The San Francisco call., 1909-04-24
DEFINITE PLAN FOR
GREAT AUDITORIUM
Project Under Way for Erection
of Great Convention Hall on
Mechanics Institute Lot
Enterprise Embraces Scheme to
Raise the Necessary Funds by
Popular Subscriptions

San Francisco will have. within
short time, an auditorium or national
convention hall ON the site of the old
Mechanics institute if the plans of
Charles e. Naylor are seconded by the
community, for the Mechanics insti-
block bounded by Larkin, Hayes, Polk
and Grove streets, on which stood the
old Mechanics pavilion, which was de-
stroyed by the great fire.
HALL FOR NATIONAL CONVENTIONS
When interviewed on the subject,
c. e. Naylor said:
Il have been working for a number
Of months on a plan for providing
San Francisco with national con-
vention hall with the intention to place
the same on a portion of the said
block The plans provide for build
ing 220x275 feet with a seating ca
pacity, every person being able to
see and to hear, of 1880, and an ad-
ditional seating capacity of 5000 in an
upper promenade gallery or roof gar
den, Immediately located above the
balconies and reached by inclines in--
stead of stairs.
COST WOULD BE 100000
The estimated cost of the building
is about 100000 and it is modelled after
the plan of the famous Kansas City
convention hall, which was erected
from funds subscribed by the public
spirited citizens of that city. 1t was
erected within three months after be-
ing burned down, and is steel first
class building. This lease is for so
years and aggregates a rental of be-
tween $1,500,000 and $4,000, 600.
POPULAR SUBSCRIPTION SCHEME
1t is proposed to raise the money for
the building as they did in Kansas
City-by popular subscription. In Kan
sas City they have 5000 stock holders.
from bankers to stenographers. holding
from one to $4,000 shares apiece
II have interested prominent civic
organizations in this enterprise which
have passed favorable resolutions. You
will see that this plan of providing an
auditorium has been indorsed by the
Real Estate board, the Associated Saw
ings Banks, Hotelmen's association,
Merchants exchange. Merchants asso-
citation and the chamber of commerce." :"
FAVORED BY HOTELMEN
The resolution adopted by the hotel
men embodies the sentiments of all the
other civic bodies mentioned and is as
follows:
Resolved, that it is the sense OF this organi
zation that San Francisco is greatly in need
of modern auditorium convention hall for
the accommodation Of national conventions and
other large assemblies; that such an improve
ment. If secured, win be a most important
feature in the rebuilding and future progress
of San Francisco and attract to the city and
state many visitors and permanent settlers. and
incidentally result in large amounts of
money being brought here for circulation among
lasting material benefit; and be it further
Resolved, that indorse the plan, as pre-
sented to by Charles f.. Naylor, for the
erection of a national convention hall OF audito-
rum through the cooperation of private enter
prise and popular subscription and on what ap-
pears to be ideal location. wit: the site
of the old Mechanics institute pavilion. and we
believe from the Information at hand that the
opportunity offered to secure such a build
ing is that may not again for years
and therefore should be taken advantage of at
once; that the should have the earnest
and prompt support OF our commercial and civic
organizations and of the citizens generally, to
the end that this effort to provide an improve
ment of such great value may succeed; and be
Il further
Resolved that we commend the aforesaid en-
terprise to the favorable consideration OF all
feeling certain that those who encourage the
project in every legitimate way will act wisely
for the interests of the entire city.
SAN FRANCISCO HOTELMEN'S ASS0CIA-
TION-
By JAS WOODS President
BY EDW. t. NAPLES, Secretary