Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-08-10
L.G. COUNCIL Man
BEHIND OFFER TO
GIVE " BUILDING
AS CIVIC CENTER
Will Donate $4,000 In
Cash To Purchase
Structure
BUILDING EASILY
WORTH $6O,O0O.OO
Citizens Asked To Put
Up Funds For Needed
improvements

L. G. Council is the man behind
the offer to present the Y. M. c. A.
building at the intersection of
Church and Jackson streets to the
city as a civic center. Announce
ment of his name was authorized late
yesterday by T. O. Marshall, who
permits The Times Recorder to pub
hsh the full details of the PROPOSE
ton made by Mr.. Council is offer
ing to present the building to the city
for use as civic center. The PROPOSE
ton is perhaps the most generous ev-
er made in the history of Americus.
The only condition attached to the
gift is that citizens here raise $4,000
to pay for needed repairs, including
the installation of swimming pool,
a heating plant and necessary addi-
tional baths. The letter written Mr..
Marshall by Mr. Council, making the
offer, publication of which is auth
orized for the first time today, fol
lows:
o. Americus, Ca, August 8, 1919.
81 Mr.. T, o. Marshall,
Receiver Y. M. G. A,
Americus, Ga.
Dear Sir:-One cf the most serious
problems confronting the people of
Americus, to my mind, is the solution
Of the Y. M. C. A. A proposition,
as believe to a great extent, the
future welfare of the city depends
upon the disposition which will be
made by the people of Americus of
the building.
The building and equiDmant rep
resents an actual investment by the
people of Americus of at least $4O,-
zoo and is today worth not less than
100000. This $4,000 has been
paid by the people of Americus for
the purpose of maintaining a Y M.
T. A, building in this city.
While | am of course aware of the
fact that the record of the Y M. C.
A. IN Americus in the past has been
lar from what it should have been,
yet l am convinced in my own mind
that 1t would be for the best inter
est of our city that it should be re-
organized as such and operated as it
should be, under the direction and
control of a Board of directors COM
posed of the minister and one lay
man from each church in the city
with wise and ufficientsecretary in
charge, and l am confident that such
d secretary can, and will be secured
II necessary.
10 this matter l have given a great
oeai OF very careful thought ans at
tehuon, and in order thai it may be
saved l am willing, and hereby make
me people of Americus the following
propositions:
/ will give $4,000, cash, to pay
the Indebtedness on TIE building
provided other citizens will give a
Sumclent amount to put in a swim
h@hg pool, a modern heating plant
ana certain other needed improve
ments such as renovating the build
ing and putting it in first-class con-
uIuoh IN every respect, which in my
Judgment, owing to the present cost
VI material and labor, will require
something like $4,000.
= Along the line of Community
q -e3tcl. undc, the management which
nave already outlined, other Civic
bodles would be allowed the use of
.e building, and expected to use it,
lot all matters of a public or semi
puohc nature. Space cou,l be pro
"1e@ IN the building under this plan,
a. 1@r rental, for the use of hous-
ing such Civic Organizations as
[Dsht be approved by the Board of
Governors of the institution, and the
'uldng used as a Community Cen
-er.
Just how the additional amount
would be raised, I would not of
TIpurSe presume even to suggest.
ne,o"ever, | am willing to pay the
%IV'ooO which I hereby pledge, in
L"sh' when at least Sic, 1000 additional
nave been pledged in cash, or it's
N4uiValent in advance by our own