The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1907-10-03
COMMERCIAL
CLUB MAY BUILD
PERMANENT HOME FOR THE CLUB
A Plan on Foot to Erect Large Build.
ing TO Accommodate Fruit Fair
and Commercial Club.

A special meeting OF the CONNER
cial club directors was held at the club
rooms Monday evening to consider
proposition from j. Il. Nichols to
lease the second story Of his new build
ing to the club for term of years.
While the matter OF securing better
quarters for the club met with unani-
nous favor, 1t was the sentiment that
the matter be taken up on a broader
scale and unite the several organiza-
tions In building large building, in
a favorable location, which would ac-
commodate them all, ami be for the
best interests of the CITY and country.
1t has been the opinion for some
time that the fruit fair should be held
annually, instead of every two years,
and that a permenent building be
erected which could be used for the
fair, a convention hall or auditor
ium, home for the Commercial
club, the Business Mems Protective
assocition, etc. To that end a COM
mittee was appointed by President
Davidson to canvass the matter and
see il the undertaking could not be
carried out in manner which would
meet all requirements.
lt was the opinion of those present
that the two corner lots opposite the
Waucoma hotel would be the best To-
cation for such building, as it is
close to the depot, the hotels, and the
center of the business district. The
grade of Second street going down to
the depot is steep enough to give
tull story in the basement, with q
front on Second street, and room
could lbe made for exhibition pur-
poses about 100 by l25 feet, which
would he we'll lighted and OF ample
proportions. The first fiooi could be
rented for business purposes, end
help secure revenue sufficient with
rents from the fair and Commercial
club to pay the interest and retire
the bonds in q term of years. The
second floor could be made into an
opera house and auditorium, besides
quarters for the Commercial club, and
other organizations of similar or pub.
lie character.
1t is proposed to merge the fair as
sociation, the merchants association,
the Commercial club and the corpora.
tion recently formed, called the Hood
River Development Co., into one or
ganization, for the purpose of the
building, and unite all interests into
the one great object of providing a
home which will result In great good
to all. IL will be project in which
the country will be interested equally
with the city. The fair association
has spent from $500 to $500 every time
fair was held In putting up a tenn
porary structure. IL that money
could 60 towards the maintenance OF
a fine building, much better results
could be obtained at no greater ex-
pense than is biennially incurred,
while the quarters could be used at
all times for other purposes.
Good building sites are being rap
idly picked up, and the price is ad-
vancing every year. Now Is the time
to secure suitable place, and 1t
should be done. The time has come
for the holding Of an annual fruit
fair, and permanent building is
needed for the purpose. Hood River
has long needed an auditorium or
convention hall for general assem-
blies, and now Is the time to secure
one.
The undertaking is no small one,
and 1t will require the combined ef-
forts of ell interests, city and .coun-
try, to secure the funds necessary to
carry out the enterprise. 1t IL to be
hoped that 1t can be accomplished.
At the meeting committee was ap-
pointed, consisting of j. l.. Hender-
son, Frank A. Cram and q. ID. Wood
worth, to request the coancil to place
several lights on the east eide giade
to light the road at night, as there
are many dangerous PLACES on the
grade, and the evenings will soon be
short. The matter Of more hitching
places for teams will also be consid-
cred, and 1t was suggested that the
directors of the Apple Growers Sup
ply Co. be asked to allow racks and
sheds to be placed on their property,
and that they be put up by the city.
IL the Davidson lots be secured for
the purpose OF building. 1t will be
necessary to remove the racks now on
that ground, and another place must
be secured. The present racks are not
sufficient now to accommodate the
teams on busy day, and more room
must be secured.