Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-02-07
Baraboo Commercial Association
Explains Terms of Proposition
and Explains Misleading Reports
OF GREAT ADVANTAGE
TO CITY OF BARABOO
Control Of Property Does Not Pass
to Heirs of Four Brothers,
Would Benefit the Public

The proposal of Ringing Brothers
covering the donation of the Al. Ring
ling theatre property to the city was
recently published and the Baraboo
Commercial association is actively in
terested in promoting it's acceptance,
because it's members, composed large
ly of business men, believing that it
would be to the advantage of the city
from a financial standpoint to accept
the proposition. During the first year
Of operation the theatre earned about
$4,000 over and above operating ex-
penses. One of the chief arguments
against the acceptance Of the gift IS
the fear that possibly the theatre
might not be self-sustaining.
Members cf the commercial associ-
alton are convinced of the necessity
of a theatre and auditorium, and II
this were provided through a bond is
sue it would cost the city for an ap-
propriate building in the neighborhood
of $4,000. The auditorium at Rich
land Center cost that city $4,000, for
which the bonds of the city were Is
sued. Investments in similar amounts
are being made by other cities in or
der to build auditOriums. II the Al.
Ringing theatre fails to pay operat-
ing expenses, as feared by some or
those opposing the acceptance OF the
gift, it is certain that the deficit would
never be in excess of the interest on
the bond issue, and it is equally GER
tain that any deficit arising through
maintenance and operation would new
er exceed the amount of the bond is
sue. plus interest, during the life Of
the building A fairly efficient man
agement ought to provide profit in
excess Of operating and maintenance
expenses, thus saving to the city the
amount of a bond issue. principal and
interest. which would have to be paid
of the city erected an opera house OF
it's own as other cities are doing. The
proposal now before the council, if ac-
cepted, will provide Baraboo with one
Of the finest theatres in this section OF
the country, in fact one much superior
to anything which the city would feel
warranted in constructing. The con-
ditions attached to the proposal are
not unreasonable and are nothing
more than might be expected in the
donation of property Of this charac-
ter.
One of the chief reasons why the
donors have insisted upon the cond1-
tions as to the board Of managers IS
a desire to carry out the wishes of
their deceased brother and not be-
cause Of any wish on their part to
participate, either personally or
through a representative, in the man
agement of the theatre. If, as contend
ed by some, the theatre cannot be
operated as a profit, it is unreasonable
to expect the Ringing Brothers to
continue the operation Of the theatre,
because the public generally receives
the benefit of it, and it is rather the
duty of the city instead of one or more
of it's citizens to provide the amuse-
ment for the public. If the key is
turned in the door, if this proposal is
refused, it may be too late to recon
slider it.
The directors of the Commercial
club and a number Of the prominent
business men met Wednesday evening
and adopted a set of resolutions COM
mending Ringing Brothers for their
generous offer. Investigation shows
that AL. Ringing set apart nothing at
all in his will, as has been reported,
for the upkeep and maintenance of
the theatre. The Commercial associa-
ton is satisfied that what opposition
is now existing is because Of misin'
depreciation and want of understand
ing of the articles of the proposal. A
true and correct Interpretation of Ar
ticle TX, which seems so generally
misunderstood, is as follows:
"Any dominion over or control OF
the AL. RingIing theater in the choice
of members of the governing board
thereof which may be exercised by
Ringing Brothers under the terms OF
the proposal now pending, if accepted
by the city of Baraboo, will terminate
when Alfred RingIing, Charles Ring
ling, John Ringling and Henry Ring
ling, the four persons who now owr
the Al. Ringing theater, are all dead
Such right does not extend to the
children or heirs of the four brothers
IL ceases to exist at the death of the
last of the four brothers."
THE BARABOO CONNER