The Minneapolis journal., 1902-05-01
MUSTN'T Be BEHIND.
Other Cities Are Surprising Mime
apolis In Public Concerts.
THE PRESENT PARK PLAN TIMELY
Citisens' COMMITTEES Believes Mime
apelis WALL Do az Well ms Other
rsogressive Cities.

i
The citizens committee d which has
taken charge Of the work Of providing
free music In all the Minneapolis parks
duriHE the sunamer, is finding a valuable
ally Ia the local musicians union. which
has long urged the giving OF free con-
earts in the parks and which has now
placed at the disposal OF the committee
all the data gathered within the past year
regarding the usage In other cities. The
COMMITTEES believes that the information
thus obtained will prove OF value IN PEI
suad&ng business men generally OF the
utility OF the plan, and thus, securing
their subserintions.
Several months ago the union sent out
circular letters to 100 different cities
asking for information regarding park
music, The answers received show tnat
| Minneapolis has been remarkably derelict
In this regard when compared with other
cities OF equal or lesser population all
over the euuntTy. Out of these 100 cities
ths srsplies showed that not one was with
out free music In the parks for at least st
| a part Of the summer season, and tnGt
| local musicians provided the music IN
| every instance. This bears out the con-
tention Of the local men who have main
tained that Minneapolis Is the only city
In the country which habitually employs
| foreign bands to play in the parks, ana
charges the people an admission zee 10
| hear them.
From among the hundred letters re-
ceived by local MUSICIANS few, selected
at random, show the practices obtaining
in the several cities from which. tney
came TO be az follows:
1 I1Rochastsr, IN. Y, free concerts are slVef
in three different parks on Sundays between
June so and Sept. %. LOCAL musicians are EN-
| nloved and arc paid by money raised by pub
lie subscription, The amount is about $z'oo'
annually.
Tha little city OF Davenport. Iowa, spends
$3.50 annually for free concerts in the park
Local nnuEIcians are employed and the none!
comes frou the park fund.
The Inoney necessary for park music a
Buffalo, N Wis included in the city's estl
mates. This year 1t will be $4,000. Forty con
certs are given during a period OF twent'
weeks Fhe concerts are free and only loca
musicians are employed
Detroit Mich, will spend $4,000 on par
musie this year, The money is allowed Z
the naSk commission by the board OF alder
e. men. Local musicians supply the music
which is free to the people.
, n Seattle the street car company pays TO
, music in the parks, but charges no admisslo
to the concerts. which are given three time
! week except during the height OF the sea
SON. when they are made nightly ana1rs
; Local musicians are employed.
Concerts Gre given In one OF the ypenve
, PARKS every afternoon and evening from Ma
40 ID Sent. s.. The expense is borne equally o
J the park hoard and the street railway. "A
concerts ARE free and local musicians onl
are employed The amount exnended eac
year is between $500 and $1,000
IN Chicago free concerts are s1ven m nv
or SIX different uarks. The season continue
ten weeks. and concerts are given IN eac
/. park once or twice weekly. The expens
:. varying from $4,000 to $4,000. Is met by I'll
park board, and only local musicians are en-
plnyed.
, Ii Kansas City free concerts are given
, various parks every evening IN the wee
: during a season of two months. Inere al
! three private parks in the city. and the cor
: certs played there are paid for by the propri
y tary corporation. Those given in the puei
). parks are said for bv the city.
sc. Joseph, Mo-, spends about 81 600 for MI
" sic IN the parks. The amount is paao py u
+ street railway codnpanv, but no admission
v charged, the company recouping itself tnrous
il fares only.
: Fyea concerts are provided in five dinere
h Columbus parks, two Of them having dal
: concerts during the season OF hfteen "eef
4, IN three parks the expense is met by the CIT
v in two. by the street railway company.
It Des Moines has free concerts IN rnree q
n ferent parks, the expense of which is defray
; by the mark beard and street railway COZ
g pany. The amount is from $l0oo to W.
p annually.