Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-07-12
THE FIRE MEETING.
Considerable Interest Shown
But Nothing Done.

Fire Chief Williams stated the object
of the meeting. Stated different prop
ositions that had been offered the fire.
men for new hall. The Akerson build
ing at 81 800, the lots where the Rath-
bun building is located on the corner at
So, COO and the opera house property.
The firemen favored the opera house
proposition for fire hall, opera house
Jail etc
Chairman Wearne called for general
discussion.
Mr.. Goodwin made proposition OF
so, 900 for the other lots where the other
Rathbun building is located.
The report of the committee on esti-
mate of the value of the opera house
property. The report was made by p.
j. Roth and w. H. Chard.
The firemen believe that they can
take the opera house put it in good con
dition, get good companies, they can
put In 5000 and they ask the citizens
of Webster to loan the fire department
So, 900 at a reasonable rate of interest.
The property to belong 10 tine fire
department as whole and TO remain
so as long as the city maintains a fire
department.
Mr.. L. G.. Levoy said he was in favor
of the building of an opera house and
city hall, and was i'll favor of the fire
department hall, but was not i'll favor
of the old building as an old building
fixed over was always an old building
He said Mr.. Laid would sell his corner
lots for 81 800 and that building could
be built for So, 800 out of cement, He
said from what he had learned of the
opera house proposition would cost
$14, 600 and that interest would come TO
about 81, 600 and the city paid but $500
per year remainder would have TO come
from entertainments. Did not believe
in putting fire hall in the middle of the
block. Mr.. Williams said one of the
reasons for the fire department desiring
the present opera house was to avoid
competition in the opera house business.
Mr.. Levoy said if there was to be any
competition in the opera house business
he would favor leaving the opera house
feature alone and building fire hall
and city hall alone TO be the property
of the fiie department. of the City of
Webster.
Mr. Knapp was one of the com mittee
of the fire department. He believed
the opera house could be put III good
condition. The opera house can be
bought for sc, 500 acd according to Con-
tractor Helligso said it could be put IN
condition for 81 coo.
Mr.. Potter asked for information and
Mr.. Williams explained 1t in full.
Mr.. Meyer contended that cement
building was not what represented TO
be. Thought the opera house con.
sidered from all points was the best
proposition, and the location was worth
a 81 900 more than the Ladd property
The Akerson property was better than
the Ladd property. Cement blocks
were total failure.
Mr. Potter wanted to know if the fire
department was willing to go into any
other proposition than the opera house
property.
Mr.. Williams answered that the fire
department was willing to change its
mind but at present there was but the
one proposition.
Mr.. Levoy took up the cement block
business and defended it, Said the
Curtis & Dyke lots could be purchased
for g, 500
Mr.. Andrew Small said this was not
a proposition of any other site than the
opera house, but proposition of
whether the people of Webster would
loan the fire department $1,000. Gave
some information as regards the con-
struction of the opera house.
Mr.. Paul Gruby said if the fire depart
ment wanted to build building it
should be left to the fire department
The selection of a location had killed
an opera house some years ago.
Mo-ed by Mr. Williams "that it is
the sense of this meeting that the citi-
zens of Webster aid the fire department
to the extent OF $1,000 as loan for the
selection of an opera house site for fire
hall, opera house etc."
Mr.. Dunton at present was not in
favor Of the opera house proposition at
the present time. Wanted an expert to
come and make an estimate upon what
it would cost to remodel the opera house.
Would chip in for an architect to come
and make the estimate, however would
abide by majority decision.
@. A. Wells stated that some time
since that carpenters figured on the
opera house and that 1t would cost more
to put in repair than it was worth.
Mr.. Bates stated that he was one of
the committee from the fire depart
ment and that they had secured esti-
mates on brick. stone work, etc.
Mr.. Gruby favored bulldog the new
building on Main street.
Chairman Wearne said the fire