The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1917-02-14
ARMORYIS0FFERED
BEMlDJI BY STATE
BOARD; IS WILLING
TO GIVE $4,000
Taken Yesterday Afternoon
in St. Paul; Acceptance is Up
to Bemidji.
LIEUTENANT BARKER HOME:
GIVES OUT GOOD NEWS
City Asked to Pay Small Share to
Obtain Structures; Valuable
to Entire Community.

The armory board of the state of
Minnesota met yesterday afternoon at
O'Clock in the capitol at St. Paul
and accepted the application of the
city of Bemidji calling for state aid
for the erection of new armory.
Lindstrom was also accepted as city
entitled to state aid for new ar
mory.
The board met with Captain Eaton,
head of the naval militia of the
state, and Lieutenant Barker, head
of the Bemidji naval militia, and
Commander Kelly, armory architect
of hesitate It is expected the plans
will be here tomorrow.
The states acceptance of the ap-
plicatfon means that the state is
willing to give to Bemidji the sum
of $4,000 to help the city erect the
armory. Public spirited citizens have
subscribed the money for the pur-'
chase of the armory site at the foot
of Third street and the site has been
purchased and paid for.
$4,000 From State. :
In addition to the SIT, 900 offered
aby the state and the site paid for by
enterprising citizens, it is asked that
the city pay its share, $1,000. In
other words, to secure a handsome
brick armory building on the lake
shore, to cost nearly $25, 900, the city
share. At the election to be held in
Bemidji next Tuesday, the PROPOSE
tion to vote bonds for the $4,000 will
I. &41 <@ This
is to be used for a permanent i'm
provement for the city and will pro-
vide a splendid convention hall and
place for all public gatherings such
rs Bemidji is sadly in need of. No
city can go after conventions and
large gatherings and make good II
it has nothing to offer as suitable
place of meeting and other attrac-
tions and inducements.
Place for Gatherings.
Agricultural displays, farmers
gatherings, poultry shows, conven-
tions and all kindred affairs would
have an excellent place and bring
thousands of persons annually to Be-
midi.
The armory, it is planned, would
also be the center of all activities for
the general public of Bemidji. In
winter it would afford community
center for winter sports, such as to-
bogganing, skating, skiing, curling,
etc, with a fine warming place.
For. Summer Pleasures.
There would be dock for pleasure
boats and summer boating and sum-
mer pastimes. Bemidji would have
something to offer outside sports
teams and delegations and place
for the entertainment of all who come
on pleasure bent, something Bemtdji
needs if she is to make bid for and
Noffer competition in such attractions
as other cities are striving for.
Cheap Proposition.
The bonds are to extend over a
period of 20 years, and no payment
is to be made for the first five years.
At that time there will be several
hundred more people in Bemidji who
will bear their part of the expense
and it is the intention to pay only
$500 per year for fourteen years and
A thousand on the last year. The
cost will be only a few cents each
fo the people of Bemidji-practical1y
nothing, in fact. The state will take
the bonds at only per cent, SO there
will be no "rakeoff" on the part OF
any bond buyer.
The building will be of brick,
modern in every respect and an orna-
hent to the city as we'll as substan-
tia1, permanent improvement.