Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-09-27
WANT $4,000 GIVEN
FOR MUNICIPAL BAND
OFFICIALS WILLING, BUT CITY
Is SHORT OF FUNDS
Paul de Longpre Urges That Musicians
Could Tour Part of Year, Adver-
Using Southern California
by Showing Views

Where can $4,000 be secured to pro-
vide a municipal band for Los An
geles?
This is the question that the finance
committee of the council has been con-
sidering several weeks, without reacnS
ing q conclusion. Out of the millions
paid In for taxes and licenses the adj
vocates of the municipal band, and
they are legion, believe the small sum
of $4,000 to provide for a band for an
entire year could be apportioned.
But the citys finances are in bad
way. Several departments are serious
" handicapped through lack or FUNDS,
and the members of the finance COM
mittee cannot reconcile themselves to
appropriating $4,000 for aesthetic pur-
poses when the money is so sorely
needed for such prosaic and practical
purposes as sweeping the streets or
providing a suitable hospital where the
desperately wounded may be taken for
treatment by the city's physicians.
In spite of the apparently hopeless
task of finding the money for a mu-
nicipal band this year the finance COM
mittee is still making an effort along
that line, and there is hope that the
money may be forthcoming from the
bridge fund The lowest bid for build
ing the Main street. badge was $4,000
less than the amount estimated, and
IL a proportionate reduction Is made
in the amount OF the bidsfor the Buena
Vista yiaduct, which Will cost mucn
more than the Main street bridge, and
for the Seventh street bridge is made,
ii Is possible the amount left on hand
in the bridge fund will go far toward
financing the municipal band. A lit
tie, but such o very little, could be
appropriated from the general fund.
This municipal band is the plan of
Paul de Longpre. and he has had the
ear of the mayor and the finance COM
mittee for several weeks on the mat
ter. The mayor is in hearty sympa-
thy with the plan. So are the members
Of the finance committee, but they are
cautious in their. expressions because
the question of funds is ever before
their eyes. The finance committee, the
mayor and Mr.. de Longpre have had
several consultations over the matter,
but with no definite results.
Mr.. de Longpre declares that $4,000
would provide splendid band for an
entire year, and that the per capita
tax would be but IL cents.
This municipal band would discourse
sweet strains all the year round in
Central park, or some other central
breathing spot, except about six weeks
in the year, when it would travel to
eastern cities ON concert tour. At
each performance ON this tour it is
the plan of Mr.. de Longpre to have
colored pictures of scenes from South
ern California exhibited by steropticon.
This he calls one Of the most high
class, artistic and proper ways of adj
vertising Los Angeles.
With a fine touch of sarcasm Mr..
de Longpre says we call Southern CAL
ifornia the Italy of America, and yet
there is nowhere Southern Californians
can go and hear high class music free,
although in Italy every little city has
its municipal band He believes that,
as Southern California has the sunny
italian skies and Italy's soft. balmy
air it should also have Italy's love of
music, fostered by q municipal band.