The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-09-03

/. In 1889.
er il the Chautauqua could be instru-
mental in building q building for this
purpose, / think it would be desira-
BILE thing. especially II It be done with
out one cent cost to the city.
At present the Chautauqua has to
its credit for that purpose $4,000 in
cash and equipment amounting to
some $500 more.
There has also been much said as
to the location Of the building Per-
sonally ! think it should be placed in
the meadow just north OF the grounds
now occupied by the Chautauqua. 1t
should be made of steel and concrete
Of modern architecture and up to
date in every particular. wish to
call your attention to that part of the
park now coupled by the Chautauqua.
Eight years ago when the Chautauqua
first located there. the grounds and
grass were in very bad condition. A
portion of the ground was used as a
city dump and was SO unsightly and
smelled SO badly that the ChautauQua
management was compelled to have
the rubbish removed at their own ex.
pense. After each Chautauqua the
management has the grounds thor
oughly raked and leveled and grass
seed sown, consequently today that
part Of the park Is in much better con-
dition than 1t was eight years ago
Did the reader ever take notice to that
part of the park now fenced in for
Chautauqua purposes 1t contains less
than one fifteenth OF the park and has
not spring, nor a flower, nor a
bench. nor an improved drive or road
Of any kind in 1t, and generally speak
ing is neglected to q greater or less
extent by the park management
Some knockers have said that driv-
ing Of nails In the trees to support
the electric wires will eventually kill
the trees. This Is not true. Some fruit
men even drive nails in the fruit
trees claiming that it 10 beneficial to
the trees and crop.
An article appeared in the evening
paper few nights ago in reference to
the steps recently made near, the
Chautauqua grounds. The facts are
that the Chautauqua management ID
responsible for these steps A voucher
for $4,000 can be shown which paid
for the cement and labor on the steps
There has been much said about
the right that the Chautauqua has in
occupying this one-flfteenth Of the
city park for ten days and the mayor
has been quoted az saying that the
Chautauqua has no more right to oc-
cupy this than circus Now do not
believe the mayor said any such
thing. The right claim we have 10
that we are citizens OF Richmond and
have paid the tax to buy and improve
the park and make 1t possible for the
citizens OF Richmond to take advant-
age each year approximately Of 5000
OF literary talent at a very nominal
cost. I hear some one say Talent
How about Billy Sunday?" The writer
did not hear Billy Sunday and IL not
in a position to say, but he ventured
the statement that the average knock
or on Billy Sunday cannot get Is cents
0A AOOA AOI HE oCOCA III IAIA III LIAQ0
before an audience while on the other
hand Billy Sunday can readily get
from $3.50 to $500 an hour. Why did
the Chautauqua management bring
Billy Sunday to Richmond? The an
swer is because the people OF Rich
mond wanted to hear him. This is
very plainly evidenced by the record
breaking crowd which sat and lis
tened to him through his entire lect-
ure. II they did not want to hear him
why did they come? Ninety per cent
knew he was going to speak.
II the citizens of Richmond think
that the Chautauqua is bad thing,
drive 1t out OF the park and they will
kill It. In conclusion l have this re-
quest to make. that COMMITTEES con-
sisting OF the board OF public works.
three or more city councilmen, three
or more of the Business club, three or
more Of the Commercial club and
three or more OF the Chautauqua man
agement meet October /, on the
grounds now occupied by the Chautau.
qua and they can there decide II the
Chautauqua shall be allowed to use
the Glen in the future. NY Judgment
10 that to drive the Chautauqua out Of
the Glen would be driving it out OF the
county.
r. sEDGwIcK.