The Van Buren press., 1903-04-04
AN ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING.
A Largely Attended Meeting Was
Held at the Mayors Office FRI
day Evening and We are
to Have a Y. M. c. A.
Building.

Prominent citizens IN every walk or
life assembled last Friday evening at
the mayor office in response to pub
lished request by Mayor Woolum. 1t
was generally known Mr. Woolum had
been working for several months to-
ward interesting the proper Mo. Pacific
officials in the erection at this point of
a railroad Y. NJ. C. A.
Constant effort had borne fruit The
meeting was called for the purpose of
receiving from the company a definite
proposition through Mr.. Ship the sec
rotary in charge of the Y. NJ. C. A.
work of the No. Pacific system.
The meeting was called to order by
Mayor Woolum, who called upon Rev.
Pillans to invoke divine guidance. Mr..
Ship, being called upon stated the
proposition on the part of the railroad
company. 1t was to the effect that
while there was no regular schedule as
to the amount of subscription required
and he had no definite authority, he felt
that he could give the citizens Of Van
Buren, the assurance that if he went to
Mr. Warner with an assurance that
they would raise 81, 600, that official
would sanction the erection and furnish
ing of building exclusive of site-whiCh
would be donated by the company cost
ing not less than SIS, 900, while if our
people raised S., 900 the company would
spend sl3 900 in addition. He advo-
Gated the latter sum being raised, say
ing the building and equipments at
Coffeyville had cost Sl5 900 and it was
already found they were insufficient
At the request of Geo. r. Wood Mr..
Ship gave a mental outline of the
building. 1t would be three stories
high with bowling alleys and gymnas-
tic apparatus on the ground floor, a
reading and correspondence room on
the second floor, equipped with IL
brary amounting to not less than 2 900
books to begin with aside from all lead
ing magazines, technical journals and
newspapers. On the third floor there
would be beds which members could
get at Il nominal charge of 10c per
night. There might also be a cafe and
emergency hospital room in the build
ing. While, if occasion arose, night
instruction in various mechanical and
business branches would be given The
ground floor would also contain a com
plete system of baths, which would be
at the disposal of members without
charge. Any of our citizens taking
out membership certificates which
would be placed at s. for all, would en-
joy the same privileges as would the
railroad men. Also that these mem
bership certificates should be accepted
at any Y NJ. G. A. in the county. Mr.
Ship painted such glowing picture
of the benefits that enthusiasm ran
high Prominent railroad men present
were called on for statement regard
ing the amount they anticipated could
be raised among this class of our cit.
liens and they assured the questioners
that there would be no trouble in rails
ing oue-half Of the IS, 600 needed. The
meeting was then sounded and it was
unanimously carried that Van Buron
would attempt to raise IS 600 for m
$lS 900 Y. NJ, G. A., or If this was
found impossible 81 900 for Il SO 600
one.
There were those present who wished
to begin the signing Of subscriptions at
once, but it WAS decided that the best
plan would be to call mass meeting
at some date in the future, when Mr.,
Shipp would be in position to present
plans, and that the work Of raising sub.
scrptions be taken up in Systematic
manner Mr., Ship proposed that
among working men 1t be asked they
give one days wages each month for
three months which would not be felt
by them, and this proposition was form
ally accepted, After the building is
completed, Mr., Ship stated the citizens
would not be called on, except under
extraordinary conditions, to donate for
it's support, rs the membership fees,
supplemented by monthly appropri.
alton Of 800 from the company would
pay the running expenses,
Rev, Whaling pronounced the bene-
diction and the meeting closed with
enthusiasm, Mayor Woolum will ap.
point soliciting committees and call n
mass meeting ~ soon as the plans are
in hand.