The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-22
LETTERS TO EDITOR
More About Auditorium the Editor of The Age Herald


 garding the building of an auditorium
 in Birmingham has been read and con.
 sidered. was called to conference
 this morning by one of the most typi. cal southern lawyers in your city or this matter. Men who have a passing acquaintance with me, men of affairs
 men who do things, men of force, have spoken to me, and urged the building
 of an auditorium.
 l must disclaim any intention of de- siring to lead any such movement. ] am practically stranger in your city. However, realize that an auditorium
 be built; that the building of such an
 auditorium must be paid for by the
 people of Birmingham. It makes no
 material difference In the end, whether
 the first cost comes from the public treasury in the form of a bond issue
 or is provided for through the form of certificates of indebtedness, subscribed for by the people who must finally put
 the money in the treasury of the city.
 1t is only a choice of ways to reach
 an end. Whatever burden there is
 must be borne by the people. What ever cost there is, must be paid by
 the people,
 The city, the people in common act
 ing under rights. own land originally
 designed flor park purposes. now used
 as a playground for public pleasure, mainly for children. For reasons best known to those in charge the park has grown unattractive, has become unin- viting to the majority of the people. It is property of the city, the property or the people, and is without revenue to maintain it as a place of pleasure, as a beauty spot. Place thereon build ing of architectural beauty, provide that building with revenue producing power to pay the cost of maintenance. to liquidate the cost of construction and to pay the cost of restoring the park to the condition of a beauty spot. Would that result hurt anyone? Would not such an object meet with the will of the people? Then, why not proceed?
 Legal obstacles are easily overcome if the people desire to overcome such obstacles. A movement that would build an auditorium, self-sustaining, with revenue enough to pay the cost of construction, and become the property of the city, would surely be beneficial instead of injurious. Would it not be more beneficial to all concerned to have a part of the park, say 200x300 feet oc- cupied by a beautiful building, main taining itself and maintaining the park as a beauty spot, than to have the park as it is?
 l see no reason why the construction of such building should lessen the school fund, the police fund, the fire protection fund, or any other fund needed by the city. In my opinion, the building of an auditorium with ex- position equipment and revenue pro ducing power would add to each of those funds very materially. year after year. by bringing to this city thou sands of people as visitors and hun dreds of people as citizens to share in bearing the burdens of maintaining the city of building and assisting in building a greater city.
 It may be there are legal difficult. ties in the way of passing and selling bonds for the construction of an audi torium. but those legal difficulties can be overcome. if the people wish to overcome them
 1t may be there are legal difficult ties in the way of the commissioners granting the right to use part of the park for an auditorium, with a clause in the contract that all improvements revert finally to the city, but those obstacles can be most certainly over come. It may be there are financial difficulties in placing bond issue for building an auditorium or in placing certificates of indebtedness to raise funds to build the auditorium.
 In fact, no public movement is ever started that does not meet obstacles. In fact there are few obstacles that cannot be surmounted and overcome, if the people wish thing done. If the people of Birmingham do not desire an auditorium, it will not be built The matter rests with the people, In fact, $2 per head on the citizens of will build an auditorium and exposition as well equipped as any in the United States. There are some who cannot and will not pay the s2 per head. There are other who can and will pay for 100, cf their fellow citizens who cannot or will not pay the $2. fftf
 The main question is does Birmfng- | ham want an auditorium, and. exposi- | ton? If so. then begin by uniting every force in the city and bend every | energy to that purpose. Bring to life and action the spirit that startled the world by changing a whistling station Into marvellous. magical city of in- dustry commerce. finance If a few men could unite forces and build Bir- mingham as it is. leading city of this | greatest country surely those who have reaped such rewards in fame and fortune from that work can build an l auditorium and exposition that will l materially assist in building a greater 'f
 cannot comprehend a situation; l | cannot grasp a condition where any city enjoying equal stupendous oppor- tunities with Birmingham could or | would show Inability or unwillingness to raise the required sum in short or i der to build the best auditorium and | exposition now enjoyed by any city of l It's class. Provided, Birmingham wants |