot BY public spirited business
men viii be successful Their project is
most ambitious A total Of about s175.-
000 has already been subscribed 70 carry
Il out. and considerable more funds are
said 10 be in sight II is estimated that
- least S5o0e)0 are required 10 carry out
the present plans Much OF this can De
borrowed Il is said. after the site has
been purchased The site tentatively Sc
Iected. adjoining the CorcoraR Gallery
of Art. IN Seventeenth street. IS an
entire city block. with an area Of four
acres
II is proposed 10 have a building big
enough TO accommodate a national politi-
cal convention. and seating 1890 OF 9R-
90 people. II would have adjustable walls,
so that a smaller space could be pro-
vided for grand opera. concerts. &c.
To provide accommodations for the quad
rennial inaugural ball IS one Of the prin-
cipsl objects OF the Washington audi
torium promoters Washington is a nat
Ural convention city. and already scores
OF such gatherings. great and small. are
held in the Capital City every year. II
is asserted that IL a suitable auditorium
were provided twenty conventions would
be held in Washington where only one
now meets
Besides catering 20 conventions. II is
planned that the Washington Auditorium
shall have a stage large enough for a
three-ring circus. II such a show were
Permittedjn the building. however, oscar
Hammerstein. the celebrated New York
iinpresario. threatens that his grand
opera troupe viii never be permitted TO
appear after such Proclamation. Ham
merstein wanted 10 have exclusive con-
troll over the auditorium. but its pro-
mOters declined with thanks The or
ganizstion Of a Washington symphony
orchestra hinges on the provision Of