The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-07

Asooi 1h0 ol Z SILL
. I
Atlanta has an auditorium and she
has come to the aid of her sister city.
Birmingham, in securing an auditor
ium. The auditorium has meant much .
to Atlanta and the civic boosters of
the town know one will mean much for
Birmingham. They tell in literature
and letters addressed to local officials
OF the Chamber of Commerce. lust ,
what the auditorium has done for At
lanta.
Music Festival
Inc music festival in Atlanta is well re-
h'empered in Birmingham as source NJ
regret here on account of the fact that I
birmingham could not have a similar
event. There are just as good musicians
ana as many music lovers in Birmingham
as any other town of its size. but be
cause Atlanta had the auditorium the
people of Birmingham some few months
ago had to go to Atlanta to hear tho
grand opera stars of the country
But there are other things than rrent
musical attractions that the auditorium
mas brought to Atlanta. The voters Z
birmingham are acquainted with the past :
ana need no reminding. The Atlanta
auditorium was financed by an underwrit-
ing syndicate with capital of $4,000 and
a bond issue of $4,000. The auditorium
movement was started there In January.
1905, but after year or so was dropped
for the time being in Difference to the
movement which started in behalf of am
exposition for Atlanta in 1910 Late In ta.
summer of 1906 the exposition movement
had to be abandoned and the organiza-
tion that had been formed to promote tue
exposition turned the money they had !,
raised over to the auditorium fund ana
the auditorium was again brought to the
front. The committee of citizens named
to take charge of the matter made an
exhaustive study and reported that the
most feasible plan was Tor a municipal
auditorium.
City Offered to Build 1t
The city officials offered to ercct)
the building II an underwriting,
syndicate was formed so that they touid
build the structure and the city could pay
for 1t in installments. This was done and
the building was constructed at a cost OF
S250,o0u Since that time the city has BEN
paving regular instaumerts and expects
to finish the last pay Aent on the property !
about next year
r Iii answer to "a letter from Chairman
Pascal Shook. w. IL. l.eaby, Industrial
secretary of the Atlanta. Chamber of
Commerce. has made the following reply:
MI p. G. Shook, Chairman Auditorinn
Committee, Chamber OF Commerce, Bir-
lningham, Ala.
My Dear Sir: It affords me mtsrn
pleasure 10 give you the Information re-
quested In your kind letter of tie 7tl.
I'VE consider the auditorium splendid
acquisition to Atlanta from many stano-
points.
ut furnishes n place OF assembly for
the largest conventions held throughout
the country and dcuiltlcss has beer OF
material assistance in gotting a large
number of meetings fol- Atlanta
The lot on which the auditorium is IL I
Gated is 2oex303 feet The biiolng occn-
pies the entire lot. except n dlivcwav
about 20 feet wide, which is provided on
the Two rear Sides thus giving entrances
and exits, light and ai: on all four slices
OF the building.
The first story Is given up entirely to i.
the auditorium. vestihule, reception
rooms, etc.
Size of Auditorium
The mann auditorium >is leG feet ny
2lola feet. with seating capacity OF 1ots',
without the stage, ard ? seating capacity
OF G000 with the stage
In addition TO the main auditorium
there is small auditorium. known Il. :
Taft hall, named in honor OF cx- President
William I'll raft. and where the famous
Taft 'possurl dinner was given. which
las a seating capacity OF 90d
Above the first story along the Court
land street front, the building is occapicd
as an armory by the Fifth Regiment Ma
tional Guard OF Georgia. 1o companies J
strong: the only full City regimen sosan
OF Baltimore.
I'm the basement the Atlanta artillery
and the Governors Horse Guard, a cav
airy troop. are also stationed.
"Atlanta's grand opera season Is held
in the auditorium.
'The auditorium contains a great ar
gan, one of the largest, il not the largest
in the country, installed through the ef-
forts of the Atlanta Music Festival asso-
citation, at cost Of $4,000.
II take pleasure in sending you under
separate cover of Progress magazine
for May, 1909. which gives the financing
methods employed in securing this build 4
ing.
Il also send you under separate cover
exterior and interior photographs, which
we are very glad indeed to do.
'If we can assist you further it will
afford MS much pleasure. Yours truly.
wv. H. LEABY. Industrial secy."