The Washington herald., 1922-01-25
NORTHWEST site
CHOSEN FOR BIG
CONVENTION HALL
About $4,000 to Be Paid
For Plot at Nineteenth
And New York Ave.

- - =
Washington's $50O.000 convention
halP which is expected to be ready
for occupancy next fall, will be
located on aplot of ground skiI'ted
on the east by Nineteenth street.
on the north by f street. on the
west by Twentieth street and on
the south by New York avenue
northwest.
The announcement of the site,
which will cost approximately
100000, was made last night, fol-
lowing a meeting of the general
committee. Washington Auditorium
Committee on Organization, held at
the New Willard Hotel, during
which Col. Robert n. Harper,
chairman, and Charles ]. Column
bus, secretary, were authorized to
take immediate steps to close the
deal.
The convention building, which
will face on Nineteenth street-112
feet-will be directly opposite the
new Department of Interior Build
ing, and Is only three hAocks from
the White House. The entire lot
ON which the building will be erect
ed contains 30,037 square feet.
Excavation In Spring.
Excavation of the lot will not
be begun until spring. owing to
he fact that one of the buildings
which now occupies a portion of
the ground holds a lease which
does not expire until April. The
other. buildings, which will be
razed. are occupied by monthly
lessees.
The building. when completed,
will contain more than 10000
square feet including an audi
torium with a seating capacity of
more than 5000 persons.
With the committee of 100
rapidly nearing completion-fifty-
four members having already been
signed, and more than a score of
others having pledged to serve
Col. Robert N Harper, chairman
of the auditorium committee, last
| night announced that actual cam
paigning for funds would be
started the latter part Of next
| week.
The campaign for funds will
consume a very short period of
/ time" said Col. Harper. Judging
from the interest which is being
displayed in the project in all Sec
tions of the city. We expect to
have the necessary s500.00O in .the
committees treasury a few weeks
after the campaign actually be-
| gins"
Plan to he Outlined.
Solicitation of contributions TO
| the project will be under the di-
rection of the 100 committeeman
who are now being selected. Each
will select the citizens upon whom
| they will call and a working pro-
| gram will be outlined SO as to
avoid duplication.
NJ. A. Leese. chairman of the con-
vention committee. Chamber of
Commerce. and Ross Andrews. a
member Of the committee, declared
last night that Washington would
be the mecca of conventions as
| soon as the convention hall was
erected, owing to the fact that or
ganizations from all parts of the
country are eager to hold their an
nual gatherings in this city, as can
be ascertained through the numer-
| Gus communications received by
the chambers convention commit
tee.
Z. G. Owen. vice president of the
Washington Hotel Mems Associa-
ton, declared that he was conf
dent that the local hotel men
would take leading part in rais-
ing money for the proposed audi
torium, while Frank S. Hight, man.
ager of the New Willard Hotel,
| made a similar statement.
Al
belief that the proposed auditorium
will contain enough floor space to
hold auto shows, while another
suggestion was made that grand
opera could. be held there.
BENEFIT to Entire City.
The entire city would benefit with
the building of a convention hall
Is the belief of Mrs. Frederick Zihl-
man, wife of Representative Zihl-
man, who said that she was only
one of a good many to help In
raising money.
C. ]. Gockeler, former secretary
of the Washington Board of Trade
has been elected treasurer of the
icommittee.
The proposed convention hall wiz
contain more than $4,000 square
feet. and will have a seating ca
pacity of 5000.
Members of the committee declare
that the site announced last night
is an ideal one since It is located
near the heart Of the city and
within walking distance of any
downtown point. The site is also
reathed by two car lines of botf
companies.
Col. Robert n. Harper presided
AT the meeting last night.