The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-05-25
Weekly Letter on
Municipal Hffairs
LA Municipal Pleasure Palace.

LA Municipal Pleasure Palace.
r. TNGllSiI CITIES. ike those Of every other
r country, have their Fairgrounds, parks,
L. ard similar institutions for the in.
| striction and entertainment OF the people,
| ut new ventures are continually being tried. The
| late, is the construction and equipment Of an
| immense pleasure palace, which will he formally
| opened to the public today in the northern see.
| lion of London. 1t is the most novel municipal
enterprise undertaken 10y this or any other
municipalities
| The scheme was made possible by the failure
OF private corporation which undertook to
rrm"," of the cid exhibition buildings to
Wood Green and convert ii into a popular place
~ amusement for the people few years ago.
Th,r" was trouble almost at the outset. The
! building was no sooner located on its now site
than the land round ahont took strange turns
and there were slips in all directions. ihr
Palace. however. Wls soon firmly mOOrCd TO lis
i"undar ion. and all went we'll until within II
few days after Ihv opening ceremonies when
fire hoke ont and the structure was lrIt mel.
, aurliuly ruin The original had cost the pro.
iectorS Sl,100~". lut undi,maycd the promotes
got together sum oi "qna. proportions aud
rncnN-lkr the present magnificent building
rose from the ashes The Palace proved a white
clcrh1nt upon the hands ot the owners, exhaust
ing not only their resources. but others as well,
So that for several lengthy periods during th'
past five years the Palace has been shut mp and
presented a deserted appearance The di>-atS.
iird spectators determined to get rid of their
Improbable venture and placed it on the marhct
At one third OF its value 5000 600.
NJ sooner did TIA" tact become known than 4
""tclic OF ontclmSing city officials connected
with several boInugiI> in the northern part ut
London, put their heads togo her and formed
municipal tnlsr for the purchase Of the prop.
.riy iur the purpose u' turning il into n muulci-
pal pleasure palace, Contributions from SiI,0OO
| 4" >25Oon were readily secured from ncighhoy.
ing huoghS and a total OF S7jo,0Do raised in 4
short time, it being determined to devote the
S'i ,r0 TO the improvement and equipment oi TN"
Palace.
onc of the finest collections OF Statuary tom.
rrSirg nearly 500 pieces which can Il, fouad
in Great Britain has been added tn the Pljlro
and opened to th' general public, Some oi
| the rucS prcmcn- are included in Dh, col.
lection l'rSdes this, in one al the large halls
| in the Palace. there vii! hr general exhibition
ot science, art and industrial exhibits rh,
feature will be made ot hr-hlv educational value
Special exhibits in various fields will he made
al different p",iodS oi the year, which win hc
given in serial form. For instance, one oi The
first exhibits will he collection uf murp than
3,OOo watches, illustrating the entire history ot
horology. In this collection a part of which
was exhibited at III" worlds tair lt Chicago
will be- included watch whirh WAS once in
the possession uf Ohcr Cromwell
In addition to special features will lac shown
| some very fine specimens OF pottery, illustrative
Of the history oi the industry in Great Britain;
- collection nj historical costumes; geological
specimens; spo, linens from the textile tlddrs:
icwelry, hccS, and miscellaneous, collections
loaned from vrou, museums about the Islands
and from others vino have already expressed
great interest in the welfare Of the Palace. In
fact, II will he sort of a continuous perform.