Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-17
CONVENTION Hall,
PROJECT WILL BE
PUSHED THROUGH
Declared That Republican
Organization Now Will
Lend Support
MAYOR WANTS ACTION
First Definite Step Will Be
Taken in Councils Early
in October

The Convention Hall program will n.
pushed through by the Republican A..
Eanization. Il was learned today fror,
apparently authentic sources. conc,,.
rent with this news II was stated ths,
the hall will occupy the Parkway AZ.
and not the 24th-Chestnut-Afarkets str..,.
site.
The frst step will be to report the pro.
feet out of Councils committee. rh,.
step, It is said. will be taken the Ar,
Thursday in October. After the plan 4,
authorized, the decision as to the "a.
and appropriations will follow.
Quick action must be taken by coup.
ellis IL the structure is to house the Ma.
tional Republican Convention In 1913 n,
the N,5oc.OOO already voted for the wort
$4,000 has been actually appropriated.
MAYOR READY TO AID.
II will do everything In my power N
hasten the Convention Hail plans ana
would be entirely satisfied with anv ono
Of three sites. The Department of Pub
lie Works is ready to act just as soon a,
Councils have their say"
Thus tersely did Mayor Biankenburs
outline his position and the position of
his Administration when asked about the
project for which 81, 10000 loan money is
available.
AT first favored the site at the Green
street entrance to the Park" continued
the Mayor, but the cost OF obtaining the
properties seemed prohibitive and It
would take some time to obtain the prop
erty by condemnation. The estimated
cost Of this site is about 500, 900 and that
fnr
that should cost s1,2o0,Oo0
THE site at oath and Chestnut streets, is
desirable because of its central location
and its proximity to the railroad termi-
nails. l am inclined to favor II for this
reason. think this site would be the best
OF all.
THE Allegheny avenue site would also
be acceptable TO me, as with improved
transit facilities II is no further away
than was Girard avenue Is years ago.
Conditions will be still better when the
new subway is completed. The easy ac-
cessibility of the location has been proven
by the way in which the monster crowds
have been handled on public occasions at
the temporary Convention Hail.
WANTS WORK STARTED.
Il am more than pleased that the pre-
liminaries are to be gotten out of the
way and would be glad to see the actual
work started. This city should have a
Convention Hall and any one of its sites
suggested will answer the purpose. We
should have hall in time to attract the
Republican Convention, but do not know
II this will be possible. We might even
make a bid for the Democratic National
Convention II we had a proper building
to use as q bait. f-.
you cay say for me that I mean to
aid the Convention Hall plan in every
way in my power and that action cannot
come too quickly to suit me-" t"'
Because OF its central location and the
promise of a galaxy of surrounding hand
some buildings. the site on the Parkway,
2ith street commends itself as an ideal
one for the hall The national character
OF the building would not be diminished
by the fact that the city dreams Of q
city beautiful at this spot, which Is
the entrance TO Fairmount Park, 500 feet
from City Hall, the axis Of Philadelphia
A picture of the future would show the
Washington Monument standing at the
Green street entrance to the Park, the
proposed Palace of Justice, art galleries.
library and o'her imposing buildings clus-
ered at the entrance; and among them
Would stand the convention hall, the
brightest Jewel of the cluster broad
plaza would stretch in front OF the site.
.eautiful In itself and practical. in that II
would leave room for additions to the
building. The site has an area of 10000
square feet All Objectionable buildings
are to be removed to conform with the
plans of the city to make the Parkway
section a show place for visitors, and no
buildings will be allowed to face the
structure.