Norwich bulletin., 1912-06-12
A s45o,oo0 ARMORY.
Place Where Democratic Convention
 is to Be Held-caPaoity of 11,e2a.


 Baltimore, June 1.-The democratic candidate for president of the United States will be nominated in a huge National guard armory situated in the residence portion of Baltimore. When this city sent it's representatives be- fore the democratic national commit tee to bring the national convention here the possession of an ideal con- vention hall was one of the strongest advantages Baltimore had to offer. Since that time, at the expense of many thousand dollars. the hall has been made to answer every require ment of the delegates who assemble here on June 25 and the throngs that gather to watch their deliberations.
 When the state spent S450,000 for thIs drill hall to house Baltimore's fa- nous regiment, the Dandy Fifth," bis conventions were in mind and the building was situated and designed with reference to affording such ac- commoda tions. The armory extends 364 feet in width on Hoffman and Preston streets and is 2s4 feet deep. The great drill hall inside, where the convention will assemble, is 300x20O feet
 To adapt this building further to convention purposes the state apprO- priated s35,000. The greater part of this sum has been spent to increase the seating capacity by putting in temporary balconies at the two ends of the drill hall. Decorations, which include the construction of false ceiling to improve the acoustic prop critics, cost $7,000. Several thousand dollars has been spent in the con struetion of the speakers platform, on seats, and on remodeling the military company quarters at the sides and ends of the building for use as com mittee rooms.
 For convenience in handling the crowds, the convention hall seats have been divided into 76 sections, of which 1 49 are on the floor and the rest in the balconies. The floor will seat 10,661 and the balconies 1, LAOS. Deducting the seats on the floor reserved for officials, delegates and alternates and the press leaves 7,220 for the public. These with the balconies make room for | Il ,62S seats for the accommodation of Baltimoreans and visitors who are l expected by the ten thousands from all parts of the country
 The public seats on the main floor occupy the two ends of the hall and l run at right angles to the delegates l seats, so that when a speaker on the rostrum is facing the delegates the ! greater part of the audience will get side views of him. The great bal l comics that have been added tempo rarily to the armory project from the ends and oVerhang nearly half these end seats on the floor. These two bal l comics are 200 feet long by 52 feet l deep. At the front and back of the 1 aav,4 1,aI have been equipped with three rows of l seats that will accommodate between i four and five hundred. The balconies i are 12 feet above the ground floor in 1 front and securely supported by beams | of wood and steel The two at the ends of the hall are banked so that the view from the rear seats will be unobstructed.
 To facilitate quick emptying of the 1 building, 13 new doors have been cut | in the granite walls. making a total 1 of IS. Twelve of these are for the l use of those who hold tickets to the balconies and enable the balconies to l connect directly with the street The extra doors on the ground hcor are for | use mainly as exits since no difficulty | Is anticipated in handling all who en ter through the wide entrance in the l front and center of the building
 
 The convention hall band will be ir l stand erected over the main en- l trance, Space has been given for 200 l musicians. A telephone with an elee- 1 trie signal light connects the leaders 1 stand whb fhe desk of the chairman at the opposite side of the hail so thai
 the latter may signal his wishes. Tht chalrnaan,s position is connected by l telephone also with the six commit tea rooms which have been fitted uf in the vacated eeEHPahy quarters al
 the two ends of rhe building
 No expense has been spared te
 beautify the interior of the hall. Th4 principal task of the fefnedelers Was the construction of B false eeiiinE | which would improve the acoustic properties by preventing the speak.
 efs' voices from being lest among ths lefty steel tFusses of the curved roof | This has been accomplished by sus.
 pending from the reef beams arehe( trusses of weeden framework whief
 have been covered with bunting, Th,
 spaces between have been filled 1T