Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1916-07-15
FOR A MUNICIPAL CONVENTION
HALL.

Tomaz F. Deuther, the able and
energetic secretary Of the North.
West Side Commercial Association
Of Chicago, has inaugurated q big
boom for Municipal Convention
Hall for Chicago. to be located on
Ashland boulevard, opposite Union
Park. Mr.. Deuther says:
For years 1t has been apparent
that Chicago has outgrown Its public
meeting places. The Coliseum, the
First Regiment Armory and the In.
ternational Amphitheater are all too
small to meet Chicagos require
ments. Many large conventions re.
quiring space for heavy exhibits new.
er come to Chicago. They cannot
find accommodation here. Others,
such as the automobile show, are
spread through several buildings and
lose their effectiveness and drawing
power"
The AIS conventions that came to
Chicago in 1915 brought 100000
strangers who left $11,2O0,00O, ex.
elusive Of shopping and business ex.
penditures. Beyond the direct cash
profit, these visitors, on returning
home, spread praises of Chicago. Al
most every one became commercial
asset to the city. Had Chicago pos
sessed a suitable assembly hall, the
number Of visitors would have been
doubled, and the amount OF money
left here would have been twice as
large.
I'm addition to the national meet.
ings lost to the city, among which
may be numbered many of the fra.
ternal, religious and political con-
ventions, local public gatherings also
adequate facilities. The public-spir.
tied business man has found him.
self confronted with expense and diff.
ficulty. To no place can he point as
a forum set aside by public decree
for the public use Of the citizens"
We might add that although visit
ors to Chicago spread its praise when
they return to their homes, the pres.
tige thus gained for Chicago could
be increased ten.fold II when they
came to Chicago on such occasions,
they could view city, which In its
entirety, breathed order and general
beauty. AS II Is now the visitor sees
Chicago's loop and the boulevards
and perhaps the Stock Yards. After
that, he feels that he has seen every.
thing Of interest. II our attractions
were more scattered throughout the
city, he would be able to learn more
Of Chicago, and enjoy his visit with
US more thoroughly in not being con.
fined in his movements, as is now
the case. He would be able TO trav-
el between distant points of the city
with freedom, and he would linger
longer, because he would enjoy the
general beauty and attractiveness
which an expansion policy would
bring about, The general beauty OF
a city Is OF extreme great Importance
10 its prestige and prosperity, and i,
can be only brought about by Great
ing attractions and places OF inter
est in different parts OF the city.
las to the need Of great public
hall there can be no question. The
minimum space required for the com
mercial exhibits OF some conventions
is 10000 square feet. Thirty thou
sand seats should be available. The
Coliseum on South Wabash avenue
has but $4,000 square feet of main
floor exhibition space. The First
Regiment Armory offers $4,000 square
feet. The International Amphithe-
alter at the Union Stock Yards, though
larger (75,00O square feet), does not
meet the requirements.
Fifty million persons live within
nights ride Of Chicago. Conven
ton delegates can reach this city in
the least average travelling time. The
average railway cost per delegate IL
less than 10 any other city. Exhibits
shipped take less time in transit and
do not have to be rehandled. Freight
and transfer charges average less
than in other cities. All trains ruI
10, not through Chicago. Departing
trains, therefore, are never late and
return exhibits never delayed"
With all these advantages, Chicago
in 1915, though entertaining 475 con
ventions, obtained only half the del