The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-26
A Plan Outlined and Temporary
Committee Selected.
A PLACE TO GO TO.
Practical Proposition =
Healthy RecreatiOns
With Good Influences and Sur
rOundings Proposed.

The Topeka Country Club is assured
If the enthusiasm and interest mani
tested last evening at the parlors of the
Hotel Throop are an indication OF re-
suits.
Colonel W. H. Rossington was asked
to preside at the meeting and to out
line his ideas in a general way about the
proposed project. He said:
- was asked by a number of young
men and also some older ones to call
this preliminary meeting. This was
delegated to me probably because my
self and daughters had been entertained
some months ago at the Kansas City
Country Club and had spoken highly
of that organization I believed that
something similar was entirely feasible
for Topeka. OF course, Topeka is not
so large, nor so wealthy community.
Topeka is unique. There are very few
wealthy people, but a great many well
TO do and in comfortable circumstances.
Many of us came here when Topeka
was a four square prairie with few
business houses and homes dotted upon
it. Most of US have made what we have
here.
My idea about Country Club is that
it should be a place to go to- not too
near to be a fringe Of the town, nor a
suburb, nor too far away to be mac
ceSsible. Essentially it must be in the
country. 1t is primarily open air
club with the athletic spirit surround
ing it. People may go there in carriages,
on wheels, or otherwise. 1t must be
fOStered largely by young men and
young women, although older ones may
and probably should take the initiative
to supply the necessary funds to get the
matter started.
About the Country Clubs largely
centers golf, a game which has devas-
tated the east.
The bicycle has promoted the Coun-
rid
aments, tally-hO parties, games of
quoits, bowling, boating, dancing par
ties, luncheons, concerts and various
forms of healthy amusement involved
an the Country Club plan.
My idea is that there should be
ample grounds. sufficient say, for what
the golfers call a nine-Iink game. There
should be a club house with one large
room, occupying probably the big por-
ton OF the first story. 1t should have a
good floor, a large fire place. The CELL
ings should be ceiled and vanished. the
rafters and timbers exposed and in their
natural finish. This large room should
be available for dancing, for Iounging,
for social conversation.
There should be a dining room and
there should be other rooms for lunch
cons, for smaller or larger parties as
the case might be. A man and his wife
should be employed, who shall live at
the club, the man, in a general way, to |
look after the grounds and his wife to
be a good cook, the revenues from the |
restaurant to go to them, supplemented |
probably by a small salary necessary to |
secure the proper people Of tact and |
ability.
There should be sheds for carriages, |
buggies and wheels.
The club should probably not own !
the land, but 1T should obtain a long |
lease at low prevailing rates of interest. |
The house need not cost more than |
$4,000 and $4,000 more would proba bly, be |
necessary to fix up the grounds and |
put things in proper shape. OF course. |
ha Gil Sfr1
large, roOmy pOrches
believe that there are public spirit |
ed gentlemen in this city who would |
advance from 81, 500 to So, 900 on this pro- |
Ject. would have it done on a practical |
basis. I would not have it a gift, nor |
a subscription. 1 would have notes |
given which would draw per cent in |
terest. 1 would make it a practical |
proposition, feasible business PROPOSE |
ton.
These gentlemen would put up, say, |
all the way from $50 to $500. The rest |
OF the money could be readily raised, 1 |
believe, by an initiation fee, not too |
large to shut out any respecta Bile fam |
fly or single person from participating
in the advantages Of this club. and vet |
sufficient to pay interest, the salary of |
the superintendent, to maintain the [
grounds and the house. The design, of |
course, should be the ultimate return |
OF the principal, but at any rate the in
terest could be surely provided for
In i've years, under the proper man
aSement, the club should be able to |
own absolutely all of its improvements |
THE disturbances of a Country Club |
Is conceded by all. The great principle |
around which the successful Country |
Clubs of the east are formed is the op-
portunity afforded a mans wife, son or
daughter to go to the club house and !
grounds even without chaperone, and |
with perfect security
The design is not to make it exclu-
sive, but, as said, to give opportunity
10 every respectable family or member
of It chance to participate in the ben |