The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-04
UNITED NOW.
People of Topeka Get Together
on the Proposition
Outlined in the estate Jour-
nal" Last Week,
That Bonds Be Voted For an
Auditorium
AND THAT IA CITY HALL
Be Incorporated In the New
Structure
Which Is to Cost About
100000.
The Old City Hall Can Be Sold
For $4,000.
The Old City Hall Can Be Sold
For $4,000.

Topeka is going to have an auditor
ium. The temper of the meeting hello
at the Commercial club rooms Tuesday
evening indicated that much. The meet
ing was large and enthusiastic and
strange to relate there was no difference
of opinion as to the method to secure an
auditorium. The plan is the one out
lined in the Journal Monday and sug-
gested in an article in the Journal last
week.
When Major Anderson had called the
meeting to order he said: I'VE are here
to discuss the auditorium and as the
king said to Daniel we are in hole
The time had come when something
must be done. Topeka can no longer
drag along without a convention hall.
If we hope to hold our prestige as a
convention town we will have to pro-
vide an auditorium and we might as
we'll face that fact first as last. 1
know that the people of Kansas want
to come to Topeka This is the natural
place for them to come but they Will
not come unless we have a hall large
enough to accommodate them. A new
proposition has been brought to my at
tentiOn and believe that 1t IS the way
out. 1t is to sell the city building which
is not city hall at all and build one
with an auditorium large enough to
seat 1900 or 5000 people. 1t would be
necessary to issue bonds to make up
the difference in the cost, but am
satisfied that we can get an act through
the legislature and that at the election
the proposition will carry by big ma
jority. You all understand that Mr..
Crawford has been ready with an in
junction as soon as we did anything
toward the building in the city park
but there can be no objection to this
because it will be a public building and
could not be used for paid entertain
ments.''
Samuel It. Howe-What is the result
of the work that has already been done?
Major T. ]. Anderson-After paying
for the plans and the other bills we
will have between 5000 and $500 in the
treasury. There was about $4,000 in
subscriptions but that included $1,000
which was the value placed upon land
donated by Mrs. s-Greenspan and
which we were unable to realize upon.
When we proposed to reduce the size
of the building because we did not have
money enough the council objected and
some of the larger subscribers said
they would withdraw their subscriptions
unless the building was erected accord
ing to the original plans.
City Attorney Bird-It is my opinion
that this is the way out. 1t is out of
the question to attempt to build on the
original plans because it has been pretty
clearly demonstrated that it can not be
done. What 1 have objected to all
along was paying for something which
the people who come after us will re-
ceiVe the benefit of. 1t is right that
they should bear share of the burden.
This building will be a benefit to every
one in the city and there is no reason
why the burden should fall upon a few.
Wichita has a magnificent city hall and
1 understand that site and all cost less
than 800, 900.
They have convention halls every
where and something has to be done
in Topeka. 1t will require legislative
action to allow us to hold an election to
vote the necessary bonds, but that is
easy to secure. There will be no trouble
to secure convenient site. I under
ct a
sell their corner at Eighth and Quincy
streets and it would be an excellent To-
cation. L know that the John Martin
corner is for sale and believe the
Giles corner could be purchased A
building should be erected that will be
a credit to the city. My judgment is
that there will be no trouble to get the
people to vote the necessary bonds. 1t
will probably require about $4,000 be-
sides the price of the city building now
in use. Topeka must do one of two
thingS-give up the hope of securing
large conventions or build fine hail."
P. 1. Bonebrake-I want to endorse
the suggestions that have been made.
About two years ago I suggested the
sale of the city building. At that time
I knew of a man who would have paid
$4,000 for the building and L am salts
fled that it can be sold for about that
sum. The city building is not city
= building at all. 1t is properly a business
house and for that purpose the location
is excellent. If we can sell the building
IOT 9OO,OUU IL Will De d IN
vestment for the person who purchases
it. By issuing about $4,000 more in
long time bonds we could build the
right kind of a city hall. 1 do not
believe in raising the amount by a tax
because the people are taxed enough
and that is why suggest the issue of
long time bonds.
Councilman J. S. Warner@This pro-
position suits me first rate. I do not
see that we have made any Roadway
during the past year. I have worn out
this city and 1 am ready to quit and say
that the old scheme is impra cticable.
r. S. Brigham believe that the
scheme we have been working on will
be failure. I understand that it is
necessary to get a vote of the people
before we can use the 1000 coal hole
money and if we are going to vote at all
we might as we'll start right and vote
on the proposition to sell bonds enough
new scheme is the right one and can be
made to win.
c. c. Baker, have made some in
quiry concerning the city building and
1 am satisfied that it can be sold.
Gen. ]. K. Hudson-How large a
building would be required?
Mr.. Bird-About 1870 by $50 feet ought
to be large enough
Gen. Hudson--I approve of what has
that the people who will do business in
Topeka hereafter should be made to
bear share of the burden and 1 there
fore approve of the issuance of bonds.
l believe it would be a good plan to
have an architect go over this matter
and make sketch so that we will have
something to work from. We ought to
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