The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-05-25
TO "A PRIVATE CITIZEN"

Your failure to sign your name to
the letter appearing in one of the
local papers last week can only be
attributed to a desire on your part TO
misrepresent the City Council and the
local company of the South Dakota
National Guard without shouldering
the responsibility. Under ordinary
circumstances | would not have con-
sidered it necessary to answer an an
onymous letter, but in order TO correct
any injury you may have done in Civ
ing the public a false idea of condi-
tons, I will attempt to give you the
plain truth concerning the matter.
When the proposition Of a bond
issue for a new City Hall was first
advanced, on behalf of the local com
pany, which is badly cramped for
room in its present quarters, | took
the matter up with the Mayor and
City Council, Offering to take a five or
NtI CoIo ltaot u a pm VI lllC
new building providing the bond is
sue was approved by the citizens. the
lease TO be at $4,000 per year and
to be paid entirely by the state of
South Dakota. In your letter you
~insinuate that there was considerable
doubt as TO the ability of the National
Guard to pay the rent offered, but
I am of the opinion, laat, had YOU
taken the trouble 10 interview the
owner of the building We are at pres
ent quartered in you would not have
made such a misleading statement.
alter the election and successful
! passage of the new city hall DO lds,
the Mayor and City Council chose an
| architect and took up the matter of
plans for the building. At the meet
ing on May 18th, the proceedings of
which are a public record and open
to the inspection of all who desire in
formation at first hand or the subject,
there was considerable discussion as
to whether or not there would be
| space available for the company. The
Council decided then. that if there
were sufficient floor space, TO accom-
modate the National Guard. The
chairman Of the committee OH build
ings was Sent to Huron to interview
the architect and returned with the
report that there would not be a suf-
fcient amount of floor space TO &C
commodate the company.
Almost without an exception City
Halls are erected for the purpose Of
housing the City officers, and provid-
ing a large assembly room for public
meetings of different kinds, and in
the case of cities of the size Of Brook
ings to provide quarters for the Fire
Department.
The National Guard asked for the
use of the large assembly room and
for the exclusive use of rooms for
stroage purposes, office room and
toilet arrangements. The cost to the
City of the light, heat and water,
could not at the most liberal estimate
exceed $500. per year, leaving 5000.
per wear, which would V the in
terest on $4,000. an amount far in eX-
cess of the cost of the portion OF the
building the National Guard desired
for it's exclusive use.
There is no organization more
worthy of the best the City a pro
vide than the Volunteer Fire Depart
ment but your insinuation that they
would be given less than the neces-
sary amount of space by reason OF
the National Guard occupying the
building is entirely without founda-
ton, as you can learn to your salts
faction by interviewing any Of its
members who have assisted the City
Council in providing plans for the
building.
You fear that the architectural
beauty of the building would be de-
stroyed. but had you taken the trouble
to look into the matter you would
have discovered that absolutely no
change in the exterior of the building
would have been required had the
National Guard been accommodated.
From the general tone Of your
letter, YOU evidently join in the opin-
ion of a certain class of people whose
dearest wish is to abolish the Ma
tional Guard, as we'll as the Regular
Army, hence your interest in the mat
ter.
II have not made myself plain 70
you, and II you question the truth OF
my statements I will be pleased to
answer any signed communication.
II. r. Jensen,