The Topeka state journal., 1921-12-03
LENTY OF ROOM plan SOCIAL WORK
ew Masonic Temple VIII Kansas Conference to Meet
Handle Huge Crowds. Here December 6, Z, 8.
uIdng and Van Delegates Here From All Parts
BuIen Cost s1,OOO,O00. of the State.
ALMOST HALF GOMPLETEDIT0 IMPROVE INDIVIDUALS
ighteeR Much Helpful Information viii
Structural Steel Used. Be Discussed
ne Hundred Men EMPLOYED in Dr. Wilbur of Pitts
Building Temple. Barg, Is President.
is ALMOST HALF COMPLETED
Eighteen Hundred Tons of
Structural Steel Used.
One Hundred Men Employed in
Building Temple.

If two-thirds of the citizens Of To-
peka entered the new Masonic tenn
pie at one time. there would be room
Tor all. Forty-six per cent of the
work on the new temple, which is be-
ing erected at Tenth avenue and Van
Bureu streets. at a cost OF S1,O0OOOO'
is completed, according to E. NJ. Spen-
Ger. of the firm Of F. NJ. Spencer q
Sons. contractors, who are in charge
OF the work.
II all the concrete being used in the
construction OF the temple was placed
in one large cube, it would be 90 teet
square
800 Tons of Structural Steel.
Eighteen hundred tons OF strue-
turaI steel, as well as 25 tons Of re-
iuforcing steel, is being used Twenty
five carloads of lumber have been
used for the form work alone. It was
necessary to use one carload Of gal
vanized fencing TO wrap all the beams
The building is built on solid rock
foundation eight feet thick.
There will be only a few windows
IN the new temple. The ventilation
system which will be used eliminates
the necessity of q large number OF
windows. The ventilation system will
pump the air in and pump II out Ihe
new temple when completed viii oe
the largest one in the country west or
thing for Topeka when completed, but
It is a great thing now as it is stimu-
lating building construction and one
hundred men are being employed to
erect it,
No Waste in Materials
There has been very little waste IN
the materials used in the construction
of the temple on account of the ef-
ficiency methods used. A fifty horse
power motor, electrically driven. is
used to raise the materials to the
various floors Of the building The
position of the concrete mixer and
litter had to be decided upon before
any construction work started on the
temple because after construction
started it could not be moved and
could not interfere with work.
Construction work has now reached
the cornice line of the building. which
is on the same level as the top of the
ten-story Santa Fe office building.
The cornice line is 100 feet above the
ground and the top of the smokestaek
will be 165 feet above the CRATES IN
the boiler room.
Room for Twelve Lodges
There will be ample room for
twelve Masonic bodies 10 be in ses-
sion at the same time. The De No
lay will be housed in the new temple |
The building will be Of the Enonu- |
mental tyne and there will not be
the doorway will be so distinct that
people in passing will know that it is
the Masonic temple without reading
any insignia.
The building will contain eight
stories. The bottom floor will be the
basement floor. The next floor will
be known as the meZzanine basement.
1t will contain a dining room which
will seat 2,5OO people. There will be
a round balcony surrounding the din
ing room. This floor will also contain
a bowling alley and billiard tables.
ON the basement floor there will be a
coal bin which will have a capacity
OF 400 tons.
On the second floor the main lodge
room will be located and it will have
a seating capacity OF 1900 people.
The first floor Will also contain the
main lobby. waiting rooms and par
IOrs. a pipe organ and committee
rooms. A balcony will lead off the
lodge room.
THREE Lodge Rooms on Third Floor
On the third floor there will be
three lodge rooms which will seat 500
persons.
The fourth floor will be devoted en-
tircly TO the Knights Templar and will
be- known as the York Rite floor.
There viii be a store room for the
equipment Of the drill teams as well
a various other lodge rooms
Thc Scottish rite bodies will occupy
the fifth floor and the Egyptian room
Will also be located on this floor On
this floor there viii be the main audi
tOrium containing a stage room. which
viii have complete theater effects. in
uding a ceiling forty-two feet high
The main auditorium will seat 1900
people. and this floor will be of Gothic
architecture.
on the sixth floor there will be a
balcony for the Scottish rite rooms,
which viii seat approximately 500 per
sons. The custodfan's rooms will be
on this floor. and they will be COM
plete in every detail
The seventh, or top story, will con-
tain the storage rooms, and will be
available for othC- uses.
All the concrete floors have been
poured and the concrete for the roof
IS being poured The cut stone walls
viii not be put up until spring.
The only panorama view of the bust
ness district of Topeka. with a perfect
view of the state house included, is
available f-om the top story of the