The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-13
Old War-HOrses In AuditO- rum Fight Rally at Battle Cry-"DO It NOw"-Is
 General Sentiment
TIME IS AMPLE TO
 ERECT BUILDING IN
 OPINION OF WILTON
Four Months Plenty of Time For the Actual Construction-War De- sires Specific Promise From
 Kahn-Handle Through
 Chamber of Commerce

The announcement that, Should Bir- mingham have suitable building, there was n probability of securing the Metropolitan Grand Opera company action to those public spirited citizens who had been prominent In the cam- pai%n foi the issuance of the previous bonds.
 The -sEe-HersId herewith prevents the views of number of rcprcscu- tative citisens of Bfrminghnm, the They feel that Birmingham is obliged, sooner or later, to have an auditor iuna and that nothing could be more opportune than to launch the moye- ment with the object of securing the grand opera for n week.
 Of course the element of time enters into the matter and it fs m open ques- Hon whether permanent structure cSuid be finished in time for the opera next spring. Some thought thnt it could be done and that it would be | fuIe.
 William Leslie Welton, one of the best known architects in Birmingham, says that ample time is offered Birmingham in which to build and equip a modern fireproof auditorium with large seating capacity.
 Could Be Done, Says Welton AS l understand it, Birmingham is figuring on auditorium which would seat 10000 people," said MT. welton yes- terday in discussing that matter q believe that by next May such a build Ing could be erected if it was placed in the proper hands and vigorously pushed. Of course, work would have to be done without any delay and it would be better to begin immediately.
 "The earliest moment at which A bond- issue election could be held would be next month. Say that the bonds were disposed of and the money in hand by the first of December Which is perfectly reasonable. This would give us six months in which to build the structure providing that the company came south in May. This I think would be ample time.
 Tt will require a month to have the plans for the building approved and an- other month after they are approved to prepare them. That would leave four months for actual work of construction and for an auditorium with all modern facilities I~think this would be ample
 Among other expressions on the matter heard yesterday were the following: Maj. E. M. Tutwier: Birmingham has great opportunity in this case and one which I think she would be foolish not to grasp. Nothing would be more helpful to Birmingham than a great civic auditorium. and it could be built for no better purpose than to entertain the which in itself would mean invaluable advertising for the city. We've got 10 I have the auditorium sooner or later if we are to keep up our reputation as a. convention city Such a building would mean more conventions. more customers for the merchants, more guests at the hotels and more advertising for BrminR- building to gauge the time necessary for the erection of the building
 Wants Specific Promise
 Commissioner George Ward: Before we do anything else let us get a specific promise from Mir. Otto Kahn, director of the Metropolitan Grand Opera com pany that should we have suitable building he and his organization would come here. One of the problems which would have to be considered would be the maintenance of the building and for it to be self-sustaining 1t would be neces- sary to have 1t run on the most business like methods just as Atlanta operates her auditorium
 Paschal G. Shook: T would like very much to see it tried because I think one of the greatest needs of the city today is an auditorium of sufficient size to care for the conventions which are eager to come here think there is plenty of time if the matter was taken hold of in the right way which. think should be through the auditorium com mittee of the Chamber of Commerce which 10 . very strong and influential body of men. do not think a temporary structure necessary and would not ap- prove of 1t because 1t would mean that the erection of . permanent auditorium would be indefinitely postponed Crawford Johnson. president of the Chamber of Commerce: "The present situation emphasizes the need of a great auditorium and favor taking immediate