The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1915-09-10
Letters from members Michigan leg.

islsture.
Views of city of Owosso and Shia.
wassee county.
A brief summary of the addresses of
Gen. Kirk and Major Gansser follow:
Major A, H Gansser of Bay City,
when presented said that when Capt.
Parker notified him to be here for
this auspicious occasion. he mentioned
two things that soldier usually en-
joys dinner and a parade.
| After that would come the "hot cir
shooters, but 1t seems the doctors di.
agnosis of this Labor Day went wrong,
for the air seems rather damp and
cool.
| Some one jsstingly called this the
christening of the new armory,, but
the weather man must have had genu-
inc all round baptism in mind when he
ordered it. However, this is bound to
be a memorable day for Owosso for
you have dedicated temple to patriot.
ism, rallying place for your city and
its people for all time to come.
"And right here let me beseech you,
good neighbors, to never rest until you
have gathered into your municipal
arms this whole beautiful section of
ground surrounding the armory.
when some of the watch dogs of
the state treasury came to me as chair.
man of the senate military committee,
and urged me to report unfavorably
upon Owosso's request for another $lO,-
0O0s said to them, this will be fire
proof building. 1t will be something
more than mere and drill floor for
one military company. For in addi.
tion to that it will be a great public
| auditorium, where business man and
farmer, church man and fraternalists,
can come together for education and
| enjoyment. And 80 let us build these
armories and auditoriums as though
they were for eternity, as certainly they
will be for the enjoyment of our chill.
dren and children's children
Don't be niggardly, for that would
be penny wise and pound foolish. II
$50, 1000 will hardly build half a suitable
auditorium, $4,000 added will make it
the finest armory in all Michigan. then
prudence and Judgment command that
we spend that other, $l5, 600, and the
legislature agreed almost unanimously.
Now q similar problem confronts
you, my good people. You have here
an opportunity to add to the beauty of
the building by buying all che available
property Immediately around it, ard
Transforming it into city park.
City parks means breathing places,
rest places, health. You can almost
judge modern American community
by its city park system.
'Over in Bay City we neglected that
municipal essential in the years when
land was cheap. and finally we had to
pay 5000, 600 for several blocks of build.
ings, tear these down and create river
front park and beauty spot. Timid
folks held up their hands in horror
when they learned what it would cost
but progress and good judgment car
ried the day, and today one of Bay
City's best civic assets is Wenona Park.
and the park system that in ten short
years has grown from that daring be-
ginning.
'Owosso has similar opportunity
now. And the city that hand.cuf
a reluctant and unwilling legislature,
securing almost unanimous approval
| for its successful attack on the state
treasury. will not stop short of securing
the proper park setting for your new
municipal building, and no patriotic,
enterprising citizen put any unreason-
able obstacle in the way of the public
good in this matter.
And then your armory and the park
surrounding it will be lasting monu-
ment to the enterprise and civic pride
of the people who made Owosso what
it is in 1915.
Having touched elbows with Owos.
SOS military company for more than "a
years, L can assure you we up state al.
ways knew civic pride and genuine
patriotism dwelt in Owosso, for the
military company representing you al.
ways has been above the average.
Your company has been in my bat.
talon since 1908, and whether on some
holiday parade, on STRIFE duty at Cal.
umet, or digging trenches on the mill.
tary reservation at Grayling. they have
been worthy of their mothers and their
mo.h city.
Naturally then, next to Senator
Foster and your faithful public servant.
Representative Martin, 1 was most in.
terested in your efforts to get improved
armory conditions for Michigan.
But it took Fighting Dewey and
his valiant CO. workers from Owosso TO
help the National Guard of this state
to this recognition, and so every citv
which in future secures state armorv
will owe vote of thanks to Won as
pioneers for better treatment by our