The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1915-02-25
PALACE
BOARD RETAINED
PRACTICALLY WHOLE COMMIT
TEE REELECTED AT ANNUAL
MEET OF SUBSCRIBERS
LAST NIGHT.

members OF the Corn Palace eXecu-
tive committee for 1915, at the an
nual meeting of the festival contrib
utors, held in the city hall auditorium
Mr.. Kurvink is the only new member
of The committee.
Although Mr.. WEIGH and Mr..
Wheeler voiced their desire to re-
tire from the management of Corn
Palace affairs, Mr.. WEIGH after sew
Ell years of service and Mr.. Wheeler
after -four years as secretary, their
protests were unavailing. Mr.. Patton
attempted to decline another election
but his protests were drowned out
by calls for the putting of the ques-
ton.
The contributors to the 1914 fund
were called to order about 1880
O'Clock, following the dinner, by p.
III. Kelley, president of the CONNER
cial club. He introduced Pres. WEIGH,
of the Corn Palace committee, who
in turn called upon Treasurer Pat
ton for his annual report.
The report of the treasurer shows
a balance of cash on hand of S599.34
with $1,000 In the building fund. the
most prosperous condition that has
yet existed. On January 16, 1914,
there was a balance on hand of $197.-
80 with $1,000 in the building fund.
Receipts in addition to the above dur
ing the year were interest, S440.S3;
subscriptions, ~$5,734.5O; sale of
tickets, $~10,455.25; inside space,
5000: sale of corn. $175; sale of
wood $3.50; city for lighting
streets, $1,000, making a total of
$40 ,096.3S.
The cost of preparing the building
last fall amounted to ~$3.627.40. The
attractions cost $~6,T46.26 and the
advertising, $1,920.S5. Other items
of disbursements were agricultural
exhibits, ~$573.90; Illuminating and
lighting $553.05; watchmen and
gatemen, $4,000; miscellaneous,
%S706.3S; insurance $20S.70.
In a brief verbal report, Secretary
:, Wheeler declared that the chief prob
lem was that of attractions, that tho
festival of 1914 had been very strong
in some attractions and weak il
others. He stated that the one fea-
ture which had escaped criticism
was the band. He called attention to
the fact that $4,000 had been added
to the building fund, although there
had heen a decrease in subscriptions
"Some attractions look awfullN
good on paper and in theaters," sale
President WEIGH, "but are a disma
failure when they reach the stage o
the Corn Palace. We, as a commit
tee, are we'll aware when an attrac
ton falls down, but it is the hardes
thing in the world to engage one tina
will look as good on our stage as i
does when we book it.
"In comparing the cost of upkeel
and the decoration, it is apparen
Ithere has been a great reduction. IL
John Michels. more than anyone els,
is due this saving. 1t also might b.
we'll to call attention to the fact tina
in eigh years we have come from {
ldeticit of $4,000 to a margin o
$1,000 a gain OF nearly 100000
Upon motion of T. G. Burns, Pres
ident Kelley appointed as member
of the nominating committee S. I'll
Scallin, Robert Burns, F. M. CLANCY
A. B. Darling and w. II. King. Thu
report of this committee as giyel
above, was unanimously accepted
and the committee elected. BY vir
tue of his office Thomas Eastcott
city auditor, also is a member.
DR.. f. ID. Gillis read a letter from
Mayor A. e. Hitchcock, chairman o
1.-THE Corn Palace building committee
as the report of that body. In his let
ter, the mayor declared that the con
sensus of opinion of the business mel
of Mitchell was against a campaign
for raising FUNDS last fall, because
OF financial conditions. AS a means
of financing the building, Mr.. Hitch
cock suggested the organization o
a holding corporation and the sell
ing of stock at $40 a share. He als'
suggested that the site be chosen b.
u vote of the stockholders.
Urgent action in building a new
lCorn, Palace was suggested by Geo
Ia. SiIsby, who declared that the in
adequacy of the present structure
was responsible for the non-attend
ance of larger crowds. He also DE
clared for the building of the new
structure in the most accessible 10
cation. such as the present one, II
view of the advertising value OF tht
building and the need of ~attractlns
crowds.
81 believe it possible" said Mr.
Silsby, with the fands on hand, t'
buy a suitable site and finance thf
building of a new Corn Palace. Tn
patronage the project has enjoyed
year after year, is the best indication
we want that the people OF Soutf
Dakota appreciate the Corn Palace
and will give it their loyal support
Ii we get right at this, hammer ant
tongs, we can have a new Corn Pal
ace in 1916, as we'll as in 1920. l
has been figured out that we caI
pay for a building in twelve years
so why not put it up, go in debt, ane
have the use of it."
William M. Smith, called upon t.
express his views declared that Corr
Palace costing 100000 was out oil
the question and that he believed
conditions were not ripe for the IL
nancing of a project of any magni-
tude. He suggested that a committee
be appointed to figure out a cheaper
method of construction and to con
tinue the use of the present building
/ cC~ n N0or ri ca rE"