The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-10-25
MAYOR w. H. SMITH
THINKS IT A GOOD THING AND
DECIDES TO TAKE AUpITO-
RUM OFF HANDS OF
THE COMMITTEE.


Ladies and Gentlemen: i cannot
help feeling proud of me people of Can
ton tonight. You have had the
progressiveness to construct this
magnificent auditorium with a
seating capacity as understand
Of more than Ave thousand
people, almost as large as me amphi
theaters of old Roman times. The
building is certainly credit to the
city as well as a credit to the commit
tee, who have had had it's construc-
tion in hand. They have done their
work well and cannot be commended
too highly. l cannot help congratulat-
ing you the people of Canton on your
enterprise which has not been con-
fined alone TO the erection of this NAM
moth auditorium, but great progress
has been made in every direction. Our
merchants have larger and better
stores, our factories are becoming
more and more numerous, and many
Of them are building large additions
to their plants. We have a number of
interurban traction lines, new hotels
are being erected, our financial insti-
tutions have been growing larger and
stronger, and have inspired the conf
dence of all, a large proportion of the
wage earners own commoaious and
well kept homes; last year was the ban
ner year in the history of Canton for
| the erection of fine business blocks,
MI lao OF hut
large boy who is budding into the
vigor Of manhood and has outgrown
his clothes, our progressive city has
outgrown her boundary lines ito such
an extent that she has to have new
boundaries, which when our city faith
ers have fashioned to their liking will
give our beautiful city population
Of more than forty thousand people,
which we hope by the year 1910 will
have reached the fifty thousand mark.
But I am straying from my subject,
as the servant of yourselves the people,
I hold the key to this magnificent ed
iflce. What shall be done with this
great building after we have posses
sion Of it? This auditorium has been
erected by the people for the people
and l hope it will become a great hall
for the education and advancement
Of all the people; that it will furnish
an opportunity for organizations such
as the bands, orchestral club, the
chorus and the German singing society,
which are all credit to the city, by
the meritoriousness of their perform
ance from time to time to I'LL every
seat in this building, that these clubs
and Others will make Canton a great
musical center, this in connection with
the popular lecture courses will make
this great hall q temple OF learning
| for all.
We will one and all have to use our
Influence to bring political conventions
end delegations that will draw large
numbers Of strangers to our limits SO
that they will see that we are pro-
Gressiye people and will want to locate
In our midst and become one OF us.
believe the auditorium should at
least be mado self'supporting. for the
ordinary running expenses Of It, such
as heating, lighting and ianitor SER
vice. One Of the first requisites Of Sc
curing outside people with capital to To-
cate here is low tax rate, and the
sinking fund commissioners are now
paying off good portion Of the bond
ed Indebtedness of tho city each ycar;
hence. II the auditorium is made self
supporting, 1t will relieve the city OF
that much extra expense.
/ realize that the program is some
what lengthy and will not take VI
your time further,