Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-05
cleveland BIDS
FOR CONVENTION
Will Try TO Pull Both of 1890 Nation.
nj Political Meetings To That
City.
REASON: NEW MUNICIPAL HOME
Huge Structure Costing Two and One
Half Million Dollars To Be Com.
pleted By 1919.

Cleveland, Ohio. - City authorities
have announced that the municipal
auditorium, to be known as the Cleve-
land Public Halls-will be completed
in 1919 and in consequence various in
terests in the city have already COM
bined in plans to bring one and per-
haps both Of the 1920 national holiti-
cal conventions to this city. The
main auditorium will seat $4,000 per-
sons.
Its completion will remove one Of
the obstacles which has prevented the
city from entertaining the largest con-
ventions. Another one, the lack Of
sufficient hotel Accommodations, is also
being removed. A new fireproof hotel
was opened recently, making three in
the city, and another one will be
ready to receive guests in few
months. These four structures alone
contain more than six hundred rooms.
The men who. are organizing the
movement for bringing the 1920 con-
ventions to Cleveland will base part
of their arguments on transportation
facilities. They will emphasize the
city's position on several big east and
| west trunk lines, its direct routes to
| the south and the passenger boat SER
vice to and from Buffalo, Toledo, De-
troit and other lake ports.
! Actual constructive work on the
public halls is we'll under way. Exca-
vations are practically complete. All
soundings for the foundation have
been made and the drainage pipes
have been placed. The concrete FOOT
ings are going in.
Plans Made in 1916.
The project for the structure crys-
talized in February, 1916, after many
years Of discussion and committee
work. Under the leadership of Mayor
Harry L. Davis the plans came to a
head, on the basis of publicly owned
auditorium, to be built by issuing
$2,500,000 worth Of city bonds.
Plans were prepared by F. H. Betz,
city architect, and the mayor called
together leading citizens aud repre-
sentatives Of all civic and private or
CARNATIONS and asked their support OF
the bond issue at special election
The result vas "The Committee Of One
Hundred Organizations" which pledged
it's support to vigorous campaign in
favor Of the bond issue. The city
council unanimously passed an ordi-
nance authorizing the election and the
issue of the bonds and the vote was
held April %, 1916, the proposal re
ceiving approximately a three-fourths
vote.
Work on the project was undertaken
Immediately. The city architect IL
consultation with other architect.
evolved plans for structure OF rein
forced concrete and gray brick trim
med with stone, containing a mail
convention hall or auditorium, seating
approximately 10000 persons. Thi
main hall will have a stage 56 by 10'
feet. There will be seats for 500
on the first floor and $500 in the gal
Ileries.
Big Music Hall.
There will be subsidiary or must
} hall with seating capacity of NOR,
than three thousand and the base
ment, which will be partially abov,
ground, will be fitted up for exhibi
ton space, as an adjunct to the othel
1.-TWO halls. The combined floor space
for exhibition purposes will be nearl!
150,0000 square feet.
Stairways will be entirely elimin
ated; all elevations will be obtained
J by inclines of sufficient size not onl!
to handle the largest crowds but alst
to provide for the safe and Quicl
handling of large exhibits.
The hall is being built or the NAL
of the proposed group Of public build
ings. Of which the new city hall, gov
eminent building, county court hous
! and public library will be part. TIL
municipal auditorium will cover tw,
J entire city blocks.