The Republican journal., 1919-07-10
renting THE new
YORK K|pP0DROME
That is the Sort of Big Deal the Y.
M. &. A. Puts Over in Paris
for the American Soldier.

Paris.-The Y. M. C. A. has been carry
ing on a real estate business in France
that would make veteran at this
game stagger Modestly housed in
two small offices at u rue d'Agues-
seau is the department which has in
vestigated and secured leases on 255
properties, outside of huts or transient
premises, for which the "Y' pays
yearly 4,347 700 francs, or nearly
million dollars. In Paris alone it has
leased SO properties whose approx.
mate annual rental is 1897 900 francs.
The emblem of the Red Triangle
has bloomed on some of the most
splendid properties in France. Walk up
the famous Champs Elysee in Paris
and your eyes soon inform you that
the Y. NJ. C. A has secured the we'll
known Palais de Glace for the recrea-
tion needs of Uncle Sans fighters,
some OF whom may be seen daily play,
ing baseball under the trees between
the palais and the avenue. Not many
know that the rental of this famous
skating rink which has been converted
into an auditorium and equipped with
canteens is given free to the Y. M. c.
A. by the city of Paris which owns the
property. The expenses borne by the
association are those - taxes, insur
ance and other expenses of upkeep.
The Cirque de Paris, an enormous
theatre with seating capacity for
1000, is another famous property Sc
cured by the "Y'. To see this thea
tre packed with tier upon tier OF
shouting doughboys on the nights box
ing bouts are held leaves no doubt
in ones mind but that the soldier and
sailors in this crowded city needs space
in which to stretch his lungs and have
his recreation. The rental Of this
$4,000 francs for a lease of 60 days
seems costly at first glance. But have
you ever thought of renting the New
York Hippodrome? And the task con
fronting the organization that endeav
ors to provide entertainment for the
10000 Americans stationed in Paris
and the thousands of permission
naires here, involves just such enter
prises. Mr.. Franklin E. Edmunds, Di
rector OF the Legal Department. tC
whose initiative and foresight the
early development OF the department
is due, selected John t Donnell o
Los Angeles, present Director of tbs
Department, and H n. Falk of Mime
apolis, field repr> sentative, to whiI
the situation into shape.
Through the courtesy of the citi
Zens of Aix-les-Bains the rental of the
magnificent Casino there-the recrea
.ional center in the largest leave area
of the A. E. F. in France-haS been
given free to the Y. M. C. A 1t has
not been possible however for the ''Y'
to secure without rental any other OF
the chain Of famous casinos at Monte
Carlo, Nice, Cannes and Mention, the
securing Of each Of which has involved
task Of three months Of negotiations
Unlike Americans the French have
custom of taking a complete inven
tory at the time the property is leased
and d second inventory at the termina
ton of the lease on the basis Of which
the depreciation is figured. In the of
ficial inventory, for instance. of the
Enlisted Mems Club at II Avenue Mon
taigne-a beautiful hotel built by Ma
poleon for the wife of one of his Gen
erals-are brocaded chairs valued al
5000 francs each. This bui i7ding, by
the way, housed the first administra
ton offices of the "Y''
The largest hotel property in Paris is
the Hotel Rochester, accommodating
500 men. In addition to the Hotels du
Palais and Richmond for officers, the
Pavilion for enlisted men, nd the
Gibraltar for ''Y' secretaries S, and
other smaller properties, the "Y'' has
leased in Paris two big warehouses
one of which is a six-storied building
with canal on one side and a railroad
on the other, and three big garages.