The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1920-01-22


en-, returned to her home in Pratt the
first of the week.
Kingman schools were responsible
for whatever growth Kingman had
made and that by reason of providing
adequate buildings they had given
Kingman the name of good school
town and that it had been big fac
tor in the life Of the town.
Lee Larrabee arose to ask why
Liberal did not have better buildings,
and Mr.. Rindom pointed out that
Liberal had spent more money for
schools than any town in the country.
Owing to the growth the town has
made it has been necessary to build
grade building and add to those al
ready built, so it was not a matter
of keeping up with other towns that
concerned us, but the problem of
raising enough money within the law
to take care of the growth of the
schools.
w. E. Farmer of the school board
made short talk on the PROPOSE
ton, closing his remarks with the
statement that "we," meaning the
school board, "are going to build a
building if you fellows will vote the
bonds"
There was a great deal of discus
sion following in which most of those
present had something to say, and
everyone seemed of the same opin-
ion-that Liberal should have a
school building equal to the best in
the state, and this just as soon as it
could be financed.
H. Hobble of the auditorium COM
mittee made his report, advising that
they had selected site, the same be-
ing on the east side of Kansas ave-
nue. between Fifth and Sixth. He
asked that the report be acted upon
and if favorable the directors of the
Chamber of Commerce be authorized
to purchase the ground. He gave the
price as $3,000-for six lots, which ev-
eryone agreed was reasonable
enough. The motion TO authorize the
purchase was carried.
AS to financing the proposition two
plans were advanced. The one
which seemed to figure the strongest
being a county bond proposition. At
the request of Mr. Hobble, Attorney
H. A. Gaskill read the statute pro-
viding for the erection of q memorial
building, payk or boulevard in hon
or of the soldiers of the world war.
The statute provides that bonds may
be voted up to one and one-half per
cent of the valuation of the county.
On the basis of our present valuation
we could, by voting the limit, raise
$150,000. According to Mr.. Hobble
this would mean, that if raised by di-
rect taxation the tax would amount
to 25 cents on each quarter of land
in the county. However, he ex-
planned that building 125x140 feet,
which would seat 5000 people, could
be built for less than $100,000.00.
There was also considerable dis
cussion on this proposition. Mr.. Lor-
enz Smith of Wichita was present
and was called for a talk Mr.. Lor-
enz has been identified with the man
agement of the Forum in Wichita and
told of the big entertainments
brought to Wichita because there
was building big enough to hold
the crowd necessary to make them
pay. AS a financial benefit to the
town he said that it had been esti-
mated that over a half million peo-
pie visited Wichita every year as
delegates to conventions, state meet
ings, and other gatherings. Accord
ing to estimates made it was shown
that each would spend on an aver
age of $40 in the city during their
stay, leaving something like a million
and half dollars year in the trade
channels of Wichita. He said that
Liberal was located right to get
some big gatherings, and that every
once in a while some noted enter
tainer passed thru who could be in
duced to stop over if there was a
large building to hold the crowds.
The auditorium can be made great
social center, according to Mr.. Smith.
Basket bali games could be held
there and some big shows would come
to the town. He said that no me-
mortal that could be erected would
compare with a memorial hall in
keeping alive the memory of the
boys who fought the world war.
John Boles spoke but briefly, but
gave the auditorium proposition his
backing and support. Others talked
on the subject and all favorably.
Following this the matter of mem
bership was taken up and commit
tee appointed to make a thofo can
vas for members for the Chamber of
Commerce.
On the whole it was one of the
best attended and most enthusiastic
meetings ever held by the organiza-
ton and resulted in a wholesome
exchange of opinions and greater
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