The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-02-08

To the Honorable the Common Council
and Hoard 81 Estimates % the city
or Derrufr. Mfcff- =. = 81.
CONFERENCE.-The nndersigned. having
heen appointed by the B0ard of Trustees
Of the Detroit Museum OF Art, as a Com
mittee on building plans for our new sic
on Woodward avenue. present the Tot
lowing facts aud conditions TO your fioii-
Grafton. namely:
Certain citizens OF Detroit have con-
tributed a fund for the purchase OF y
new site, 20 NJ used as and for o Sehonl
OF Design and OF Fine Arts, and Crafts;
4 combined Music. and Arts Lecture
Hall: and Fine Arts Museum; all 10
be adequate IN size for a city OF NIL
lion inhabitants, such as Detroit is rap
idly becoming This site contains eight
and One-half acres I'm area, having SIX
hundred feet frontage on Woodward
avenue, from Farnsworth 20 Kirby ave-
teen feet To John r. street. The many
large trees now on this land furnish
Beautiful setting for such buildings.
Also. other citizens OF Detroit have
heen encouraged BY this purchase, 10
raise since then. by subscription. fund
for the expense OF running such an Art
and Craft school as Is above outlined,
total sum of over Twenty Five Thousand
Dollars. and are In need OF our proposed
school building, TO begin operations.
Also. We believe that II Detroit will
erect on this site freproof. and other
wise appropriate building. for housing
valuable ART objects. II will encourage
gifts To our museum; such AS have FOL.
lowed the erection OF safe and beautiful
structures In other American citics.
namely: Boston. New York. Washing
ton Buffalo, Cleveland. Cincinnati Tolc-
do. Chicago. Milwaukee, st. Louis and
other cities. SO that our citizens viii also
he induced thereby TO give 10 us some
of their art treasures. and money for
endowment. and picture buying funds; nil
lClDinR O elevate the arr ltmOSnhcrC o.
this community.
We deem Il emlnenty proper, that the
City OF Detroit should furnish the money
needed tor erecting such buildings: and.
to this end. we do recommend that the
total sum of One Million Dollars be fixed
upon, az needed for such purposes.
W Ia not necessary that all he erected
at one time. az the plan OF construction
will provide for the erection OF portions
OF these needed bui' dngs, from time -
tlf4fe us and when needed, beginning with
the school az above outlined. and we
believe that the sum OF Three Hundred
Thousand Dollars Is sufficient to proper
ly begin such work
And while we recognize that the press
ing need OF more public school houses,
(which has been hitherto prevented by
the reasons OF the low bounding limit OF
this city, should take precedence In Inn
portancc to our building plans, We do
respectfully suggest that our needs be
also given consideration. at the same
time: and, il Il Is possible 10 do SO be
incorporated In the general plan which
your Honorable Body Is are working AT
TO get the money so badly needed Tor our
long delayed public improvements.
Because the earlier we can erect the
first nsta'lment OF the proposed build
ings. just so much earlier can this Art
and Craft School begin It's work. OF edu-
eating our young people: and We can
hardly expect liberal gifts OF art OBJ
jocts from our citizens. until after we
have provided a safe and beautiful home
tc put them IN.
Respectfully submitted.
WIN. &. WEBER,
&. A. BLACK
WILLIAM H. MURPHY,
Committee.
Referred to Committee on Ways and
MnnnQ