The evening world., 1911-02-25
PLAN TO SAVE F.,
MADISON SQUARE
GARDEN TO CITY
Mn. j. Borden Hartman
Heads Committee to Estab-
fish 1t as "Civic Centre"
SCHEME OF WILCOX.
Head of Service Board Would
Have Labor and Capital
Unite in Control.
SCHEME OF l. c

n a plan which has been submitted
by the National civic Federation to a
committee headed by Mrs. J. Borden
Hartman and formed for the purpose OF
preserving Madison Square Garden is
accepted. New York will ave the larg-
est and most perfectly equipped Civic
Centre" of any city in the world.
The plan, which is the suggestion of
Chairman Wilcox OF the Public Service
Commission. in this connection. how
ever. he Is acting as chairman Of the
Welfare Department of The National
Civic Federation-provides for the
ownership and operation of the Garden
by labor and capital comparatively, and
primarily for its purchase by philan-
thropy.
Mrs. Hartman called a meeting of
public spirited citizens and representa-
tives of social, philanthropic and civic
organizations at the Colony Club. and
an outline OF the plan, prepared by Miss
Gertrude Beeks, Secretary of the Ma
tional Civic Federation, was turned over
TO the following committee:
Mrs. Hartman Mr.. Wilcox. Bronson
Winthrop, W. Fellowes Morgan. G.
Grant La Fargo, DIR. Edward Devine.
Walter u. Maynard. Mrs. Walter c.
NIulllner, DR.. Albert Shaw and Timothy
aiealy.
Need Of Civic Centre.
"My interest in the preservation OF
the Garden" Mr.. Wilcox said to an
Evening World reporter. dates from
hac ~ tlax ,rha, I ,alI.J ,ha a,,a,tI,p
OF the Federation to the city's need for
q great industrial and civic centre. The
garden subsequently was offered for
sale for 5000. 900. and his made an
opportunity for public spirited men to
agitate a movement for its use as a
recreation centre for labor. This agita-
ton has been kept alive by the Wei
rare Department, and at present there
Is Q strong general sentiment In favor
OF the preservation Of the building.
In the plan which We have sub
mitted we give three uses for the
Garden-aS a recreation centre for
iaSe, rur various purposes 10y the cit
and for the public in general. But we
arc In favor of the purchase OF the
Garden by p%hllanthrop frst-not by
charity. mind you. but by public spir-
tied men and corporations which EN-
plo large numbers of men and women
and. second. by the city. | am not
speaking with any authority. but | do
not think the city will buy IL.
The Welfare Department ~ anxious,
first Of all. Il preserve the Garden as
q recreation centre for labor. with the
active participation of the city's lead
ing employers. We go on the theory
that the best way for labor and capt.
tai to establish an understanding is to
seek to realize each Others needs. The
existence OF such a civic centre would
go a long way. | think, toward estab-
fishing such an understanding.
Diverse R~ecreations.
we would want the Garden TO hold
ali manner of recreation features-dance
halls, moderate priced restaurants, NOV
Ing picture theatre, concert hall, gym
nasium, offices of all descriptions, club
rooms for labor unions, headquarters Of
all kinds of benefit associations of pub
lie employees. such as policemen. post
men and the Ike.
All Of these offices would be paid for,
at the minimum of course, hut we have
figured IL out and VIC believe that in
this way the Garden could he made self.
supporting. And OF course there woull
be no need to exclude the horse show.
the automobile show, the circus and
the Otner SHOWS NNlrh come annually.
On the contrary all these would hello us.
Our report says that there are three
Ways by which the Garden may be pre-
served for the public. First, for the
city to purchase and own it, second for
the city and the trustees OF the Garden
to contribute jointly toward the pur-
chase price, and third by popular sub
sc-iption. The last seems to me the
best
j. c. Young, secretary Of the Madison
Square Garden Company, in a letter to
Miss Beeks. wrote that in his opinion
to make the Garden self-suppurting and
yield four per cent. on the amount in
Vested It will be necessary first to pay
off the second mortgage bonds, which
are 9 per cent, and second 10 alter the
Madison Square end of the building.
lake out the concert han and theatre
and make three large floors there.