The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-01-01
DON 'T:SELL AR|M0RY;
ITS POOR BUSINESS
Watson S. Moore, Former Alder.
man, Sees Plenty Of Uses for
Valuable Property.

Watson S. Moore, for ten years an
alderman. wants the city to keep the
Armory for the people. Mr.. Moore,
while one of Duluth's leading bust:
ness men and citizens, also has a
vision. He sees more than dollars in
running city. He wants the COM
missions to look into the future. He
has faith in Duluth. His letter to
the commissioners is full of inter-
est, although the daily papers failed
to print it's most important parts. It
leads as follows:
"The proposed sale of city-owned
property is, or should be, of great in
terest to every citizen.
1.-The Commissioners, of course,
would have only the best interests of
the city at heart in any action they
might take. It seems to me that the
city would be making a great mis-
take If it sold the Armory.
Property Well Located.
Property we'll located in the bust
ness district of growing city is al
ways easy to dispose of and at full
prices, and when the city needs prop
erty, in the business district for it's
developing interests, they must pay a
big price, if they can get it at all.
'"The good corners in >Duluth's
business district are few, and in the
not far distant future it will not only
be difficult to purchase one of these
corners, but it will be practically i'm
possible to secure one of them except
at prohibitive prices. The question
now seems to be, not that the city
does not need the property, but
rather, that there are more city
needs for it than the Armory can &C
commodate.
Public form" Necessity.
1.-THE question also would seem to
be, how best to use it to get the most
out of the property for the benefit of
| the city, instead of whether the city
should sell it or not.
AN Auditorium centrally located
for the use of the people is neces.
sity. If the Armory is sold the city
would. have no such Auditorium
! under its control, unless they pur-
chased building elsewhere for that
purpose. Other cities not now own
ing such an Auditorium are planning
to build one.
Many Good Uses.
"The Public Works Department
, will need more room right along, to
properly house its equipment. Mod
ern public works equipment is more
expensive and needs to be we'll pro-
tected from the weather. The re-
qulrements of this department for
more and better equipment are
steadily increasing. The Armory
basement affords the room. and is
conveniently located.
THE City of Duluth has been
carrying on a vigorous campaign to
get people on the land in the vicinity
OF the city, and has met with great
success. Surely these people are en-
titled to a place in the city where
their products can be displayed, and
where they can meet the purchasers.
AS mas been suggested by others, the
building may be turned into a social
center for the people. AS we get rid
OF the saloon, other places must be
provided for the people to gather,
Inc Armory could supply such a
need.
1t Would Be Good Business.
IF an income from the property is
necessary it can be used by the
Water and Light Department, at a
rental o. 10 per cent of the price that
the city is now bid for the property.
mo real estate man or property
owner would think for a minute of
selling a centrally located piece of
property that could be made to yield
such an income. And for this rea-
son, if for no other, the property
should not be sold.
LAS to swap for the Auditorium.
that is proposition for the Commits
sion to figure out with the aid of
architects and building experts.
las citizen, sincerely trust the
city will not dispose of the Armorv
prOperty'