The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-13
SAY WHAT THEY WANT
MANUFACTURERS ASKED ITO
CLEARLY SPECIFY THEIR NEEDS
FOR AN EXHIBIT HALL
so INFORM THE CITY COUNCIL

When the Question Is Thus Placed
i'm Definite Form the CounciImen
VIII EndeavOr to Solve the Prob
1en-A1d. Shepard Repeats the
Project of a Union Building,
but 1T Doesn't Meet with Favor,
committees from the council, Jobbers'
union, chamber Of commerce, ComerctaI
club and Manufacturer union met at
the council chamber yesterday afternoon
TO consider the question Of securing a To-
cation for permanent exhibit to be made
by the Manufacturers union Present at
the meeting were Assemblyman Craig,
who presided; Aid. Kenny and AID. shep-
ard, A. K. Pruden, c. P Slime, c. ].
Wheilams, G. K. sharood, F. B. Doran,
II. A. Muckle, H. c. McNair. P, Maen-
der and C. w. Gordon.
Aid. Shepard opened the discussion as
to what the council might do for the
manufacturers by calling attention to a.
plan by which building large enough
to accommodate the Manufacturers asso-
citation, the Commercial club, chamber
Of commerce and Jobbers' union might
be erected. The site on Fourth street
just east of the Union block, Mr.. Shepard
said might be leased for a term of years
by the city, and by the issuing of bonds
or popular subscription three-story
building erected, which would be a credit
to the city. Other property at Fifth and
Cedar streets, Mr.. Shepard said, might
be secured at about $2,700 per year for
min WV,
erected there. The Commercial club paid
$2,7O0 per year rent, the chamber of COM
merce $500 and the Jobbers' union about
the same figure. These amounts taken
together would pay the expenses of the
building and leave a good sum for a sink
Ing fund each year to pay off the bonds
issued for the erection of the building
H. A. Muckle thought 1t would be un-
wise for the manufacturer to go into any
such big scheme as outlined by Aid. Shep-
ard. What the manufacturers wanted
was for the council to assist in paying
the rent Of building, or part of one, for
the union. Something in the range of
possibilities should be discussed, and not
any air castle schemes If the council
would appropriate from the emergency
fund about $4,000 the union could go OH
and secure some building in which to
place permanent exhibit
should have some definite proposition to
submit to the council. There was but
one fund from which any money could
be appropriated to aid the manufacturers,
and that was the emergency fund, in
which $4,000 was placed each year. If
the manufacturers would present some
definite plan, and the amount which the
union expected, the council could then
consider the matter. AS it was now there
was nothing satisfactory before the COM
mittee.
c.. w. Gordon did not think the plan
proposed by Aid. Shepard was feasible.
The. Jobbers' union had no claim against
the city, and so far as he knew, the
Commercial club had none For this
reason he could not understand how the
city could lease a piece of property, pay
the rent on the same and have 1t used
for q building to be occupied by these
organizations. So far as a popular sub
scription to erect such a building was
concerned, the attempt to raise money
for public library for several years
past showed the fallacy of such propo-
sition.
A K. Pruden was of the opinion that
Aid. Kenny was right in the statement
that the manufacturers should report
what was wanted and then the council
could act intelligently in the matter.
H. c. McNair took the same view, and
said some definite proposition should be
made by the manufacturers. 1t was boys
play to talk about erecting a building by
popular subscriptions.
1t was finally decided to have the COM
mittees from the commercial bodies
meet with the manufacturers at an early
date and decide on a proposition to be
submitted to the council, and the council
committee took an adjournment for two
weeks to allow the manufacturer to de-
eide on plan having for its end the
renting of a building or part of build
ing, in which exhibit could be main
tanned.