The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-03-31

the majority of the citizens of Lake
land Will agree that a Communit.
Building which may serve as a cen
ter OF community service and expires
sion, would be more fitting memoir
iai OF the soldiers and sailors in tn,
recent world war than any marbl,
shaft, arch or other silent witness. n,
J matter how beautiful.
The National Committee on Memoir
iais have advocated the Living Me
moriap and particularly the Com
munity House." types of which have
already been erected, while others are
in course of construction.
If there is room in the Park 10,
such building land there seems Il
be) 1t should be erected there for
many reasons:
First. It is public property and ap-
propriate for such use.
Second. No money will have to be
spent or commissions paid in real
estate transaction in order to secure
any other suitable site.
Third Any other suitable site would
cost large part Of the total amount
OF money which may be available for
the entire project.
Fourth. Municipal control could be
better exercised and maintained on
municipal property.
Fifth. The donor Of the Park. with
splendid vision, made provision in the
original grant to the city for the
erection Of building when the time
should come.
Sixth. During the winter ceasor
our visitors congregate in the Park
as the one restfu! spot in the busy
center OF things. The building in
one corner (provided by the donor Of
the Park would be so much more
Useful and attractive to these visit
ors.
! Seventh. A building thus Iocatea
would attract manysthousands of peo-
pie annually who would see /. from
the railroad.
There are also many other reasons,
which will easily suggest themselves,
as to the desirabilty of such build
Ing being located in the Park.
Every community needs a central
public hall bearing some relation t.
the population, for variety of civic
purposes-the consideration Of local
or national questions-the celebration
of civic festivals, conventions, com
munity signs, and where. more par
ticularly. in which to house and en-
terrain our winter visitors who are
not going to continue coming here in
Increasing numbers without this fea.
ture, which other towns have already
provided for or are taking immediate
steps so to do.
1t is believed here by prominent |
men that If such a community build
ing scheme as is proposed does not |
60 through that no effort to locate
1t elsewhere will be successful; on ac-
count Of the encouragement connect
ed with past effort and the increased
cost involved, in which case Lakeland
will still continue to be handicapped
for suitable place in which to enter
tain winter visitors next season.
That these winter visitors are
very valuable asset to the city can be
easily demonstrated by inquiry of the
banks, mercantile houses. hotels, res
taurants, boarding and rooming
houses, in whose profits every citizen
shares directly or indirectly.
The entire cost of the building and
equipment should be raised by popu-
lar subscription in n campaign con-
Quoted along the lines OF RED Cross
or United War Work Drive. To exact
the funds by taxation would rob the
building Of its true nature as a thank
Offering. No citizen should be COM
PEELED in this matter to show his
gratitude to our soldiers and sailors.
Societies which might occupy rooms
in the building should provide the
furnishings for such rooms at their
own expense and pay a suitable fixed
charge on account of up keep, con- ,
sisting Of insurance. heating, lighting,
repairs, janitor service, etc.
The building should never be al
Owed to become charge on the city {