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

There are few cities in the entire
ham which have not an auditorium;
there are probably none of equal repu-
tation and fame which have not an
auditorium. The cities which built au-
ditoriums merely because they had the
idle cash waiting for an investment
are fewer still. Any live town that is
going forward is nearly always face
to face with depleted treasury. They
have erected an auditorium as an in
vestment and in every case it has
proven a good one.
The auditorium boosters of Birmhg-
ham are not asking the city to buy
y gold brick.
This auditorium problem has been
worked out and discussed from every
angle so much in other cities that 1t
borders on the ridiculous to put into
type arguments in Birmingham as TO
why the auditorium is good thing.
Have Proved It Good Thing
Hundreds of cities have tried it and
have proven it Is a good thing. 1t is
one of the few things in which Bir-
mingham is following somebody else's
lead.
And any man who hesitates to indorse
the movement at the coming election,
September 10, has failed to recognize
the experience of other cities; for II
he had he could not have helped but
want for his town what has proven n
good investment for so many other
towns.
Des Moines, Ia, has a $165,000 audi
.A.4 1tf f. Cft in
debt to the extent of $4,000 The audi
torium is not only paying its own
operating expenses and up-keep but
by its net earning is retiring this In
debtedness at the rate of $4,000 the year.
I'VE regard the money invested in this
building and which we eXpend for con-
vention work, the best money we
spend" writes the secretary of the Des
Moines Commercial club. His letter in
full to Chairman Paschal Shook of the
local Chamber of Commerce auditorium
committee, follows;
"Des Moines Ia, August g.
"Chamber of Commerce, Birmingham,
Ala.
.'Gentlemen-On page of the views
enclosed you will find picture of
our coliseum. Cost s165,0O0 exclusive
of ground. Has an arena 2O4 by 104
with level floor and portable seating,
so can be used for exhibits. indoor cir
cuses, etc. Two balconies around three
sides with stationary seating. Total
seating capacity, $500. Under the ball
comics are 2S permanent boots with
store front effect opening on main
arena. These we lease by the year to
local people for advertising purposes
at fixed rental approximating $12 the
month. Two groups of office rooms
on street front either side of foyer that
we lease. On second floor are nine COM
mittee rooms On third floor a room
so by 104 feet with small balcony for
convention sessions smaller bodies or
business sessions of conventions hav-
ing an exhibit feature. This will seat
900
Rapidly Paying for Itself
I'VE are in debt about 5000, but
Hrom net earnings we are refAipg about
$4,000 per annum of the debt We
kharge the convention fund with $1,000
per annum for use for convention pur-
poses. Rest of income from Regular ten
fnants. paid attractions. pure food
shows, etc.
THE benefit we derive is best set
korth in our annual report re conven-
tions included in report, copy of which
= am sending. We are able to make
our showing expense for the reason that
with trades conventions we require a
contract for a division of the gross
derived from sales of exhibits space.
or this we take 40 per cent with the
result the conventions often times
show a net return to the convention
1und over and above the cost of enter
tainment features.
The coliseum brings us such attrac-
Mons as London symphony. presidential
visits, etc. that bring thousands into
the city who are not counted in our
convention report as delegates. Brings
us big auto show and each spring Il
May musical festival that has come TO
be self-supporting, paying us rental and
all programme expenses. Last spring we
spent $500 for talent in addition to
cost of symphony orchestra.
we derive revenue from use of
building for indoor tennis in winter,
also track rink for roller skating.
Use big dividing curtain on arena
hoor which Is regulated by set of
pullies with counter weights and in
connection with our portable stage, are
able to cut the arena down TO half
size when occasion demands it.
Best Money They Spent
we regard the money invested in
this building and which we expend for
convention work, the best money we
spend 1t not only brings a direct re-
turn, but we find that the convention
Is the best kind of city publicity for
1t brings the prospective investor to
the city just as the merchants adver-
tising Is calculated only to get the
prospective buyer into the city. We find
that we add many to our population
each year from convention visitors and
that we have secured a number of good
Industries from among people coming
as delegates or exhibitors at our con-
ventions.
You must, however. have permanent
convention fund to work with and "A
secretary devoting most of his time to
convention work and coliseum man
agement to get the results. The build
ing of itself will not do the work. Re-
gpectfully, GEORGE BETSFORD,
Secretary"