Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1916-07-20
CIV. Root Is Chautauqua President
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G. F. Billings Is President Emeritus

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The twenty-fourth annual assem-
bly, of the Southern Oregon Chautau-
qua was brought to close Tuesday
night after twelve days of attractions
and attendance which has never been
exceeded at any assembly More
campers were located in Chautauqua
grove and more season tickets were
sold than ever before. Every one OF
the afternoon and evening programs
was good, the music especially being
fine throughout. The biggest crowd
of the assembly came on the night of
the New York Marine Band concert,
when hundreds we're unable to gain
admission to the building.
Root Is President.
c. w. Root was elected president
of the association at the business
meeting held Tuesday afternoon. G.
F. Billings, the retiring president,
has for twenty-five years been presi-
dent of the association. He has been
indefatigable in his efforts towards
the betterment of the assembly, hav-
ing as his motto for years, Better
than ever" and living up to the
motto. He has given unstintingly of
his time and strength, and has been
the biggest factor in making the
Southern Oregon Chautauqua one of
the two biggest and best in the west
and zone of the six real Chautauquas
in the United States" to quote Col.
Balm.
In recognition of his long and
faithful dictatorship of the destinies
of the Chautauqua, Mr.. Billings was
elected president emeritus.
Other Officers.
]. S. Smith, for years one of the
hardest workers for a better Chau-
tauqua and one Of the pioneers of the
movement in southern Oregon, was
elected president. G. G. Eu-
banks was elected treasurer, and the
following we're elected directors: E.
D. Briggs, H. L. Whited, G. w. Tref-
rem, E. E. Bagley and W. A. Patrick.
Under these men the affairs of the
association should 60 forward. -
Financial Report.
The financial report showed a to-
tai of $2,571.50 revenue up to Tues
day afternoon 1.-THE Tuesday night
admissions bringing this up by $3.50
at least), and total expenses for the
session of $2,S69.15, thus leaving a
deficit of about $500.
The ladies' season tickets sold
brought in s1,095.9O, the mems
s363.65 and the children's $1S7.50,
or total of s1,646.65 for season
tickets, which is 5000 better than
last year. The gate receipts exclu-
sive of Tuesday night we're $S63.7,
which is 500 better than last year.
Tents in the park brought in ST..
Coming Immediately after the big
celebration and considering the fact
that the condition of the building and
the knowledge that all could not get
in on the big nights, the attendance
was excellent. Several hundred dol
lars we're lost through lack of room
in the building.
New Building Movement.
A meeting with about fifty pres
ent was held Tuesday morning and
ways and means for securing a new
building were discussed at some
length, but no definite plan arrived
at General discussion was indulgeG
in by a number of speakers and sew
eral plans were offered, but no action
of any kind taken. Mr.. Billings stat
ed that the building which is contem-
plated will cost in the neighborhood
of $4,000 and will seat $500 with
out the galleries, which can be added |
later if needed. The stage will seat |
$50 and be large enough to stage pa
geants and big road shows which can
not be put on elsewhere in the valley.
The big auditorium should pay for
itself in the first few years. Ashland |
is ideally situated and has the attrac-
tions which should make 1t the CON
vention city" for the Pacific coast,
Midway between the California cities I
and Portland and the Puget Sound |
cities, Ashland should entertain doz-
ems of big coast conventions yearly,
and big auditorium is a necessity.
Then, again, pageants on valley
wide scale could be put on which
should bring hundreds of dollars to
the association. The new Shautau-
qua is the next thing Ashland should
go after.
The present building not only is
in size, as was amply
demonstrated the evening of the Ma
rine band concert, when perhaps fif-
teen hundred people failed to gain
admission, causing a loss of several
hundrnd dollars hut is SO ShakV