The Washington herald., 1909-01-24

The project 10 erect in Washington a
big auditorium in which TO hold conven-
tons and house the inaugural bah re-
eeived large public appreciation at a
meeting held yesterday at the New VII
lard
The purposes Of the incOrDoratOrs Of
the National Auditorium Company were
set forth il a general way Hon. Elihu
Root addressed the meeting. emphasizing
the need of such a building. and those
present subscribed more than Ssl000 TO
the enterprise
Other subscriptions Pledged.
Il was stated after the meeting that
subscriptions made subject 10 the fun
Incorporation OF the company VIII raise
this total 10 about S125.00). The incoT-
porators Of the company felt greatly en-
couraged al the outcome Of yesterdays
meeting, and II is probably not TOO much
70 say that the project VIII so forward
10 a successful issue
Il had been announced that Hon. Rob
ert Bacon Assistant Secretary OF State,
would preside at the meeting. but at the
last moment duties NJ the State Depart
Hent detained him, and ne was only able
TO come 70 the meeting after it had been
in session some minutes.
George E Hamilton. president of the
board Of directors Of the company. called
the meeting 10 order and stated the pur-
pose for which it had been called Mr.
Hamilton rehearsed the stages by which
the enterprise had been brought TO the
present point He said It was founded
in the real need in Washington Of q
building in which the Inaugural ball could
be held without the people Of the city
knocking at the doors OF q reluctant Con
gress 20 turn out the government clerks
and give them the temporary use Of the
Pension Office or some other public build
ing
Place for Conventions
M Hamilton said there vas further
need in the Capital for such a large
building as is proposed 10 give room for
numberless conventions. congresses. con-
certs. lectures, and social functions which
require large room which they cannot
now have
Recognizing this need, AIr. Hamilton said
the incOrporators had been convinced that
the people Of the city had q sincere desire
10 make an effort C Ill the need, and
this was the real motive for calling the
repr resentative citizens Of Washington to-
gether, 10 enable them 10 give voice 10
such intent il Il exists
NJ Hamilton described briefly The main
facts relative 20 the incorporation Of the
company By saving that the capital stock
had been placed AT S500000, in l8,0l0 shares
OF SO each. Before inCOrpOra ton il would
be necessary for One-tenth Of this amount
10 be paid in after the fUll number Of
shares had been subscribed.
Mr. MacfarIand Presides
At this point in the proceedings Com
missioner Henry 3. F. MacfarIand was
made chairman OF the meeting. in place
Of Assistant Secretary of STATE Bacon.
NJ Macfarland introduced Secretary
Root with a happy reference 10 his being
The Alexander Hamilton OF our day. 20
which Mr.. Root replied that If he could
finance the affairs Of the auditorium
company 10 such success as Hamilton
did the young government OF the United
States he would accept the compliment
as proposed
AR Root spoke Of the need Of a large
auditorium for public and semi-public
use in washington He said this was
the city OF all in America toward which
the people OF the country looked con
stantly. He declared that il was the
ambition Of every American 10 come here
-
thought that in the future a constant
stream OF travellers would come to the
Capital. and that il would become within
q few years in respect 10 its attractive
ness to tourists the chief city Of the
world
Approves Site Selected.
Mr.. Root approved OF the site selected
for the building. on the block lying be
tween the Corcoran Gallery Of Art and the
newly built han Of the Daughters Of the
American Revolution. Beyond that build |
ing Mr.. Root said the governments Of
America were spending about Ssc0.0o8 70 /
complete the new home for the Bureau
OF American Republics This was on one
side. fronting the White Lot. On the
other side the nation has committed il |
nf1ltr-
inss-one for the Department Of State.
one for the Department OF Justice. and
one for the Department Of Commerce and
Labor Mr.. Root said IL vas by a sort
OF providential direction that the site
had been lefJ available 10 this tine for
the proposed building. 70 be called the |
National Auditorium Of Washington
Secretary Root spoke Of the relation OF !
the project 10 the government He said
Il would be useless 70 ask the govern |
ment 10 build the structure and pay for |
IL as il would be OF necessity largely a |
local building. which would be used for |
governmental functions al times, but not /
distinctly SO Hence Il was incumbent /
upon the people Of washington first 20 |
shoulder the responsibility OF the enter |
prise When that had been done. when /
the corporation had been formed. the /
money raised for the lot. and the build 1
ing started, then. he said, Washington /
could go 10 Congress, and II would be /
the duty Of the statesmen Of the two |
Continued on Page II, Column 2.