The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-11


 305,0oo for the F months ending De- cember 31, last.
 The total number of organizations holding meetings in this great struc- ture was 135. with accredited dele gates in attendance numering 42,527. The city council committee estimates that the expenditures for expenses of these delegates alone is fully S765, ,o0O. The number of conventions of 1915 was only nine short of the year before by the way. The presence of the audi torium is given credit for this pleasing outcome.
 REASONS FOR BUILDING
 Diverse influences brought about the erection of the Atlanta building, named the Auditorium Armory. The neces- sity was perhaps most emphatically presented during the unfortunate negro riot of 1906. In handling this trouble there was no place for the citizen sol diers. who were forced to camp in the wet streets.
 Business men felt that they must ar range for the care of the guard mem bers who stand ready to protect the community. They also recognized that the growth of Atlanta had made 0 large and safe. meeting place essen tial to further progress Music lovers and men and women of artistic trend generally had also begun to talk of the need of a hall large enough to meet the demands of concerts and opera per- formances.
 With subscriptions secured for an ex- position. the idea of which was aban- doned, the Chamber of Commerce en- terprised the auditorium movement in 1908 James G. Woodward then and now mayor, at a session of citizens, held that it was duty the city owed to the people and gave his support to the movement
 CITY OWNS BUILDING
 While the city could not obligate it. self for the payment it did provide a plan for taking over the cost in time, which has now been accomplished. The architect, Thomas H. Morgan, with local committee. visited the principal cities of the country, formed ideas from what they had seen in all of them and laid out the building as completed in 1909.
 When it came to letting the contracts it was found that there was only $780, 900 in cash. The successful bidder ao- cepted with the stipulation that the cost was to be kept inside this figure; also that if it could be done any cheap CT the city was to have the savings. This idea was based on the fact that 30 subcontract bids had been made and might be cut down.
 The result was interesting All of these subcontractors but one found that, as a result of the low range of prices following the panic of 1907, they could trim down The saving amounted to $40.000, which came in handy in furnishing and giving final touches to the structure.
 ATLANTA'S GREAT ASSET
 Thoughtful men consider that no as- set of Atlanta has been of greater value to the city than this great as- sembly hall It has not only brought in thousands of visitors, who would not have come otherwise. but it has helped the citizens to find themselves in many ways For instance, it las made grand opera possible, and grand opera has built standard of art that is not duplicated in many other sec tions of the south. It has made pos- sble automobile shows, horse shows, and industrial exhibits of many kinds with their educational features The automobile show of 1913 was the first one of its class held south. being showing by the manufacturers ratI CT than ot dealers, as had heretofore been the case.
 One of the Vanderbilts. with n string of horses at one of the horse shows stated that he had never exhibited un- der such agreeable conditions as he found in Atlanta. At good roads ex- hibit was seen machinery and material not generally known about even among men we'll posted on the question The same thing is so as to a showing of gas appliances and electrical equip ment. There is hardly week, in fact that does not find it's meeting in this building that carries wide range of education to the people.
 THE TAFT 'POSSUM DINNER
 One of the first meetings in the new auditorium was the famous 'possum dinner to President Taft in January. 1909. The smaller meeting room was named for him, being christened Taft hall. At this meeting, as a matter of fact, MT. Taft gave first utterance to many of the policies of his administra- tion.
 The capacity of the main seating room is 7500. with 300 in Taft hall. The main floor is removable provid- ing for either dirt tanbark or other substance for horses or animals.
 Experts have pronounced the acoust- ics exceptionally good and the ar rangement is said to be practical for the service desired. The big organ, bought by the Music Festival associa- tion, is valued at $4000O The Fifth regiment occupies one floor. the cav airy and the artillery units having quar- te's in the basement
 MURPHY PRESIDENT
 MT Walter G. Cooper, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, was sec retary of the building committees Vice President John Murphy of the Trust company of Georgia, being pres ident. The building was begun while Samuel G. Jones was president of the Chamber of Commerce, and completed when the position was held by Asa frr6'er, J WvliA Pone was at the head of the organization between MT. Jones and MT. Candler.
 One of the most delightful and ap- preciated by-products of the auditorium is the Sunday afternoon free concerts An organist of the best ability is kept all the year round for this service.
 Secretary Walter G. Cooper of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. says "Atlanta's experience convinces us that the auditorium is one of the best as- sets our city has. It has made it pos