The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-08-07

VANCOUVER, July

'aNtOu NEh, July 20, 1919.
To the Mayor and Common Council of the
city of Vancouver:
GentiemeR:-At meeting of the citizens
of Vancouver during the month of June last,
Committee of Arrangements was appointed
Tor the purpose of perfecting arrangements
for a celebration of the Anniversary of Amer
lean Independence on July 4th, 1879.
Among many other attentions considered by
the committee for that day was n dancing
platform i'll the city park. This platform
was erected at a cost of one hundred and
thirty-eight dollars and seventy-siX cents,
which had been acquired by general sub
scription of the citizens of Vancouver and
in this way said platform, its erection, and
It's use were sanctioned and approved by
such citizens. A substantial and permanent
platform was erected, which has since been,
to great extent the principal inducement
for numerous picnics and excursions from
abroad, through which hundreds OF people
have visited our city and enjoyed n day in
our beautiful park. 1t has afforded to these
entertainments and to visitors the principal
part of the pleasures of the day, and bids
fair to constitute the means, from time to
! time, of making Vancouver the favorite
summer resort for these purposes.
am aware, and so is the committee, that
( there has been some comment and dissatis-
faction expressed by persons as to the i'm
propriety" of the use of the platform for the
purpose of dancing. | need not discuss this
question; the views of community as
! large as Vancouver are always to some ex-
tent diverse on such questions, and for the
purpose of this occasion / need but treat it
as one in which the views and theories of
individual citizens or any number, can
form no permanent part.
conceive it to be one public character,
in which the wishes and feelings of the peo-
pie taken as Udoie should be concerned
! 1t stands upon the same footing subject to
| the approval or disapproval OF a number of
people in the community, with other enter
/ tainments of a secular character.
1t is the intention, therefore, and ! am
appointed by said committee, to present and
dedicate this platform to the city of Van
couver for the use of the public-for the
/ purposes for which it was originally intended;
and also that it may be used by the people
of Vancouver as public property in accord
ance with the charter OF said city, and as
other public property, may rightfully be
used in connection with the city park.
A club has been organized in the city for
the purpose OF raising funds to erect a cover
or roof over the platform, and if successful
this will be done; if they should fail, | be-
lieve express the wishes of the committee
when | say that it IS hoped and expected
that the Common Council viii cover it,
otherwise it will during the winter doubtless
become unfit for use and perhaps destroyed.
The platform when covered will be capa-
bic of use at all seasons of the year for pub
lie meetings, as well for religious services,
and for any lawful purpose that the
public is DESTROYS OF, or may be entitled to
use it under such proper regulations as may
be just for the use of the public park.
am gentlemen, very respectfully,
n. Il. BLOOMFIELD.
Member of, and acting for the Committee
OF Arrangements.