The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-24
Topeka The FIRST
Only City in United States to
Own an Organ.
Common in Europe for Munich
pality to Possess Instruments.
HAVE PAID ORGANISMS
They Are Also Officials of the
Cities.
Considers Ownership of Organ
as Boon to Topeka.
HAVE PAID ORGANISMS

| II think Topeka Is to be congratula-
| ted on being the first city in the entire
| United States to have a municipality
owned organ. Among the old centers of
| learning in Europe this custom is pre-
| dominant but Topeka is the first city
| in the United States to have a pipe
| organ Of her own
These were the remarks which greet
ed a reporter for the State Journal as
| he stepped into the Auditorium this
week and found Prof. F. T. Miner
an organist of high repute in Chicago
trying his hand on Topeka's great or
gan, though the pipes were under can
vas for the Midwinter exposition
Il am heartily in favor of the Eur
| opean plan of having the cities own
| their organs and as they do In many
European cities of having the official
organist city officer"
Prof. Miner was loud in his enco-
miums on @Topeka's wonderful organ,"as
he frequently referred to the monster
kimball organ in the Auditorium, which
he numbered among the leading organs
of the United States. And then he COM
pared our organ with those Of other
cities in the United States and other
countries.
THE largest organ in the United
| States" said Prof Miner, lis the Or
gan in the cathedral at Garden City,
Long Island, which was built as a me-
| mortal to A. T. Stewart, the million
aire merchant prince of America. The
pipe organ in the Jesuit cathedral at
| San Francisco was the second largest
| in this country until that instrument
was destroyed in the big earthquake.
Following this organ comes the one in
| the Pittsburg cathedral which was
| erected by the same builders as the
| Topeka organ and also the famous Or
| gan in the Mormon temple at Salt Lake
City Topeka's organ ranks right
| among these which I have mentioned
1.-THE largest organ in the world is
| the organ which was built few years
| ago at Sidney, in New South Wales.
This organ is located in the city hall
| and is operated in way similar to the
| Topeka organ. In this organ there are
12S speaking registers. The organ was
| built by Hill & Co. of London and was
| formally dedicated a few years ago by
| the late w T. Best, of Liverpool, who
| was one of the best known organistS
| in the world. ssee-
There seems to be general misap-
prehension as to the efficiency of an Or
gan Of American make when compared
| to those of European manufacture.
! However, when the organs of the two
| different makes are placed to the same
| advantages and are given the same
tests it will be found that the Ameri-
| can instruments excel, and that our
| organs are far ahead in the different
/
gan"
| Prof Miner talked very entertain
| ingly in regard to the organs in use III
| America, France and England. He
| has had ample opportunity to become
| acquainted with the various organs in
| use in all these countries. as he has
spent considerable time travelling in
| Europe and is man not only famed
| as musician but one who is acquaint-
ed with all the minute details of an
| organ From his experience with in
| struments in foreign countries, Mr..
| Miner did not hesitate to pay a high
| com pliment to the workmanship OF
| the American organs.
The advantages which will accrue to
Topeka in musical and educational
way were subjects upon which Mr..
Miner delighted to talk. In fact he
pointed to the organ and stated that
| in his estimation it would not be long
until this would cause Topeka to DE
looked upon as one of the leading mu-
steal centers of the country.
Prof Miner is an expert engaged by
the Kimball company. He came here
not only to suggest to the directors.
with whom he held several meetings
this week, methods for paying for the
source of pleasure and culture that
exists in our organ. but of which To-
peka has not fully taken advantage.
He says there is something more and
far beyond, as noted in his talk. than
the mere purchase of the instrument.
He left here for Salt Lake City. but
hopes to return within a week or two
and show Topeka further points of
advantage in her possession of a great
organ.