The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-10


ested in the matter of the bands.and
and tourist headquarters which the
Chamber of Commerce propo: ed, with
the cooperation and approval Of the
City Commissioners, to erect in the
part, the following statement is made
by the officers of the Chamber Of
Commences:
The proposal above referred to was
quite some time ago approved by the
Commissioners and the park commits
sioner instructed to cooperate in .he
matter.
A site was selected by the park
commissioner, plans drawn and bids
submitted.
On the eve of actual construction,
an injunction was taken out by GER
tain parties who claimed that the
original grant to the city would not
| permit of the erection of any build
| ing in the park, nevertheless, tn"
erant by Mr.. Mum to the city pro-
vides that two certain locations II
the park should be available at any
time the city authorities should de-
ire to erect building.
The Chamber of Commerce ap-
pealed to the present park commits
sioner to answer the injunction. or
behalf of the city, but Mr.. Basset1
replied that the commissioners dc
sired him to take no further acton
in the matter until there should b
full meeting of the board, at which
all parties Interested would have tn,
right to be heard
The matter was acted upon, bow
ever, at meeting at which the ful
, board was not present, no note 9
such meeting coming to the know
edge of the Chamber of Commerce,
1t wa the intention of the Gnan
! Der of Commerce to present, at "
, full meeting referred to by Mr.. BaS
sett, petition signed by nearly tN
J hundred representative bus'nr>~ ~
! Of Lakeland asking that the huildiE
! be erected, as approved by the con
missioners.
The proposed building was to haN
been a real ornament to the park az
big asset to the city and twrlN
fourteenths Of the entire cost OF J
800 taken care of by the Chamber
q Commerce, the city havine only So
/, available for tho handstand
q After the change of heart on !
!, part of the city officials, cXcept,l
only Mr.. Flanagan, who stood firm
It by his former decision, the Comml
i sioners seem to have granted q PC
" nit for the erection at the northea
corner of the park most insight
Y. looking frame building, in strict VI
al lation of the fire ordinance. The O.
n Gals of the Chamber OF CONNER
D. have no quarrel with the city Q
cd cials in this matter, but it Is y
believed that they have acted for I
= ence to the wishes of the people Sc
orally.
It has been stated that there is
general opposition on the part OF
citizens to the erection OF build,
in the park for the purpose conte
plated If the names of those opp
ing should be placed along side tn
who petitioned for the improvcmc
it will readily be seen how sire
| or weak, the opposition is.
Every tourist who came TO la
land. after visiting st Petersbu
Orlando and other towns, knows b
generously those cities have co-of
ate1 by appropriating a site
funds for the erection OF sulta
quarters for their entertainme
s The temporary quarters recently J
vidd here were simple inadequate
the purpose and would not serve
attract tourists who are looking
/ live LOW IL ublhS poHI'th'hS - =
their comfort and entertainments
Until the citizens of the town 81
more generally know what is the
Iation of the commercial organ
ton to the city and its worth
absolute necessity as commul
builder, such mistakes and misun
standings will naturally arts"
Lakeland pause and hesitate al
lines of development while %
towns take advantage
The following a copy OF tn
ES tition which was TO have b"'a
" scented at a full meeting of tn"
Sc Commissioners:
To the Honorable Commissioner
n. the City of Lakeland:
n Gentlemen Referring to tn"
tiun recently taken by your lac
able body in approving of thu
for a combination bandstand
tourist headquarters to be ereett
the park. we, the undersigned
zcns understanding that pei
has been Pr, sented TO you askir
revoke your former deci ion in
matter, beg to offer counter
ton, asking that you abide by
former decision and authorize