Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-02
CONVENTION HALLS
IN OTHER CITIES
The Middle West and the Pacific
Slope Have Made Adequate Pro-
vision for Great Gatherings, While
Philadelphia Lags Behind.
Br EpWARp R. BUsHNELL

nHTLADELPIIfA isn't the only city In the
i United States to struggle with the con-
vention hall problem. Virtually every city
OF any size has wrestIed with II in one form
or another. The business Of entertaining
conventions and staging exhibits has possi-
bllitles OF such great financial profit that
during the last decade the matter has been
approached in many cities as municipal
undertaking.
That is what all Philadelphia, minus some
councilmanic obstructionists, wants TO do
build n convention hail to be owned by the
city and to build II at once. The situation
here is simple enough -Four years ago
loan bill approved by popular vote provided
the sum OF Si.5OO,OOO for the purchase OF a
site and the construction of convention
hall. That money has not been spent, be-
cause Councils wished 10 play politics and
bury the hall in snyder's Woods, in East
Fairmount Park. That site has since been
ridiculed TO death, but the Finance Commit
tee, having approved this site, is too proud
TO admit It's mistake and to give approval
either to the site at gath and Market streets
or a similar site in the centre Of the city II
one can he found which meets the require
ments.
Hodup Costs S10,0O0,0O0 Year
In tho meantime the city suffers Mem
bers of the Chamber of Commerce. repre-
senting the business intelligence of the com
munty, have figured that at the lowest estl
mate Philadelphia merchants losing &c.,
100000 every year that the project is held up.
And this does not take into account the
blow struck to the city's prestige as a CEN
tire of hospitality to have the nation know
that the Republican National Committee and
other bodies are hesitatng to bring their
TO take action that will guarantee the con-
struotion Of the municipal convention hall
by the spring of 1916
But the Chamber OF Commerce is un-
daunted Believing that Councils will be
forced TO act on the plans of the business
men to construct this hall at once and In a
central location, they are planning to bring
here next summer not only the Republican
National Convention but many other con-
ventlons as we'll They want to make this
the convention city of America And with
an adequate convention hall, centrally To-
Gated. they are assured of success, because
Philadelphia, once the national capital leads
the whole United States in the number and
value Of It's historic relics and the great
diversity OF its business interests.
Philadelphia business men have been
deeply impressed with what rival cities have
OOne 10 attract conventions, But IL wants
TO outdo them And IL the plans which the
Chamber of Commerce has indorsed become
q reality this city will have the finest con-
vention hall in America. Its proposed seat
ing capacity of 10000 will surpass that of
any other hail. and so will the floor space
for exhibition purposes, while in it's archi-
lecture It will fit admirably into the program
of the Comprehensive Plans Committee. OF
which Governor Brumbaugh was chairman.
What Denver Has Done
One of the finest convention halls in
America is a monument TO the progressive
spirit of Denver. 1t has three uses II may
be converted into a theatre, a music hall or
an immense auditorium AS theatre 1t will
seat $780, but whom converted into an audi
torium 1t will accommodate 10000 persons
and as such can take care of the largest
conventions political or otherwise. Denver
makes good use Of 1t for municipal purposes
Equipped with a wonderful pipe organ. Sun
days concerts are given that are famous the
country over II built at cost of
S6O5 900, and rents for from $500 to $4,000 per
week, according to whether the theatre or