Evening star., 1915-02-20
Robert N. Harper Lays EN-
phasis on Usefulness of
Such a Building Here.
ONE OF FIRST ADVOCATES
OF SUCH AN ENTERPRISE
Might Be Used, With, Other Things,
for Permanent Exhibits by
the States.


for Washington were today discussed
with reporter for The Star by Robert
n. Harper. former president of the
Chamber of Commerce. Mr.. Harper was
one of the earliest advocates of such
an enterprise. the necessity for which
formed an important part of his presi-
dents report to the Chamber of Com
merce some years ago. He was mem
Der of the George Washington memo
rial committee of the Chamber of Com
merce.
Mr.. Harper laid special emphasis on
the usefulness of such a building in
connection with permanent exhibits by
the various states of the Union, and as
possible solution of the armory prob
lem of the District Militia.
The subject of an auditorium for
w ashlngton. he said, seems certainly
worthy of thoughtful consideration by
all its inhabitants. Its far-reachinp
Importance is such that it's advantages
Would pe by no means confined to any
one section of the city. class or pro-
fess1on. Moreover. the cost of buildin q
large and conveniently located audi
torium adequate for practical purposes
| and likely to be revenue-producer
should not be necessarily so high as to
stagger those in favor of 1t. The city
1
architecture had been gained at the
sacrifice of its practicabi although
nored"
Have you information as to how
similar enterprises have worked in
other cities?" Mr.. Harper was asked
Auditoriums in Other Cities.
| Il have been obtaining such informa-
t1on for some time, and have now on
file data from number of the larger
| cities of the country, was the reply
Many no larger than Washington have
their auditoriums, and they are looked
upon as the very best investment their
possessors, as communities, have un-
dertaken, as welf as results of the most
practical sort of donations by public
| spirited citizens.
| AN auditorium in Washington" he
| continued. should have within it's walls
a combination of interests, and among
| these 1 do not think it at all improb-
able that Congress might donate the
necessary ground, provided the scheme
| National Guard. If, however, the gov
ernment could not see its way clear te
give the ground, the armory might still
be included, and the government pay
rent for it. Certainly. If such a struc.
ture houses the guard, the government
would not be extravagant or overbur.
| densome in the way of taxes for sucf
| d building.
Such building should be so COR
| structed that entertainments of an!
| opera, could be presented under it
| roof. The Board of Trade, Chamber o
Commerce and Retail Merchants AS
sociation should all have their head
| quarters in this building, and for thi
purpose a smaller hall should be pro
| 70
people"
How many do you think the mair
portion-that to be used for big con
lventions-should hold?" was question
put to Mr.. Harper.
Should Accommodate 5000 to 5000
IT should say that from three to fiv'
thousand persons he answered. Il
should have model stage facilities t.
accommodate national conventions o
every character-political. religious
scientific and commercial-and fo
grand opera and similar projects.
should be provided with private boxe
land galleries equipped with all moderl
conveniences.
TT should, moreover. serve for thu
headquarters and exhibits of the vari
Gus states. Each could have therein {
booth or room. where it might keep OF
display at all times the natural re
scources of which it is proudest. Man
ufactured products. agricultural, min
era1, timber-in fact, as stated, all nat
ural resources or otherwise of which
the state is proudest. Every one woult
| view such exhibits with the creates
possible interest. l can see in such dis
Iplays profitable investment for any
state, especially in view of the prob
liable influx of European capital to this
country due to the war. They could see
the productiveness of each state at q
public exhibit in the National Capital
THESE would also be of inestimablt
value to the capital city as a perma,
nent exposition of almost nattona
character. It's citizens and its visitors
could see almost at a glance the wealth
of mineral, agricultural, animal ano
vegetable resources of the country al
large.
I'm the upper portion of the building
accommodations should also be planned
for the exhibition of paintings. sculp-
lures, tapestries, etc, by the artists
both of the capital city and of the
country"
Would Limit Cost to $500, 900.
! What do you think such an audi
torium should cost; what do you con-
slider the best plan for raising the
money, and where do you think il
ought to be located?'
! II would limit it's cost to half mil
lion dollars. Anything more preten-
tjous would defeat it's own aims both