The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-11
DYING OF NEGLECT
TOpeka's Splendid MarshalI's
Band Seems Fated.
Support Authorized by Law Is
Withheld.
NO PLACE TO PLAY.
Ready to Furnish Music But
There Is.NO Stand.
One of Best Features Of City
Disintegrating.
Time for the People to Arise to
Situation.


TO extend financial support to make pos
sible free open air concerts IS being
awaited with inpatfence.
Every city of consequence in the west
makes arrangements for free open air
concerts in its parks during the heated
summer season. Topeka stands conspic-
uously out as one of the few which has
IA talented and wen equipped band but
fails to make use of its opportunity.
Topeka is loyal by spurts. Ii responded
nobly a little over a year ago when
called on to purchase instruments for
the band. At a cost of $4,000 it got the
finest set of instruments that are made
they were imported from world
famous house in London. After listen
ing to several concerts the public allow
ed the band to go off by itself and
practice over the pieces, which, by the
way, are seldom heard, down in hot
stuffy rooms at the headquarters of the
band. The band got out last summer
and under odds and difficulties gave
several concerts from the steps of the
state house, the most central location
in the city. The people came off from
their porches at home and from their
drives about the city dotted the
grounds OF the state house so thick that
it was almost solid mass of color.
open air concert.
Since then there hasn't been a free
open air concert. This buying of the
instruments and then failing to arrange
financial support so that the fnstru-
ments may be heard reminds one of the
man who was given a talent and then
buried it for fear he would lose it What
4 short sighted person that man was.
Though Marshalls men play because
of the love to play this stretches out
into their pockets in addition to pro-
viding the love, the time and in mann
tanning the conference of a band. And
this digging jown into their own poe ets
is not anything new or infrequent on
the part of Marshan's men
Under a special act of the legislature
passed in 1905 the. city of Topeka was
given the right to appropriate $25 for
each thousand population. from out Of
the general revenue fund. This would
amount to about 81 $50 on the basis Of
Topeka's population.
It does seem that an appropriation Of
some sort should be forthcoming from
the city Two cents and a half from
the forty-two thousand people of the
capital city for a band concert each
week certainly seems a small tax. It Is
safe to say that enough money was
spent on fireworks in Topeka on the
Fourth to provide a handsome income
to the band for several years to come.
And the noise was not the kind of noise
that is appreciated.
THE little money that we had saved
up is practically all gone" said John
Marshall, leader Of the band. Il was
promised faithfully that the city would
make an appropriation if that bill pass
ed the legislature. At first the council
demurred when urged to take I'D with
that bill but later they agreed to see it
through. It was only on condition that
/ would get that support that 1 accepted
the leadership of the band. I certainly
would not have taken up with it If I had
known that the promise would not be
kept. The council right afterwards in
the spring raised the salaries. They say
they didn't have the money to give to
the band but they managed to raise the
salaries OF the employees of the city.
I'VE would like to get out and give
some open air concerts. It has got so
that there IS nothing doing for the
band except to go down to the head
quarters and practice and a number of
our best soloists have left the city. We
couldn't hold them here. They would
have stayed if we had place to play
and support.
1--WE have not made any plans as to
locations for grand stands The city
park would be a good location. know
it is down in a part of the town that
is not desirable. but you accommo-
date a large crowd there and these
concerts should be given for the bene-
fit of the poor people who can not af-
ford to pay to listen to music. 1t
should be as much for them as anyone.
Band concerts would be given each
week. probably Friday evenings. A
good bandstand that would be perma-
nent would cost about $500. The band
stand at Garfield park is in good con-
dition, but people have to take a street
car to get there and they should not
be compelled to take the cars to get to
the band. For that reason Central
park is not desirable either. The state
house would prove a fine location"
1--WE simply want to get the council
to take the initiative" said L. NJ. Pen
well of the Commercial club commit
tee. There have been quite a number
of people asking why we didn't get the
band out. We have bought the instru-
m rents for them and we don't get q
chance to hear them. They practice
twice a week down in their rooms, but
there is no satisfaction in that The
band boys want to get out and play and
tn people want to hear them
I'VE have talked of several sites.
There is a small park on the east side,
there is the state house and then those
vacant lots al the corner OF Ninth and
Harrison streets If we could get the
use of those lots at Ninth and Harrison
at a reasonable figure 1 should think
that would be an ideal location.
'tNo street cars pass and there is no
interruption from that source Then
there is a fine place for vehicles to
stand and listen to the music and all
that open space across the street on the
state house grounds. It wouldn't be
Objectionable to the people in the
neighborhood. A bandstand that could
be taken down and moved, I don
think would cost to exceed $780,"
II would certainly be glad to help
the band but I don't see where the city
can get the money to do It with" said
Mavor Davis II have called on Gov
,rs
agree with the governor that there
doesn't seem to be any way BY which
we can erect bandstand on the
grounds at the state house without ir~