Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1921-09-29
TRI STEES OF THE
COLLEGE MET ESDAY

y. BOnDflBnJ OF Il INT, anu lie a.
Sharp Of this city.
The following communication from
President Crooks in regard TO the
gymnasium will show clearly the rea
sons why trustees did not take action
in regard to the building:
Dear Mr.. Editor:
| desire TO make statement with
regard TO the gymnasium project at
Alma College. | am thinking that a
more immediate statement could be
made through your columns than
could be made by sending a letter TO
each individual subscriber TO the
gymnasium fund.
1t will be remembered that in the
promotion of the S6S5,000 fund, the
campaign committee asked the friends
Of Alma College in Alma and Gratiot
County for the $4,000. The appeal
was made at most unfortunate sea-
son. Nevertheless necessity was upon
the College authorities to push
through the campaign during the
calendar year Of l920-21. The re-
Spouse TO our appeal resulted in a
little more than 100000 in subscrip-
tions from Alma and Gratiot county.
BY agreement $4,000 previously sub
scribed by friends of the College, of
which something like ST. 900 has been
paid was transferred to the gymnas-
ium fund
At the present time the Alma Col
lege Board of Trustees is in posses
sion of something like $4,000 in cash
and almost 100000 in subscriptions
for the building Of the gymnasium.
These subscriptions, it will be re-
membered, were TO be paid in five
equal instruments, an instalment be-
ing due about every six months, the
first installment TO be paid on June
-, 1921. If the fund had been en-
tirely successful, the Board would
now have more than $4,000 in cash
to begin work. The fund was only
partially successful and the Board
has a little more than $4,000 to be-
gin work.
Our architects and building experts
told US in June that the building
could be erected for the amount Of
money subscribed if all subscriptions
were collected, if we would postpone
the erection Of the swimming pool. OF
course it is too much to expect that
any subscription fund will collect to
the last dollar. We are hoping to
collect at least $4,000 out of this
fund.
The last figures that we have are
that the building can now be built
without the natatorium for little
more than $4,000, but it is expected
that several thousand dollars may be
saved if we can postpone the erection
of the building for few months. The
Board Of Trustees cannot, however,
begin the erection of the building I'M
til more money is in hand. In these
difficult days collections cannot be
expected to be one hundred percent.
1t is expected now that bids will be
asked on the new building at the time
Of or soon after the January meeting
Of the Board of Trustees and that the
building will be begun at an early
date next year. If begun at once the
building could not now be erected in
time to be of service during the school
year, SO that the delay does not affect
the efficiency Of the College. 1t must
be said, however, that the amount of
money in hand at that time, along
with prices of building materials and
Of labor, will determine the action of
the Board.
If pledges are paid according to the
promises made there should be over
$4,000 in the hands Of the Board
in January. With this amount Of
money | feel personally, although the
Board Of Trustees has taken no Of
ficial action to that effect, that the
work on the gymnasium can be begun
at once.
incidentally it may be said that
$4,000 or $4,000 of the money sub
scribed has been saved because Of the
constant lowering of building prices
since June, and better building for
the amount Of money to be spent is
possible.
Verytruly yours,
II. NJ. Crooks,
President a lima College