The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-23
MRS. JOHNSTON
URGES UT|LITARIAN.
AUDITORIUM HERE.
Dickson Tells Civic Forum
Structure viii Be Safely
Constructed Under City
Building Code

In a short talk before the Civic
Forum luncheon of the Chamber of
Commerce in the Tutwiler Monday,
Mrs. Richard f. Johnston, speaking
on the topic, Needs and Benefits of
an Auditorium" empf ASKED the util-
itarian feature of such structure
in an industrial city
City Commissioner w. e. Dickson,
speaking ION the Auditorium Con-
tract" outlined the history of the
auditorium project and said the COM
mission felt bound to 80 ahead with
the building of a large auditorium
now with the money in hand and
that safe and sound construction was
assured under the building code of
the city. He particularly assured
the audience of a good heating sys-
tenn.
Mrs. Johnston stressed tie impor-
lance of size. She thought an In
dustrial city should have a place
large enough to stage Industrial ex-
positions. There are several build
ings of moderate seating capacity,
she said, and she presumed that the
Phillips High School auditorium,
being paid for by taxation, would be
open for public purposes. She had
no doubt the public-spirited Masons
would allow use of their auditorium.
Birmingham needs a large place for
such an event as annual displays of
Birmingham made goods, said Mrs.
Johnston. The women staging an
exhibition of homemade products
last year had to turn down would-be
exhibitors and could not begin to
handle the crowds that wished to
attend the exposition. No place could
be found for any kind of an exhibit
tion until a public spirited merchant
gave over his store to 1t for an en-
tire week.
Passes BY Birmingham.
Mrs. Johnston said that Paderew
ski had to pass by Birmingham and
go to Montgomery because there was
not hall large enouhg to stage his
playing here except at prohibitory
prices and that 365 Birmingham peo-
pie had already engaged seats for
the Paderewski performance in
Montgomery and would spend their
money there instead of in Birming
ham.
The speaker said that many ma
tional organizations would come here
if there was a large auditorium. She
! mentioned the Southern Baptist con-
vention as one of them. She alluded
to the thousands of persons turned
away from the community sings and
said many thousands did not try to
attend on account of the small space
In present auditoriums.
Only One Thing To Do.
Mr.. Dickson gave the history of
the auditorium from the beginning
and said the commission had tried
to get more money. but the people
voted down the bond issue calling
for more. There was nothing left
g.,
hand and build the large auditorium
that the people seemed to wish. He
said one or two changes suggested
could be made with very little
trouble. Mr.. Dickson read the COM
missions answer to the Chamber of
Commerce, consenting for recheek
of the plans. DIR. r. G. Hershey, who
presided, invited the men and women
present to question Mr.. Dickson, but
none of them did so.
Several architects and contractors
were at the luncheon. but none
cross questioned Mr.. Dickson.
Under head of general discussion
and criticism, William B. Leedy, Jr.,
spoke of the inadequacy of the CEN
trail city sewerage system as legiti-
mate subject for investigation and
action by the Chamber of Commerce.
The chairman said this matter would
be referred to the proper committee
and invited all those with kicks
coming" to air their complaints at
these Monday forums rather than
on the streets. He reiterated the
pledge of the chamber to take up
and seriously consider any complaint
or suggestion presented at the
forums.
Mrs. Houston Davis called atten-
ton to the coming of the San Carlo
Opera company.