The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-09
The PIPE ORGAN.
Position of the Association
Formed to Get It.
The Executive Committee Is
sues a Statement.
MUST RAISE FUNDS.
One of Methods to Put Profits
Into Organ
Instead of Into Pockets of Pri-
Vate Individ uals.

The following letter has been re-
ceived from Edward Wilder, Frank H.
Foster and David Bowie, the executive
committee of the Auditorium Pipe Or
gan association, which ought to set at
rest some objections to the general plan
that they have devised for putting
splendid pipe organ in the Auditorium.
Perhaps there should be minor modi-
fications of the request for the use of
the Auditorium. but the general plan
as outlined by this communication
ought to receive the hearty support of
the city council, because it is for the
benefit of the whole people and to add
to the Auditorium's value for enter
tanning the public. The letter is as fol-
lows:
Topeka, Feb 9, 1904
To the Editor of the State Journal:
From comments of newspaper reports
that we have seen in print, and eX
preSSionS of opinion of members of the
city government that have come to our
ears, it is very apparent that what the
Auditorium Pipe Organ association is
asking Of the mayor and council is mis-
understood. This is a matter of purely.
public concern and not in the interest
of single private person or enterprise
For this reason the executive commit
tee of the association deem il wise and
necessary that the exact facts should
through the public press. The assccia-
ton has presented to the mayor and
council two petitions one praying for
the passage of q resolution authorizing
the mayor to enter into a contract with
the association providing only for the
following:
l. The privilege of putting a pipe or
gan in the Auditorium to be worth not
less than $4,000
?. That the organ shall be owned and
controlled by the association.
3. That it may be removed at the
end Of twenty years by the associa-
ton.
4 That it may be placed as agreed
by the undersigned committee and the
committee on buildings of the city. and
II they can not agree, then by the city
engineer.
5. That it shall be done at the ex-
pense of the association.
8. That the city shall furnish an
! electrical current from the city plant
to run it, and the wiring be done under
/ the direction OF the city expert electri-
elan, and superintendent of the city cleo
trio light plant.
4 That the receipts for the use of
the organ shall go to the association
to pay for it and it's maintenance
s. That the city reserve the right to
regulate the price for the use of the
organ to the end that the same shall
be reasonab bic.
If the proposed contract contains
3
aware of it, and the undersigned would
be pleased to have any person call our
attention to a word or clause that
means more or less than the above. So
far as we are aware, only two objec-
lions have been raised to this c6fItract.
1t is on file and in the hands of the
ways and means committee, and we in
vite all interested to examine it. We
would like to have it printed in full,
/ but on account of its length, it would
be impracticable to do so. One objec-
ton is the clause relating to the right
/ of removal This clause we inserted
! for the protection of the city only. The
association is not asking for it. AS
/ members of the committee we are will
/ ing TO have it stricken out. but as citi-
zens and taxpay ers, we urge that it re-
main. The organ will no doubt have a
mortgage on it. 1t might be held to be
a part of the building. if the right of
! removal was not reserved. 1t will he
/ owned by the association, with this
/ clause in the contract. and could not be
claimed to be n part of the building
The members OF the association Will