Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1916-03-15
MUNICIPAL BUILDING
NOW UP TO VOTERS
Business Men Again Endorse
Plan and Ask Prompt Action.
Meeting at Elite Hotel Discusses Stu
alton and Takes Up Other Mat
terS Of Local Interest.


will be worthy of the name! That
is, if the voters of Lancaster stand
behind their business men, who unan-
imously and viva voce expressed them
selves in favor of this much needed
improvement to the town, at the sup
per last Thursday evening.
Chairman Carthew opened the bus
mess meeting after the material needs,
were amply cared for by the Elite no
tel management, and called the bOdy's
attention to the actual business of the
meeting of putting the city hall
proposition on it's feet.
Henry Henkel spoke for the build
ing committee and outlined the prog
ress made so far on the project. Mr..
Henkel pointed out that the city is
already bonded and that the commit
tee had not desired to take any def
mite steps until the railroad bond is
sue had been settled. Some investi-
cation had been made of similar COM
pleted projects in other towns. The
committee was ready to go ahead if
the body so desired
Fred Aupperle asked if the body
could vote on a city hall proposition
without the consent of the taxpayers.
and was advised by the chair that.
the body could only express it's de-
sires and that the voters of Lancas~
ter would ultimately settle the mat
ter. Mr.. Aupperle stated that the tax.
es were already heavy and should
not be made more burdensOme
| Dr. Fowler was the next speaker
and he voiced his stand as being more,
heartily in favor of the project than
ever before. DR.. Fowler replied to-
Mr.. Aupperle's statement that the tax
es would be greatly increased by Civ
/ ing figures showing how Lancaster's
/ tax rate is at present much lower than
either FennimOre or Richland Center
and the added tax to clear off the bond
! issue would be only per cent in
crease on the present amount paid
per taxpayer. DR.. Fowler pointed out
that at Richland and Mineral Point
the revenue from the municipal hall
more than paid the interest on the
bonds.
! At present the actual amount raised
here is about $4,000 for all purposes
the additional taxes to meet $2,250
interest would be therefore 5 per
cent increase. In Dr. FoWler's opin-
ion, the taxpayers can well afford to-
pay this and he is willing to bear his.
share
Mr.. Will Duncalf told of visit to
Mineral Point made recently when he
/ looked over the municipal building
/
the people there view the improve
ment. He was told that the revenue
from all sources amounted to about
$4,000 a year from a town about the
same size as Lancaster.
Fred p Barnett stated that he had
nothing to offer, except his hearty en-
dOrsement of the scheme and his hope
that it would be an actuality in the
near future.
DIR. J. C. Doolittle very pertinently
said that the meetings were long on
discussion, but short on action. He
therefore moved that the chair ap-
point committee which would be in
structed to take the necessary steps;
to bring the matter before the voters.
After some discussion, this was put
to a vote and carried unanimously
Richard Meyer, Jr., moved that the
old committee, consisting of Herbert
! Schreiner, Henry Henkel and Prof r.
w. Adams, be re-appOinted to carry
out the wishes of the body and this
was also carried without objection.
j. T. Bennett moved that the COM
mittee be allowed to appoint two mem
bers who will act in conjunction with
! them and this motion was seconded
and carried.
/ Richard Meyer, Jr., stated that
about $139 was on deposit at the I'm
ion State Bank in the form of a bus
mess mems fund, and moved that the
committee be empowered to draw on
this fund for necessary expense in Sc
curing data. This was also carried.
F. G. Granville moved that the mat
ter be put before the voters at the
April election. H. E. Gross urged the
getting of estimates and after some
discussion moved that $4,000 be the
amount Of bonds asked for at the cleo
ton. Richard Meyer, Jr., voiced the
opinion that the words $4,000 Fire
proof Building" be a provision of the
ballot and this was heartily applauded
Mr.. Henkel endorsed the project,
but believed that time should be TAX
en- to find out exactly what was needed
and the necessary specifications OBJ
tanned
l.. H. Stevens said that it was bet
ter to go before the voters with some.
definite, concrete sum in view and
that the building should be of fire
proof construction, and the amount
sufficient to erect suitable building.
The chair pointed out that the pres
ent site is worth 81 O0O and with tbn.