The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-31

AS part of San Francisco's wis
dom, a million dollar auditorium is
now under construction there. This
great structure is financed partially
by the exposition company and is of
course much more stupendous than
many cities and even San Francisco
could afford unless it had happened
that such an enormous event as the
1915 exposition is to be held there.
Inc fact that the city. however, no
matter what other event may be coupled
with the erection OF the building.
should carry much weight with the
man. who believes he has reason To
doubt the value of such a structure TO
a city. 1t is pretty safe to initiate
anything San Francisco does in the
publicity line. The letter to Chairman
Shook follows:
San francisco Chamber of Commerce.
August 13, 1913.
Mr. P. G. Shook, Chairman Auditorium
Committee, Chamber of Commerce.
Birmingham, Ala:
Dear Sir-In reply to your valued let
ter of August 8. we beg to inform you
that San Francisco now has under con-
struction an auditorium that will cost
s1,00o,0OO. This amount comes out of
a S5,000.000 bond issue voted bv the
city and county of San Francisco for
the Panama-Pacific International Ex
position in 1915. the exposition CON-
pany devoting s1.OO0,00O toward the
construction of this class "A" struc-
ture. which will be situated in the new
civic center and entirely separate from
the exposition in 1915, as shown on the
map of San Francisco which we are
sending you under separate cover.
Last year the city also voted S.
100000 to build city hall and pro-
vide lands for the civic center. The city
hall will cost $4,000 A reproduc-
ton of this building appears on page
46 of the purple book. "San Francisco.
CAL, which we are sending you The
remainder of the bond issue was de-
voted to buying land for the civic cen-
ter, of which $70J,437 was paid for a
piece of property one block square upon
which Tb h,,,a VIII erected the auditorium.
feet, four stories high, being ca feet
to the edge of the cornice 1t will be
built of stone with steel frame.
VIII Seat $4,000
The auditorium will have heating
E.uO
space provided in the center for 5000
banqueters. Each of the minor audi
toriums on either end of the main nail
Will have seating capacity of from TOO
to 800 persons. A thoroughly equipped
kitchen is provided in the basement.
also committee rooms and exhibitors
space on the third and fourth floors
large stage is provided with port
able stage which can be folded and
stored underneath the regular stage.
magnificent pipe organ will be one
of the features of this building. There
will be checking space for 5000 per-
sons on the second floor and for 1000
persons on the third floor with emer-
gency checking space in the basement.
Under separate cover we are sending
You a reproduction of the architects
drawing. which will give you good
idea of the appearance of the building
The center of the building will be oct
agonal in shape, 100 feet in diameter. II
you care to have a birds-eye view Of
the entire civic center which will be
the equal If not the peer of anything
of its kind In the world. we shall be
glad to send 1t to you.
Library Building
In the civic center. in addition to the
city hall and auditorium, Will be a
library building to cost 10000; prot-
ably state building to cost $1,000, 900;
u grand opera mouse TO cost $l,UUU,-
900: in addition to four small service
buildings, consisting of a hospital and
for fire protection and police usage.
Through the San Francisco Conven-
ton league and the convention bureau
of the Pacific International Ex-
position 151 conventions, with a total
attendance of between 100000 and 500,-
900, have been secured for the year
1915. Without this auditorium the city
would have no facilities for handling
these immense crowds and we feel that
any city with advantages for the tour
ist could we'll afford an auditorium, as
1t is absolutely necessary as meeting
place for such conventions.
Wishing you the best of success with
your bond issue and assuring you of the
desire of this organization to assist you
whenever possible, We are, yours very
truly,
MERGE.
Robert Newton Lynch. Vice President
and Manager.