The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1914-01-13
PUBLIC AUDITORIUM
A Very Encouraging Meeting of
Citizens at the Commercial
Club Rooms.

A very satisfactory meeting of Gill
zens was held at the Commercial club
rooms last evening, the purpose being
to discuss the matter of u gymnasium
and auditorium in connection with
Central school building. There were
present between 80 and 100 citizens.
Geo. R. Farmer. president of the
board Of education, brought the
proposition before the meeting, giving
some of the details which have been
discussed Mt meetings of the school
board. The proposition as presented
by Mr.. Farmer is to issue bonds to
the amount of perhaps SEQ, 900 tor the
J proposed structure. the building to be
80 by 100, basement to be used for
public auditorium, assembly room for
students and various other purposes.
1t is not presumed that $50. 900 would
be entirely snficient. but the school
boards finances are in such excellent
condition that IS, 900 or more could be
taken from their funds for furnishings
and other necessary equipment.
supp = L. Ihdy tlSSB~Scd tuc AccdS
of the improvement, showing it's neces-
sity from u sanitary viewpoint--inas.
much as the present Central building
WAS built a number of years ago and is
not up to standard of the present
day in sanitary appointments. He
also pointed out that the school was
destitute of a proper assembly room,
nor a place for holding public enter
tainments incident to the school. it
being necessary to pay rent for a room
for such purposes at this time. Also
that rent is being paid for use OF the
Evangelical church opposite Central
building, and that altogether rent to
the amount of nearly $500 a year is
being paid out under present condi-
tions. This would go a long way to.
ward paying interest on the proposed
bonds.
The matter then received general
discussion by members of the meeting.
various suggestions being made, even
to the extent of issuing bonds to the
smount CT $50, 900 for an entirely new
high school building. But the more
conservative ones were inclined to
look with favor upon the proposition
rs outlined by Mr.. Farmer as presi-
dent of the board Of education. How
ever, it seemed to be the sense of the
meeting that the requirement of ad-
jscent land for school purposes would
be a proper thing to do. to the extent
of acquiring the entire block in which
Central building is situated.
There is no doubt that a public
auditorium such as is proposed would
be a source of profit to the city of
Madison at large. besides relieving the
congested condition of the city schools.
For instance, such meetings as the
farmers institute soon to be held in
the city could be held in the audi
torium without expense to the bust
ness men in the way Of rental such
as is o the case. Besides, il the
city were possessed of an auditorium
g. ate meetings of various nature could
be accommodated in the city and would
not only be a benefit to the city bat re-
turn a profit slso. During the year
1913 over three hundred public meet
ings, such as political conventions,
church conferences, lodge meetings.
etc, we're held in the state. While
Madison received perhaps n of the
very most important of these-the
inter national conference of the Ger
man Baptist church-others of i'm
portance might have been located
here had the city been able to pro-
vide a suitable auditorium.
The sentiment at the meeting last
evening was most encouraging, and it
is more than likely that the PROPOSE
tion discussed will be- placed before
the voters at the approaching spring
election.
49,