Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1901-07-18

A PUBLIC
AUDITORIUM.

AUDlIOkIOW.
In rsspon e to call meeting OF
representative business men and citi.
zens met In the rooms OF the Citizens
Association Monday evening to dis.
cuss matters of public interest.
DR.. j. G. Parsons, president of the
association, stated the object of the
meeting and called upon Secretary @.
e. Childs to further enter into details.
Mr.. Childs referred particularly to
the growing necessity of providing an
auditorium in which entertainments
and public gatherings Of all kinds
might be held. Prof. r. f. Kerr
spoke of the various needs of the city,
including free delivery Of mail, public
parks and the encouragement OF our
creamery. Mr.. H. n. Reeves said
that Brookings was not up to much
smaller towns In this vicinity In the
way of having a suitable place for
holding public gatherings. Attorney
j. c. Jenkins and Others seconded
the sentiment expressed as to the
necessity of having an auditorium
and motion prevailed that 1t was the
sense of the meeting that an auditor
ium should be commenced as soon as
practicable, that a stock company be
formed and the shares be placed at
$40 each 50 as to secure popular con-
tributions in forwarding the enter.
prise.
Among other matters which were
discussed was the capacity of the
building and 1t was generally thought
best to erect building which would
seat at least 1000 people, the plans
Of the building to be determined by
the stockholders.
The meeting was tempered with
good feeling throughout and 1t is be-
lieved that by careful and intelligent
work the object for which the meet
ing was called may be accomplished.
That Brookings needs an auditor
ium goes without saying. The money
for such building would be we'll ex-
pended. There are many ways In
which benefit would be derived from
the outlay. The Masons, Odd Fel-
lows, Woodmen, Workmen, State
Teachers association and various
other organizations would like to
come to Brookings to hold their state
meetings, but are not encouraged be-
cause we have no place for them. We
might have state political conven-
tions but for the same reason. The
state G. A. r. encampment will be
here next year; where are we going
to put them?
The business men should be awake
to their interests and take hold Of
this enterprise which will result to
their mutual benefit. There is every
reason why an auditorium should be
built at once. What other towns
have Brookings may have IL every cit
izen puts forth proper effort. Let us
not be penny wise and pound fool
ish." Let every citizen strain a point
toward bringing the proposed project
TO successful termination.
With an auditorium Of suitable
seating capacity, built neat and at
tractively az regards the architectural
plans, other good things will surely
follow. There will be necessity for
larger hotels. When outside capital
Sees that the citizens are bound TO
provide for the increasing needs OF
the city, then capitalists will be will
ing to invest money in hotels and even
manufactures. Te
Don't have it said that we have
failed IN this enterprise-go TO work
and assist the committee, who have
only the city's interest at heart Let
us have an auditorium and have 1t
this season.