Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-05-15
Flank Lanier Asks City Attorney to
Find a Way for City to Enter
Agreement
WOULD LET TOTAL BE PAID
BACK AT $4,000 PER YEAR
Proposal to Be Reported 10 Council
Tonight t---Lane to Seek Solution
of Legal Difficulties

The men of Americus are ready
right now to build a city auditorium
putting up probably 100000 or what
ever is needed, and turn it over to the
city. All they ask in return is that
the city guarantee per cent on the
investment and pay them back the
money in 20 yearly installments, which
would be SO small that it would never
be missed"
Frank Lanier was addressing City
Attorney Lane at an informal confer
ence at the Chamber of Commerce yes
terday afternoon between the mem
bers of the chambers auditorium COM
| mittee, of which Mr.. Lanier is acting
chairman, members of the city coun-
Gil and number of other interested
! officials and citizens. He went on:
From offers already received there
is not the slightest doubt in the world
that the amusement franchise on the
building could be sold for enough to
produce at least $4,000 a year, which
would provide the per cent. guaran-
teed interest. This would leave only
the principal, of say, $4,000 per year,
for the city to pay, and at the end of
20 years the building would be paid
for and the money never missed, all
the time having earned its own inter
est. The money can be raised in
short order, and it is up to the city
officials, if they desire city auditor
ium, to find way by which such an
arrangement or agreement can be eff
fected
Greatest Need OF City,
Il believe that an auditorium is the
first and greatest need of Americus
today Last night l lay awake for
several hours, after the Chamber of
Commerce meeting. trying to figure
out some way to realize it. | came to
the conclusion that this was the best
and most likely way. We simply must
have the auditorium. l believe, too,
that it must be municipal affair,
and that is the only way l can see to
accomplish it,"
Mr. Lanier's proposal brought on
general discussion The attorneys
present, including Mr.. Lane, w w
Dykes, Z. A. Nisbet, and Geo R. Ellis,
admitted that there We're legal Difficult
ties that would have to be overcome
before such a scheme could be car
ried out, but the final off-hand opin-
ion Of all of them was that a solution
probably could be found. 1t became
apparent that. in order for the city to
enter into an arrangement, the build
ing would have to be designated as
combination city hall and auditorium
constructed ostensibly for the meet
ing of municipal needs. 1t was agreed
that this could be easily arranged.
Bonds "A Problem.
The problem of bonding the city to
reimburse the men financing the pro-
iect is one that might possibly be
worked out it was thought, although
serious difficulties lie in the way of
this. The chief of these obstacles is
the constitutional limitation on muni-
cipal bond issues, the city being al
ready within about $4,000 of the limit
1t was said, however, that increased
tax values and the possible early re-
tirement of some of the outstanding
bonds might increase the amount
which could be issued to possibly $685.
600. This would still leave deficit
which, it was suggested might be pro-
vided by a gentlemen's agreement
between the city and the men financing
the project
Mr.. Lanier declared that he would
be very glad to have vote of the peo-
pie on the subject Il have never
seen project" said he, upon which
the people seemed to be so unanim-
Gus as this auditorium proposal II
haven't heard a single expression
against it, and | believe there is no
chance of anything but an overwhelm-
ing vote for it."
Possible sites were discussed The
Speer corner, at jackson and Chnrch,