The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-11-25
REVIEW WORK DONE IN CITY
Conditions They Declare Did Not War
rant Starting Fund When Old Associ-
alton Building Was Sold and They
Ask for Volunteers for Work.

~nSSNN~S0
tion of Kenosha met on Saturday to
discuss the prospect Of the erection Of
a new building in the city. They made
no decision in the matter, but decided
to address an open letter to the people
Of Kenosha in response to many de
mands that have been made for the
continuing Of the work Of the organi-
sation here. The statement which is
,elf explanatory, follows;
"a communication in the Evening
News from g. Group Of Y M. G. A..
3oys, deserves more than passing at
ention. These boys ask if it is not
time that the directors of the X. M.
y A. do something to start the re-
organization of that neglected and
much needed institution the Young
Mems Christian association. The need
If such an organization is felt today
Kenosha more than ever before,
md the public, the parents and the
Boys themselves are entitled to know
why the work was suspended and
why the campaign for new building
aas not been pushed.
The board of directors realize that
5hey have been criticised for allowing
The work of the association to be sus-
toended, and for disposing of the old
building before better one was pro-
yided to take it's place. 1t must be
understood, however, that this action
was taken by the directors only after.
the most mature deliberations, after all
full consideration of the circumstances
then existings and after fully consid-.
ering the consequences of this step up
on the community. While the board
makes no apology for its action, an
explanation of the reasons therefor
may not be amiss as bearing upon the
present situation.
In the first place, the work Of the
association along certain lines, notably
among the adults, had been practically
abandoned because of the inadquacy of
the building and equipment for that
work The association was without
general secretary and was considerably
in debt While the nominal membership
of the association included many adults,
there were few who had any part in
the association or it's work. They had
come to believe that the association
was continuing its energies to the young
er boys, those under fifteen years of
age This was largely true as a matter
of necessity, not from choice.
The suspension of the work among
the seniors caused laxity Of interest
IN the part of the sustaining members
id the financial condition of the asso-
citation grew steadily worse, until some
action on the part Of the directors be-
came imperative. The question came
squarely before the board whether in
view of the industrial conditions then
existing it would be better to attempt
to keep up the work of the association
in its crippled condition, in spite of a
constantly growing deficit, or whether
Ii would be better to dispose of the
building and equipment, buy site for
new building, and await the time
when financial conditions and the de-
mands of the public would warrant a
campaign for a new building and just
ify the directors in asking the public
for the needed funds.
Tn order to be fully informed as to
what new building would cost, and
to reduce the question to working
basis the board caused plans and speci-
fcations for new building to be drawn
and estimates prepared covering the
necessary expense. We now have the
plans and specifications for a beauti-
full building, 84x164 feet, covering the
new lot, prepared by firm of archi-
tects in Chicago, who make a speciality
of this work A handsome building.
three stories and basement, with large
gymnasium, baths, parlors and nata-
forum complete, was estimated to cost
at that time about $105,00O0C without
equipment. Since then the price of ma
terials and labor have advanced, so
that it would now cost more.
This action was hardly taken when
the slump of 1914 came Factories be-
can to close now, business was almost
at a standstill, and Kenosha felt the
grip of hard times as she had not be
fore in many years.
Tt was evident that in order to raise
the large amount necessary for build
ING and equipment it would be neces-
sary to secure a few subscriptions from
he certain well known and generous
itizens who would be asked to start
he ball rolling. These men could be
umbered on the fingers of one hand
hey are men of large affairs and gen
rous impulses and they have the vel
are of the city at heart. But they
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