Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-20
MAYOR. PROMISES
Big HALL TO CITY
Smith Declares 1t Will Be at
Least as Large as Any
in u. S.
NEVER FOR SMALL ONE

All question as to whether Philadelphia
Is to have a large or small convention Hall
was set at rest today, when Mayor Smith
declared that he never for a moment had
considered seriously hall with II seating
capacity OF 5000 and that the plan for such
was published to sound public opinion
The Mayor in his first fiat statement as
to his stand on the Convention Hall plan
let it be understood that he champions the
cause of great hall ana that now since
the public generally has declared In favor
of hall as large as or larger than any
in the country, that will be the only kind
butt.
In discussing his plan to give Conven-
ton Hall to Philadelphia he said
II have been placed in a wrong light on
this Convention Hall project. | have been
criticized for offering a scheme for small
hall with seating capacity of 5000 when
made the move against my own better
judgment and merely to satisfy some people
who thought that a small ornate hall would
be satisfactory, in view of the fact that
we have but $1,43S,OOO available for con-
struction. I never for moment wanted
or approved of a small hall. but rather than
decide against such a move I determined
to test the case out before the public. Ir
order to do this I had Architect Windrim
prepare a drawing of a small. ornate build
ing that could be put in the papers.
aNo pidilS lOT SuCn n DullulHS were ever
drawn or seriously considered, nor had We
any idea of asking for bids for such a
small building unless there was an over
whelming demand for It, The publication
of the small building scheme brought forth
approval and disapproval. II also brought
criticism of myself from some papers that
claimed to see in it some move of my own.
Not only was this far from the truth, but
it was exactly opposite to my thought on
the matter I wish to he put right and
to have 1t understood that the small hall
plan was merely feeler.'
~ was more than pleased when business
men, members of the Fairmount Park Com
mission and the Art Jury agreed with me
that big hall or none should be erected
on the Parkway. One paper declared it was
in response to demands made by these gen.
tlemen that I abandoned my small-hall
scheme This was not the case, as we
agreed that small hall would not do
| Only a few persons wanted a small ornate
hall, but believe that all will be more
| than pleased with building that the whole
city may be proud of.
THE question of money is one that vii
| have to be determined after have had g
| final talk with Mr.. Windrim. We have. a;
| every one knows, less than a million and 6
half dollars to build with. and to build g
| hall as large as any in the country. fol
| this amount of money. takes careful con
] sideration of materials.
| by using principally steel and glass 4
| can be done, but in deciding on budin,
| of this character our building laws mus
| be considered and our first task will be (,
! see that we come within the law.
| 81 can see how my action I'm makinl
| pu lie an alternative scheme might star
| discussion. but / do not think that | shoult
| be critized for giving all ideas showing
| 1T is impossible at this time to say how
| much of the old plans can be used, nor ha
| it been definitely decided how large a build
| ing can be constructed, but the people o
| Philadelphia can rest assured that the con
vention hall plan finally decided upon viii
| be for building that for size will compar
| favorably with the largest in the country
The hall in Kansas City, I think, has
seating capacity of 10000 persons. The
say that Madison Square Garden in Ney
York has a capacity of 10000 The siz
of our building will have to be determine
after the plans are gone over once again.