The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-03-20
COMMERCIAL C!lb
MONTHLY MEETING
is HELD ON FRIDAY EVENING,
DESPITE WEATHER AND
THE "PRINCESS"
QUESTION Of CITY PARK IS DISCUSSED
In Connection With the Opening of
Main Street on the North-BuiId-
ing and Loan Assn Needed

The regular monthly meeting of the
Commercial Club of Brookings was
held at the assembly hall on Friday
evening. The weather was beaStly, a
regular blizzard being in progress and
there was also a show on at the opera
house, so between the two the attend
ance was only fair.
The meeting was called promptly at
eight o'clock and only an hours ses-
sion was held, to accommodate those
who wished to see The Balkan Prin-
cess"
President Hall discussed the rail
road situation to some extent and
stated that he had been in communica-
ton with President Luce of the cleo
trio line company, which is going to
build a road from Minneapolis to
Watertown. Mr.. Hall suggested to
him that the line be extended from
Marshall to Brookings and south to
Sioux Falls, a line that would run
through a rich farming country and
have but little competition. Mr.. Luce
seemed to be favorably impressed
with the value of such a line and wrote
Mr.. Hall that he would be here in the
utdl luluIt W uloOuoS LhO IidlIC az
greater length. Watertown seems to
be satisfied that the Luce line will be
built and the company is said to have
a good deal of money behind it. The
line from Mai shall to Brookings and
then south over the old electric line
grade, would certainly be a big ad-
vantage to Brookings, and it is GER
tain that if Mr.. Luce is ready to do
business Brookings people will not
pass a road up, as they did once to
their sorrow, but will grab it quick.
The president mentioned the move
ment on foot to open the street
through at the north end of Main
street, and said that through the CO.
operation of the council and club that
this would probably be brought about.
w. L. Paul owns the lots at the end of
the street, and it is understood that
they are for sale at a reasonable
figure.
Mr.. Hall, in mentioning the Jpening
of the street, stated that Brookings
should have a city park and some
where in that vicinity would lie a good
location. 1t would lie well, he thought,
to get a site while land was cheap and
before all of the desirable places had
been cut up into building lots. Mr..
Hall said that President Slagle had
assured him hat the people of the
city were welcome to use the fine big
college grove at any time, and per-
haps some of the band concerts next
summer will be held there. DR.. Hyde
endorsed the city park idea and recon-
mended the Hughson property, south
re +bo rai1rNod trnnk &c q Onn6 site
He stated that Brookings eventually
would have to build a ward school in
that section Of tie city and it would
be we'll to secure land for both pur-
poses at once.
The president stated that the club
had appropriated the sum of 500 for
the benefit of the public library. This
money will be used to buy new books
and the council has appropriated a
like sum to pey the running expenses
of the library for the next few months.
The questi n of supporting the library
by direct taxation will be voted upon
by the people of the city at the coming
spring election. If the taxpayers ex-
press their desire to support it by di-
rect taxation an effort will be made to
get a Carnegie library here. Mr.. Car
negie stands ready to give $4,000 for
the library, provided the people of any
town guarantee to provide about $500
a year for its support. The sentiment
of the people of the city seems to
favor supporting the institution by d.
rect tax and if this carries at the
April election we will have a Carnegie
library within a year..
Mr. Hall said That tharo woe avarv
prospect that the coming season
would witness a great building boom
in Brookings. The most important
structure to be put up here will, of
course, be the new post office building,
which will cost $4,000, but there will
be considerable other building done
around the city. The prospects are
good for the erection Of on1 or two
business blocks, and a large number
of houses will be built. The new build
ing at the college, which will cost
over 100000. 90, will be COM
pleted in July and the legislature that
just adjourned appropriated 1000 to
be expended on the hill this year. This
isn't anywhere near what the legisla-
ture should have given, but, as the old
maid said, every little bit helps" In
connection with the building prospect,
Mr.. Hall recommended that the club
endeavor to get a building and loan
association organized here. An asso-
citation of this kind would be a big help
to the city, as it would enable a large
number of worthy people to build and
own their own homes. There was
such an organization here several
years g and it proved to be a profit.
able investment for all who were in
terested in it. Prof. Kerr who was
connected with it, stated that one-
third of the older houses in the city
were built by the association and that
its workings had been very satisfac-
tory to all concerned. The president
appointed a committee, a majority Of