The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-08

r. y. y. Coriey was reelected prendeni
by the Wednesday Club last night
and H. +. MeIcney. yice-president
The secretary and treasurer will be
elected by the newly appointed board
following:
John Stewart Bryan. Edward N,
Calisch. Norman Call, c. A. Canepa,
John Q. corley. J. VIM. Friend. Con-
Kirk Mathews, II. r. Meloney, walter
c. Mercer. George w. Stevens. Meade
r. .Spicer. Nathan Simon, William
III. White. Thomas Whittet.
Treasures Report.
| The report Of the treasurer showed
1 that expenses were made for the
recent May Festival and that there ID
small balance In the treasury az q
result. The deficit was not wiped out.
Resolutions Of thanks to Henry Baker.
director of the chorus and to the
chorus itself were adopted. The press
was thanked for its cooperation.
In his annual report PrestAent Cor
ley reviewed the progress of the club
during the last five years, the success
attendant upon the introduction of
more expensive features In the giving
OF the annual festival, and the work
of the chorus. Mr.. Baker and the
HtuSlC COfnmlLJGH were warmly VFdASt0
| by the president.
"It might be of interest to know"
said the presidents report, that the
club has spent $4,000 on the last
five festivals, and while the club IL
still in debt. for the last four. years
the receipts have been sufffcient to
meet the expenses, our big loss having
| occurred the festival of 1911, this
being the first of the larger festivals
given
The business depression Of the yeas
reason for the failure to make enough
in 1915 to wipe out the dificat.
C0Ficy on Auditorium.
OF the proposed improvements to
the auditorium the presidents re
port said:
I'm closing, i desire to bring again
to the attention Of the club, the neces-
sity for an auditorium In keeping with
the requirements and demands OF this
community and to ask the earnest CO.
| operation and help from the members
| OF this club and the members of all
| the business and social organizations
of the city towards an appropriation
| sufficient to put In good repair our
present auditorium. Many people
will say, why should we spend any
money on the old auditorium. 1t Is
cold and bare and Inaccessible. These
statements are often made off hand
and without considering the real facts
| First. i will admit that the audi
forum is a little Off Of the main line
and to that extent Is somewhat mac
cessible. but not enough to make an
appreciable difference. The city owns
| the property, and the walls Of the
| building are good and strong and with
the expenditure of from $4,000 tn
| 5000, 1t Is possible to make the in
terror Of this building ideal for all
purposes and at such a small cost
as compared with the interest charges
on the new auditorium costing, say
100000, that the finance committee
should not hesitate to appropriate
the money for immediate repairs.
will also admit that the auditorium
In It's present condition is abous one
of the most uninviting public buildings
imaginable, but with the expenditure
Of say Apr oximately $50, 600, the reof
OF the building can be reconstructed
and thereby do away with the iron
\ columns in the building which have
always proven Objectionable.
Removal OF Stage
BY removing the present stage and
placing 1t In the center Of the south
side Of the building extending in tho
alley say, fifteen feet, the house world
then be seated The short way If the
building, bringing every sea. on he
lower floor and galleries mich nearer
the stage. The circle plan, on the
lower floor. Of the chairs would prove
most attractive and inviting The
two horse show galleries extending
around the house to the stage will
give the building a seating capacity
of upwards 5000. which IL most de-
sirable In a growing city like Rich
mond. On the first gallery there
should Jbe drop boxes around the
entire gallery which would also lend
warmth and attractiveness to the
building.
The many openings in the way OF
windows and doors on the Cary Street
side and the ends of the building 10
be bricked up. making the house FREQ
from noise.
Taking into consideration the pres.
emit financial conditions OF the city, I,
Is safe to assume that the city faith
ers. in their wisdom. will first take
care Of the many demands being made
upon them for urgent and 'necessar,
expenditures: therefore. even the mos
optimistic individual wifi realize tina
the erection OF the proposed new
many years.
Save City Money.
Under such conditions why should
we wait or hesitate longer or den,
, ourselves the use of an auditorium
, when 1t can be had for a small ex
; fpenditnre. will even 60 further and
] say that IL these improvements arr
! lmade we will hnd the auditorium se
thoroughly satisfactory that when WI
} are ready for the new building Ii viii
be found that we can leave out en-
tireiy the auditorium feature Of thu
new building, thereby saving nearI,
100000.
The plans and specifications arr
} now being made up, carrying out ths
. ideas as suggested for repairs and I'm
provements 10 the building and ever,
] one in this community who feels In
terested In having q good auditorium
/ where large gatherings Of all kind
Z can be held under the best conditions
/ will be invited to cooperate to the enc
) of securing the necessary Hppropria
> Ition."