The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-06-19
BAND CONCERT TO.
mark START OF
DRIVE FOR FUNDS
Organization Wants $500.
to Maintain Itself
Two Years.
CITY WITHOUT A BAND
Many Communities Have
Found Them a Nee
essity.

looking forward to placing first
class musical organization in Fair
mont, the Greater Fairmont band will
next week put on campaign in the
city, starting Monday, to raise the
sum of $500, which will place the af-
fairs of the band on business basis
and enable 1t to carry on for the next
two years.
In conjunction with the formal open
ing of the campaign free concert will
be rendered by the band on Monday
evening commencing at o'clock and
continuing until 8 o'clock in front OF
the court house. Every citizen inter
ested in music and the welfare OF the
band is cordially invited to attend the
concert-and this invitation covers
the general public as all Fairmonters
are interested in band concerts.
"Fairmont needs high class band
and the public should assist to keep 1t
up" was generally agreed upon by a
group of citizens on Main street last
evening when the question of the
Greater Fairmont band raising $500
for its future welfare was commented
upon,
one of the party asked the question,
as a high class band in a town as es-
sential as its industrial and mercan-
tile iriterests?" After the question
was discussed at length one Of the par
.ty pointed out that scores of cities,
and especially industrial towns have
seen the beneficial effects Of having
+ high class band.
The spokesman of the group sup
ported his position by stating the fol-
lowing:
'It is a well.known fact in certain
cities In adjacent states that high
class band has always been consid-
cred good business proposition and
none of them would exchange their lot
with city that did not have high
class band. They look upon a city
without high class band as being
very unfortunate for the reason that
first class and we'll organized band is
good investment for the business
people.
'At McKeesport, Braddock, South
Bethlehem. Altoona, Scottdale, Con-
nellsviIle. Uniontown, Butler, Wander
grift, Johnstown, Harrisburg, Home
stead and Hershy bands have been
supported by public contribution for
thirty years. The cost of equipment
and maintenance made it possible to
! develop high class band in every one
Of these cities. Besides these bands
the Edgar Thompson steel mills. now
owned by the United States Steel Cor
poration, possesses one of the finest
bands in the country The Henry G.
Frick Coal company, one of the sub
sidiaries of the United States Steel
Corporation, with its chief works in
Westmoreland, Fayette and Washing
ton counties, Pennsylvania, contrib
ntes annually to support its band and
as result 1t had rounded top-notch
organization together in many towns
in these counties.
Not only are the bands supported
but halls are also built and the best
band instructors are acquired to keep
the bands up and going all for the
public good. The Altoona shops of
the Pennsylvania railroad have had
and still maintain one of the leading
bands OF the country, this having ex-
tended over period of thirty years.
There are forty pieces in the band.
This band secures its chief patronage
through the Pennsylvania Railroad
pany.
Bethlehem Steel company,
Continued on Page Four)