The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-09-07


and how is this money distributed"
III his study OF municipal audi
forums. ALVIN Gnett, ecre.ary
Madison WIS., Commerce Associa-
ton, analysed the distribution Of
each 500 received by notes curing
conventions.
Figures Are Cited
The figures are:
Meats, S578, eggs and poultry,
S395, dairy products, s377; oysters
and fish, S22f; fresh fruits ana veg
etables, S315; wholesale groceries,
S459, beverages, S0.40; salaries and
wages, S274I. rent, S944; light, neat
and water, S646, music, S216, ad-
vertising, Sl02; florist, 90c; decorat-
ing and repairing furniture, sl.63;
insurance and taxes, S46l, dry
goods and china, s27O; miscellan-
eous expenses and repairs, 1858, and
miscellaneous distribution and
profits, 1898.
Milwaukee is a leader in the con-
yention business" because of its
large municipal auditorium. As a
result, Milwaukee claims that con-
ventions bring a S5,00000 yearly
revenue to Milwaukee.
As proof to the people of Milwau-
kee that its municipal auditorium
repaid them many times, the Asso-
citation OF Commerce there ques-
toned members of the Master
Builders OF Wisconsin on their con-
Vention expense while at Milwaukee.
Spend S2I.S9 a Day
The association found that the
delegates actually spent an aver
age of S2189 each day. This was
distributed as follows: Hotels,
s463; restaurants. 1892; theaters,
$057: other amusementS, Sl14;
taMcabs, SO70: department stores,
$3.50; miscellaneous retail stores,
SI81. wholesalers and manufactur-
ers, 1894; auto supplies, S063, and
miscellaneous, S1.86.
Aside from the purely business
like question of whether or not the
municipal auditorium pays in dol
lars and cents what it cost, there IS
a tremendous cultural value to the
community to be considered.
Many cultural talents lies dor
mant in Indianapolis for want of
stimulation or enterprise. With
municipal auditorium could come
municipal theater. municipal
opera, municipal orchestraS and
various educational Institutes.
List Possible Uses
The Municipal Administration
Service has listed a number of pos
Sible uses for such a hal, which in
CludeS music. athletics. theatrical
enterprises. expositions and shows.
military affairs. banquets. bazars,
civic meetings. lectures, moving pic
lures, political rallies. commence
mentS, religious services. dances,
fairs and cirCuSeS.
Although many cities frankly adj
init that their municipal audito-
RUINS are not paying propositions,
they say that they would not do
without such a building under any
circumstances. A survey by Mr.. Gill
lett OF the Madison Square ASsocia-
ton showed that while the audito-
rum rarely paid in small commune
ties that the large cities generally
showed a profit on such an under
taking
Atlantic City, Milwaukee. Biz
mingham, Ala. DeS Moines. Kan
sas City, Oklahoma City and San
Francisco showed profits in normal
times.
Akron. o. Chattanooga. Tenn,
Buffalo. n. Y. Cleveland. Houston
Tex. St. Paul and Shreveport, La.
did not.
Movement More General
Regardless of the financial ledger.
the movement for municipal audi
toriums is becoming more and
more general and spreading to all
the large American cities. The de
preston stunned the movement for
a time. but once again municipali-
ties are realizing the Importance Of
such buildings to the community
Indianapolis was one of the first
cities in the nation to build a
municipal auditorium. TomlinSon
Hall. combined city market and
auditorium. was completed in 1895
at a cost Of S250000. The seating
Capacity was 1900
indianapolis clearly has outgrowr
1895 and TomlinSon Hall. Our pop
ulation today is more than $4,000
We have many large industries
which might employ many more
persons than now if the business
level in indianapolis was raised.
In Councils Hands
Centrally located and in the heart
OF a network Of transportation lines
indianapolis could we'll be one of the
principal convention cities in the
United States.
The fate OF the proposed munich
pal auditorium lies IN the hands of
the County Council. which would
have to support bond issue. and
the Public Works Administration,
which has been asked TO supply an
outright grant of IS per cent of the
projects cost.
The county wisely asks that all
revenues from the auditorium be
used 10 retire the bonds and main
tain the building Optimistically.
county officials say that within 80
years after its construction the
auditorium would be a prosperous
concern.
With the country pointed toward
industrial recovery. many have no
doubts OF the success of a munich
pal auditorium here. rs advocates
argue that indianapolis could get
the Jump on the rest Of the nation
IN recovery by building its audi
forum now.