The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-08
Should Be No More Delays in
Proposed Auditorium.
Original Plans Should Be Car
ried Out by City Council.
PEOPLE ARE TIRED.
Want to See Something Done
at Once.
General Opposition to Separat-
ing the Proposition.

The sentiment among the business
men and the taxpayers of Topeka gen
orally is that the offer of $4,000 for the
present city building should be accept
ed by the council if none better is forth
coming and the combined auditorium
and city hall built as contemplated.
The proposition to hold the city build
ing and build the auditorium separately
with the bond issue of 100000 is not
looked upon with satisfaction. The or
dinance under which the proposition of
voting bonds was submitted at the last
election contemplated the sale of the
present building and the use of the pro-
ceeds in building a structure combining
auditorium and city hall, and the
majority of the people of the city want
to see this plan carried out.
Besides there are legal complications
that would be forced if the council de-
cfded to retain the city building and
build the auditorium alone. City At
tOrney Bird some time ago expressed
himself as fearing the legality of such
a move, and while he now refuses to
say anything about the matter until
called upon by the mayor and council,
his former expression still stands.
To take any step toward using the
100000 alone for the construction of an
auditorium would first mean a special
election to submit that particular prop
osition to the people This would
delay. There has already been entire
ly too much delay in reference to the
auditorium project. In fact there has
been practically nothing but delay, and
the people of Topeka are firing of it,
while the press of the state is bur
lesquing the capital because of it. If
the proposition failed, as it likely would
according to the present sentiment
only complications would result. If it
did not fail, it might amount to nothing
because of the legal questions that
might be expected.
If the council was without an offer
for the present city building the atti-
tude of the people might be different.
But there has been a bid for the cor
ner and the structure, and while the
amount offered may not be all the pro-
perty is worth, it is near enough to be
considered. Conservative business men
have said that the present city proper
ty was worth $3.50 and some of the
council members hold that it is worth
$5. 600 more. The offer made by Messrs.
Jewell and McNicar is to take the
building for $4,000 cash, a price but
$4,000 below that placed upon it by
some of the best business men of the
city.
IF such an auditorium as we could
build along the lines originally contem-
plated will easily be worth $50, 900 to the
city" said Mr.. r. S. Brigham, president
of the Commercial club today, ''and
why then should the council hesitate
on sacrifice of $5,000?"
That is exactly the question in the
minds of the majority of the business
men of Topeka. As Mr.. Brigham says
the auditorium will be worth thous-
ands of dollars yearly to the city, and
the idea of holding the city building
for the sake of So 900 would be a blow
to the best interests of Topeka.
An auditorium separate from a city
hall would undoubtedly prove just as
beneficial to the city, but matters are
in such shape that the city hall and
auditorium must be considered jointly
take the chance of serious legal
obstacles. There is too much at stake
to take even the slightest chance, let
alone one that might mean the invali-
datiOn of the $4,000 bond issue, and To-
peka people are consequently in favor
of seeing the council carry the matter
out as originally proposed.
The special committee of the council
will meet tonight to consider the offer
made by Mr.. Jewell and Mr.. McVicar,
and viii report to the council Mon
day night If no other bids are receiv-
ed before that time the offer of $4,000
should be accepted and active prepara-
tions commenced looking to the build
ing Of the new city hall and auditor
ium.
Those who advocate holding the city
building seem to lose sight of the fact
that the present city headquarters are
disgrace to Topeka. This IS not a D.
solutely an essential feature of the
matter, except in it's contact with mum
icipal pride.
IF we can't get any more than S40,-
900 for the city building I am in favor
of selling it for that tamount and proceed
ing with the auditorium and city hau
as originally contemplated" said Coun-
w. S CLANCY, one of the mem
bers of the special committee today.
If we undertake to build the auditor
ium separately with the $4,000 resulting