The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-01
Catechism of Information on
New Auditorium.
A+birr Won Would Know!
Just Look Below!
NOW, REMEMBER--k new HALL
"Repairing" RumOrs Are All
FaIse-Only Roof Walls.
Reasons for Action That To-
peka Must Take Soon.

viii the new Auditorium be the ola
one patched up?
No. ,.,,os9
win it be the old one remodelledF
win it be the old one made over?
No. ..,,s;.,,o
II is to be an entirely new building
Entirely new, from roof to basement.
Put the old walls-it is said they are
to be used? .4,. ,,,a
west walls.-dre to be used Hheleiy ~
support the roof.
Then what is to support the sallely
Huge steel columns, imbedded in
concrete-the most powerful support
ing material known. These will rest
upon the ground and extend 70 the
ton. They will support the floors'
stairways and all the heavy weight
They will be placed inside the present
walls around the entire building.
And the east wall?
It is to be torn down and rebuilt 80
feet back to take in the additional
ground purchased for the enlargement
of the building. The east wall, OF
course, is to be entirely new.
VIII the new building be fire-proof?
Absolutely The plans have been
carefully examined by Fire Chiet HAN
lon and heartily approved by him.
What are the main features that
will make it fire-proof?
The absence of inflammahle ma
terial Everything inside will be of re-
inforced concrete, steel and IRON eX-
cept the seats and stage effects. All
three floors, stairways, basement and
roof will be of concrete, steel and
iron.
What will be the seating capacity
CT the new building?
Six thousand.
Do we need new auditorium re-
curing such a capacity?
Yes.
Why?
Because the old one is badly out
of repair and too small to accommo-
date our needs. II will not seat our
largest conventions and our largest
local meetings. 1t was not large
enough TO accommodate the Santa Fe
employees when they gathered there
the other day for mass meeting.
What will the new auditorium cost
Just S77,50O of which $4,000 will
be used to buy the 30-foot strip of ad-
ditionaI land for the east side extern
sion.
Then the building proper will cost
but S6S,50O?
That is correct.
How are we to get the money?
BY issuing 100000 worth of city
bonds.
What is to be done with the re-
naming $22,50O?
1t will be used to build a modern
new city jail.
Do we need it?
Everybody says so. The present Jail
is a disgrace.
For what length of time will the
bonds be issued?
Thirty years.
At what rate of interest?
EO1lr and half nor rant Oy-
How will we pay these bonds?
By levying a tax of one cent on
every hundred dollars of assessed
property in the city.
How much will it cost me?
That depends upon the amount of
your property assessment. How much
are you assessed for now?
$4,000.
The bonds would cost you 20 cents a
year.
That's all. The tax will be 10 cents
on the thousand. A taxpayer assessed
at $1,000 will only pay 10 cents year
One who pays on $4,000 assessment
would pay so cents year.
How will we pay the bonds when
they are due?
By creating a sinking fund. The one
cent tax levy will raise sufficient
money each year to pay the interest
and also leave a definite sum to go
into SINKING 1und. AT the end of 80
years this fund will have met the
yearly interest payments and still be
sufficient to pay off the entire bonded
Indebtedness.
Why haven't we paid for the old
Auditorium?
Because the old city council gov
eminent. under which it was built.
made no provision for paying for it,
Back in that day sinking funds had
not come into fashion. City govern
ments issued bonds with no thought
of the day of payment. So Topeka
has merely paid the interest on the
bonds of the old Auditorium each year
to the present day. When commission
government came in, law was passed
prohibiting the issuance of any bonds
unless provision for a sinking fund to
retire them is included. We are now
dong business on business principles.
should we wait until the bonds of