The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1917-04-07

There were TWO vigorous OppOsl-
tions that had TO be overcome. First
there was the fellow who had a nat
ural prejudice against bonds" and
i'm order to get this city building II
was necessary to go To the people for
a bond issue. The other influence wal
the moving picture men who feared
that a city opera house would injure
their business and who were very ac-
tive in opposition to any building con-
tanning an opera house.
Mr.. Penglase had been successful i'm
keeping the matter moving along
slowly in the council and got con
siderable valuable assistance from
different men that held seats as alder
men. In 1911 things looked favorable
for the launching OF movement
looking towards bond issue. Here
again care had 10 be exercised not to
uncover the hands OF those working
for large building II was given
out that building. the lower floor de-
voted To city business and the hous-
ing OF fire apparatus and the upper
floor 10 contain room for iremen's
meetings. mass meetings. etc, but
no Opera House" should be advo-
Gated
The Diamond Drill sent out cards
for postal card vote and the result
showed that the people would stand
for building with an auditorium but
mo stage"
Several communications were pub
lished. among them letter from Chas.
II. Watson advocating an auditorium
but no stage.
The size OF the bond issue was an
other sticker and the steering com
mittee of the council decided that the
largest possible amount that had
chance OF winning with the people
was $4,000. This amount would just
about put up the walls of the building
proposed and put roof over them
hut that fact didn't deter those having
the matter i'm hand. They submitted
the proposition and IL carried. VIM
Ncsbitt was mayor and he started the
work along and got ID well under way
when the spring election came aud
Jas ]. Gaifney was chosen mayor. MIR
| Gaifney had been member OF the
council and worked with Mr.. Pen
slase in getting the foundations laid
for large building. When he went
into the mayors Office John Kle 5gcs
was chosen in his stead and the coun-
ell then contained a good majority in
favor of an opera house. but rs the
plans that were being worked from
didn't call for any such change
had 10 be made in them.
Mr.. Herman Gundlach of IIoughton
had the contract 10 construct the hall
and after ascertaining the price at
which Mr. Gundlach would do the ex-
| ira work. delegation consisting OF
headed by Jas. +. Corcoran waited
upon the council and asked that the
change be ordered. The council
once assured that they had some sup
Dort among the business interests Of
/ the city, readily ordered the change
made and included an asbestos cur
tain of the latest type and balcony
with sloping floor
by this time 1t was apparent TO all
who knew anything OF affairs that the
money appropriation had been great
ly overdrawn and that unless every
thing neces3 ary TO complete the hall
was purchased then and there the
chances were that the city would have
an unfinished building upon It's hands
with little prospect for its being fin
ished should the expenditures stop
short of going the full length OF the
proposed program ON the theory that
they might as we'll "be hung for n
sheep as n lamb" the council took the
full plunge and ordered everything
necessary to complete the building.
At the same time lot of sewer work
and improvements at the power plant
were being done so that along about
November first. the city was out of
money and had debts OF some $4,000
hanging over them.
There was nothing left for the peo-
pie to do but to vote the money neces-
sary to completion OF the hall and
late in December the issue was APP
proved and the debt OF the city wiped
out Not all OF this debt was due To
the city hall. by any means. the sewer
work causing much OF II.