The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-20
DICKSON REVIEWS PRESENT STATUSOF
 CITY AUDITORIUM
Commissioner Fayors BuiId- ing of S1,ooo, ,oo0 Audito- rum to Seat 10000.
 History of Project

In his statement regarding the his- tory and present status of the city auditorium situation, and the need for one that will seat at least ap- proximately 10 900, Commissioner W.. k. Dickson of the department of pub lie improvements reviews the com- plete history of the auditorium pro gram and declares that only three alternatives remain.
 Either the half million additional bonds can be voted which will meet the needs by the erection of prac- ticable. usable and elf-supporting auditorium, or an auditorium seating 1000 can De built with the money on hand that will not meet Birmlng- hamss needs, or the payment of s2S,- 900 in interest can continue to be paid annually on bonds already sold by the former commission. The statement follows.
 Auditorium Bonds Sold
 On August IS. 1919, the people of the city voted to Issue s5oo.0oo five per cent bonds. the proceeds 10 be used in the purchase of site and the erection of an auditorium. These bonds were sold and dated December l, 1919, and the city is paying inter- est 10 the amount of s25.0O0 annually thereon.
 The former city commission pur- chased a site. 1so by 400 feet, at the corner of Twentieth street and Eighth avenue, north, for the sum of s92650. The commission then em ployed seven architects 1among them some of the best in the city) to draw plans for and supervise the construc- ton of the auditorium. These archi- tects were to receive the usual fee of five per cent of the amount involved
 A committee, comprised Of an architect, a commissioner, and two representative citizens, made an in~ spection trip of auditoriums in other sections of the country. After due deliberation and a most thorough in vestigatton, the architects submitted plans for an auditorium with seat ing capacity of approximately $500 people.
 Supreme Court
 The first action by the present city commission, relative to the audi torium situation. was to ask the city attorney to ascertain if under the law 1t would be compelled to build the auditorium on Eighth avenue and Twentieth street, and how far 1t would be restricted by other contracts. relating thereto. case is now pending in the supreme court, which. when settled. will clarify these mat ters.
 The architects were told by tho present city commission that plans for an auditorium with seating capacity of less than 7.5O0 would not be accepted. The architects came back with the reply that building of that size, one that would reflect credit upon the city. but not ornate could not be built with the money in hand, but would cost in the neIsn- borhood of sf0oo,0 900. The commits sion. not being satisfied with this report. authorized a committee cf Commissioners Harrison and Dickson, together with Architects whilden and Knight CMr. Knight did not 20 on account of sickness) to make further inspection and investigation. either to confirm or disprove the correctness of the architects report.
 To Cost s1.0o0.0o0
 Accordingly, this committee made trip through the northwest looking into the matter as best it could. The committee came back strong in the belief that the architects had been conservative in their reports, and that an auditorium plant costing less than million dollars, would nor only be failure for practical pur- poses, but that 1t would prove heavy financial liability to the city Based upon my observation and the reports of the architects, give 1t ns my opinion that with the million dol lars we can build an auditorium with q seating capacity between T,500 and 10000, which will be practicable and usable, and within few years with good management can be made self sustaining.
 Dickson's Conclusions
 Analyzing this question, l arrive at three conclusions.
 1. Vote the half-million additional bonds for the large, practicable, us- able, supporting auditorium If you want it.
 a2.rBuild the auditorium with seat ing capacity of about 1000. which will not meet Birminghams needs and which will be heavy financial liability, If you want it.
 5. Continue to pay s25,000. interest yearly On the bonds already sold by the former commission. leaving the money in the bank until such time as you may think it wise to vote the ad- dftional bonds, if this suits you.
 These are the facts without color, without prejudice. and with no ce- sire or intention to reflect upon any individual or board that has had any thing to do with this matter. The re- port Is made not with the hope or for the purpose of influencing sin gle vote. but having spent your money in obtaining the information that has brought me to these con- clusions. I deem it my duty to maxe this statement
 Having done this, I have no further interest in the matter than any other citizen who believes that Birmingham needs an auditorium that is ample and practicable, and one so designed and constructed as to reflect credit upon our great and growing city.
 w. E. DICKSON,
 City Commissioner.