The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-04-22
GARRISON FIELD HOUSE.
Report at End Of Fiscal Year Shows
Increased Attendance. 0

During the fiscal year ending April
16, 1916. there were over 500 activi.
ties and meetings of various kinds
with a total attendance of 1880 peo-
pie in the building. Having no play.
ground director during the summer of
1915, we are not prepared to give
accurate figures on playground attend.
ance for the last year. During the
same period l6,023 shower baths were
taken and $177.27 was collected from
the rem and sale of supplies. These
figures, when compared with those of
especially when it is remembered that
the institution has been operated short
of a reasonable number of employees
from the day it opened. Another han.
dicap which we have suffered from the
beginning was defective equipment in
the bath department, which made it
impossible to keep water at the prop.
er tempature. because of which re-
peated complaints were made and
many quit using the baths. Yet it
was not changed until within the
past sixt days. There are other de-
fects which to a less or greater ex.
tent affected the attendance or pat
ronage of the institution.
The institution was opened for ser.
vice about June 10, 1914. The play.
ground attendance for that season of
ten weeks ending August 80. was S,494.
During that time the activities in the
building were few. Among the activi-
ties started in the summer and fall
of 1914 were our Sunday afternoon
forum; Thursday night neighborhood
socials and moving picture exhibits, all
of which were given at our own ex.
pense, including some advertising.
Some of these features, on account of
the limited number of persons en-
ployed in the institution, whose time
is so largely consumed with other nee,
essary work, could not be continued.
We explained the matter as we saw
it to those in authority, but the i'm.
portance of devoting energy in that
direction did not impress them and we,
of course, governed ourselves accord
ingly.
The first fiscal report ending April
II, 1915, included ten months from
the time of opening in June, 1914.
There were 1878 baths and $19O.32
collected from rent and sale of sup.
plies-a somewhat higher percentage
than the last twelve months, which is
absolutely due to the unusual cool,
rainy summer which we had last year.
The clubs and social activities in the
building from June 4, 1914, TO April
16, 1915, close of first fiscai year,
we're 270 and 1928 attendance, or a
total for the two years of 791 activi.
ties and 21,9S3 attendance; 31,40l
baths, S367.59. Our branch library is
circulating an average of $50 books
a week.
The Piano Purchased.
1t vas necessary to buy a piano for
the use of patrons. In September,
1914, l paid $40 out of my personal
money to have the piano put in. The
purchase price which I contracted to
pay at s. is $245. The payments
expected to meet by donations from
those who use the instrument. There
has been donated $146.S0 on the piano,
including my own donation of $40.
The sun of $14S has been paid on the
instrument, and $97 is yet 10 be paid,
Delinquent in payments to the amount
of $32. l have advanced money for
fVnfn0 60. nrfnff11 efokopnonk, 30 l;f
ferent times, s1.50; money orders. so
cents, stamps, 80 cents; total s4.3O.
With thanks to the public for the CO
operation and interest manifested, ]
am,
Yours truly,
RORT II EE Dali LNX