South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-02-15
SOUTH END CLUBS
ASK AUDITORIUM
OrdinaCe Calling For $685.
600 For Building Pre-
Sented to Council.

Supported by the Federation Of
South End Civic clubs, an ordinance
was presented to the city council last
night providing for an appropria-
ton OF SO. 500 to be used in the cree
ton of a gymnasium and auditorium
upon the property adjoining the
Franklin school, which was recently
purchased by the school board for
playground purposes. Gus Haslanger
headed a committee from the fed
Grafton and made a short address to
the council, pointing out the need of
such a building in the south end. The
ordinance was referred to the COM
mittee of the whole for cOnsidera-
ton and will be taken up next Tues
day night, when it is expected that
a. large delegation of south end citi-
zens will be present to express their
sentiments.
There are a number of reasons
why the south end should have this
institution" asserted Mr.. Haslanger
in his address to the council. Pc
culiar conditions exist in the Frank
lin and Elder school communities in
that there is no public or private
buildings where people can get to-
gether in a mass meeting, for enter
tainment, for athletic events or for
other such affairs This is no fault
of the council, but in all other sec
tons of the city there are places
where the people of the community
IL. g, ,,
No Meeting Places.
Just at this time it is the fashion
10 use the school auditoriums for
such meetings and affairs, but if you
will remember about eight or 10
years ago the auditorium of the
Franklin school was condemned and
the same action was taken regard
ing the Elder school four years ago.
'In the south end there is not
even a vacant lot where the children
can play. If the go children at the
Elder school were turned loose at
once there would not be enough
room on the school property to hold
them. 1t is dangerous for them to
play on the streets. The same con-
dition exists at the Franklin school"
Mr.. Haslanger then went on to tell
Of the organization of the Fedora
ton Of South End Civic clubs, which
includes the Franklin. Elder, Lin
coin. Studebaker and oliver clubs.
He told Of the formation Of the body
shortly after the first of January and
of the birth of the project which is
now before the council, showing that
il emanated from the people them
selves and from the school authOri-
ties.
Could BE Used Every Day.
This building which we propose
to have built with the $500 appro-
priation could be used every day in
the year" declared Mr.. Haslanger.
I'VE have taken up the matter with
architects and contractors and find
that we can build a building which
will cover the ground. providing an
open air playground in the summer
time and a warm meeting place and
gymnasium in the winter time.
About a year ago this council
appropriated the same amount of
money TO the ]. d. Oliver playfield,
and therefore if the expenditure was
justified at the oliver field we feel
we are justified in asking for the
same amount for the erection of an
institution which can be used every
day in the year"
1t is understood that the project
was first taken up with the school
board. This body declared that it
had insufficient funds on hand TO
take care of the project and asked
that it be referred TO the common
council. According to the repre-
sentatives Of the civic clubs. there
is not an improved playground in
the south end, and they feel that
the council will be justified in de-
voting some Of its recreation funds
TO that section of the city along with
the improvements on the west side
and other communities.
Approve Ordinance Book.
Rules were suspended for the
passage of an ordinance approving
the publication of the ordinance
book which has been prepared by
/ City Atty. Eli F. Seebirt. All city
ordinances effective on Jan. /, 1915.
are included in the book. which will
sell for $3.50 per copy. The council
also took action providing that a
| charge Of so cents be made for each
copy Of the building code.
Residents Of the vicinity present
ed a petition to the council asking
that the alley east OF Park av. and
running south from Riverside dr.,
| be named Dushane CT. The petit
ton was referred 10 the committee
Of the whole along with the ordi-
ance providing for an appropriation
/ OF s20324 TO the park board for the
payment of the Leeper park street
I a ssessu1e nt and was passed