The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-07
PIPE ORGAN FUND.
Full Report Made on Condition
of the Finances.
There Is Still So, 900 Due on the
Price OF Organ.
HAVE A NEW PLAN.
Proposes to Bring a Series of
Three Concerts Here.
List of Those Who Have Sub
scribed for Tickets.


the pipe organ fund:
It is due the people of Topeka to
know the exact situation concerning
the Auditorium pipe organ.
It will be remembered that the Audi
forum Pipe Organ association was a
corporation that was formed at the
suggestion of the Commercial club, for
the purpose of promoting the pipe
organ enterprise. The membership Of
this corporation consisted of all per-
sons who contributed SIS or more. In
the way of subscriptions. When this
corporation was formed. something
like $500 was in the treasury, the pro-
ceeds of the Ed Howe lecture.
It was decided to raise as much
money as could be had by subscription
TO meet the first payment on the organ
committee was formed, and after
thoroughly canvassing the matter, they
succeeded in raising by subscription
about $4,000. It was thought that the
organ could be paid for, through en-
tertainments given in the Auditorium.
During the first season, the organ en-
tertainments netted $1,000. The
organ, be it remembered. cost $12, QUO,
and about $500 was necessary to put i'll
the foundation, and prepare the building
for it. The expense of putting in the
foundation and such Work as has been
done upon the stage, by the organ asso-
citation, amounting to about $500 has
bene paid out of the proceeds of enter
tainments, so that there has been real
lied about 1900 out of the entertain
ments, besides sufficient to pay the in
surance premiums upon the organ for
two years, which has amounted to $500
more. The premiums have been reduced
upon the insurance so that the annual
cost on the insurance is ABOUT S163.
The entertainments have been man
aged by an executive committee. con-
sisting of David Bowie, r. S. Crane and
the writer. The writer being chairman
of that committee, the principal man
agement has devolved upon him.
The association paid the Kimball COM
pany $4,000 in cash and gave mortgage
for the balance of $4,000. to become due
in two years. Not a cent has been paid
upon the mortgage or interest on the
same, since 1t was given The enter
tainments last year proved to be no
source of profit. The Lyceum course
yielded some revenues, but it was lost
upon the three concerts, Gadsl1i, Kube-
Xix and Nordica. The greatest loss be-
ing Occasioned by the last. We paid
Nordica 81, 500 and took in 81. $40. The
expense attending this concert was III
the neighborhood of $3.50 The net result
on the entertainments last season was
deficit of something like $500, after pay
ing the insurance. This year we have
realized enough out of the Lyceum
course to pay the deficit of last year
and now are about even again. The
finance committee reports that they
have exhausted their ingenuity in trying
to induce people to subscribe
The executive committee was unaccus-
toned to managing entertainments and
have profited somewhat by their exper-
fence. They are now resolved to make
no more contracts guaranteeing the
payment of any specified amount. This
course will not yield very large reve-
nues because the percentage demanded
by the greater attractions is very large
Plan to Raise $1,000.
The committee has decided to MT be-
fore the people of Topeka a proposition
by which they think that $1,000 can be
raised for the organ fund, if the people
will take hold of it in earnest.
They have contract with Mr.. Loudon
G. ~narlton, the leading New York i'm
persario, by which Mr.. Charlton enters
into a percentage contract upon certain !
conditions. He agrees to furnish what
is known as The Cycle Quartette. COM
nosed of Nine Piper, AS.11e. Katherine |
risk Kelly Cole and Francis Rogers.
Mrs. Fisk is somewhat known in Topeka !
and is prominent among American con-
traltos. Nine Piper is a young south |
ern singer, who has won great success
upon the concert stage. Kelly Cole is
one Of the famous tenors Of the country /
and Francis Rogers has won distinction /
at home and abroad as baritone OF
fine attainments.
This ouartette will make up one cor !
cert to come February 2
The second concert included in this !
scheme. is by the brilliant New Yorker
Nine. Hessen Demoss and Mile Ger
maine Schnitzer, a young Australian ,
MIA mist who within the past few weeks I
has duplicated in the east the phenon-
email successes won by her abroad she !
is A girl only 19 years old, but has play +
ed in the great musical centers OF Eur
ope and has received recommendation /
Al OF
pronounce her one of the greatest living I
pianists.
The third concert composes the emf
nent Belgian violinist, Caeser thomson
and Elsa Ruegger acknowledged to be
the greatest of women cellists. And
the fourth is the New York symphony
orchestra led by Walter Damrosch-
This talent if bought outright. would
cost 81. 600. Mr. Charlton makes the
proposition to your committee 70 sell
season tickets for this course for 80
for the first choice seats, next choice
S. so and the next 81 or $3.50. which
has not vet been determined. He gives
the committee until the 1st of January
to determine whether or not pledges
ran be secured from the people OF To-
peka. sufficient to justify giving these
concerts. His contract provides that all
the expenses shall first be paid out OF
the receipts. and as one item OF ex-
TALENT The profits above these ezpen-
ses. are to be divided by giving the
60 per cent and Mr. Charl-
fon ~ rer cent. We think that 500 IS
tickets should be subscribed in Topeka.
and 500 Of the $3.50 and 1000 of the $3.50
tickets. This would yield a profit to
the association of 81, 500. The committee
has determined to see what can be
lone between now and the first of jan
uary. about getting pledges for these
Single admission will be. for the
highest priced seats, 81 for the orches-
ira. and $50 for each of the others
If the people will take hold of this
proposition in earnest, we can repeat
the experiment each season and in a I
short time we can pay for the organ.
We are preparing pledge cards to be