Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-12
DEMAND ABIG
CONVENTION HALL
Business Men Call Plan for
Building of 5000 Capacity
"RidiculOus"
USELESS, THEY DECLARE

Tho proposed plan of building a munic-
pal convention hail on the Parkway with
"a seating capacity of only 5000 was termed
ridiculous and absurd" today by several
officials Of the chamber of Commerce and
others who have been boosting for struc-
ture of a seating capacity of At least twice
that number
According to the consensus Of opinion
expressed. the plan is not only uncalIed Tor
and foolish, but it would mean almost
waste of money since there are several
buildings in the city at present, which can
accommodate almost 5000 persons Better
build none at all, it was said.
Several boosters repeated assertions TO
the fact that Philadelphia is missing an
almost endless number of important con-
ventions owing to lack of an adequate con-
ycntion hall. These conventions. 1t was
said, would not only advertise ana heip
wake up the city. but it has been estimated
that each person attending convention
here leaves S32.2j on an average.
Philadelphia thus is losing millions OF
dollars owing to inadequate facilities,
convention hail for G00O persons would not
remedy the situation to any great extent
it was said. The hall should accommodate
at least double that number
George " crowley. who secretary
a Central Convention llall, emphaticaly
condemned the plan today lie said that
he was positive one seating 10000 persons
could be built for the money appropriated
"If Mr. windrm can't draw plans for
such a convention fall there are plenty OF
other architects who can MT crowley
said.
"One trouble is" he continued, that they
may be spending the money on art and
decorations 1t is an easy matter TO spend
millions on art. The first and main thing
about a building is its use. the decofa'
tons should not come first
"Philadelpha needs a convention hall
seating 10000 at least. Twelve thousand
would be better. | have studied the matter
for years and am positive that satistac-
tory convention hall. seating 10000 persons
could be built for the Sl500,OOo appro-
priated. ,
"It will be useless to build one Of 5000
capacity. Far better, build none at all.
Guy Gundaker. chairman OF the cohIeh-
ton committee of the Chamber of Com
merce said he was disguised when me-
heard that plans for the smaller nan had
been submitted to Mayor Smith.
such a plan is both ridiculous and an
surd" he said. The city is missing conren-
tions right and left. We have no place TO
house the larger conventions.
Action certainly is needed.
George W. Il. Hicks. Of the convention
bureau of the Chamber OF Commerce. sald'
There is absolutely no justification LOT
building a small convention hall.
What we need is what we haven't got
We already have buildings which Will ac-
commodate 5000 people. We need nan
that will accommodate several times that
number The city must be asleep.
Something must be done. We must wake
the city up. It's a mans job. no doubt.
MANY Philadelphians don't realize per-
.it
reason that we have never had one. They
even go so far as to term 'dopy' some
wide-awake man who can see things ahead.
"I could mention dozens of things that
would help make Philadelphia far big
ger and more wide-awake city. l mean
things or events that could be held here II
the city had proper accommodations. We
could have pageants. celebrations and other
events which would attract the attention OF
the whole country not to mention impor-
tant big conventions which are slipping
through our fingers, so to speak.
"It would be absurd to build conven-
ton hall without exhibition quarters. The
two go hand in hand Both are needed