The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-06
MUNICIPAL ICE
POND PLAN OF
ALEDO COUNCIL
Warm Discussion is Held in Regard
to the Renting of the City
Hall Auditorium.
Especial to The Argus.)


Aledo. Dec. 6.-That the A1edo
young folks will have a municipal
skating pond in this city during
the winter was decided last night
at the regular meeting of the city
countil after d. e Farr, local mer-
chant, made a plea for the project
Mr.. FAIR, in his talk before the
council. stated that many OF the
boys of the city had asked him If
the skating pond could not be had.
Before seeing the council Mr.. Farr
had gained the consent of the
school board to use its vacant lot
on West Fourth street known as
the old ball diamond Isaac Fen
der. Mercer township road commits
had stated that he was
willing to do the work OF grading
the lot providing the council au-
thorized the deal The pond will
be lighted for the benefit of the
skaters. During the last football
season the Mercer county indie
pendents used the field for night
practice and had it Systematically
lighted. Arrangements for the con-
tinuance of this service will be
made. After q short discussion as
to the benefits derived from mu-
nicipal pond of this kind it was de-
cided that it would be great as
set TO the community. Mayor W. K
Wells and Alderman T. D. Winders
were appointed on a committee to
see that the project was put over.
Last year Fallerans post of the
American Legion of Aledo tried to
put over this project, but due to
the late start and the mildness OF
the winter the scheme was a fail
ure. Steps will be taken to main
tain the pond every winter as long
as the school board will permit the
use of the grounds. Mr.. Fender
will attend to the preparing of the
block for the water which is to be
furnished by the city. 1t was de-
cided that maintaining a municipal
skating pond in this city would do
away with so many of the Aledo
youths going to the creek. which
when at its best the danger Of air
holes is great.
Have Warm Argument
Alderman Mack Parkman made a
motion that City Attorney Robert
L. watson draw up lease for the
AIedo club. which is holding an
option on the city hall auditorium.
A warm discussion followed, which
resulted in no action being taken
by the council in this matter. AID
erman Ralph Thede gave talk,
giving reasons why the auditorium
should be kept and maintained by
the city. He stated that practical
Iy all cities of any Importance
were maintaining community gath
ering places for their residents,
which seemed to be a great asset
to the communities.
City Attorney Watson agreed
with Alderman Thede that the
building should be kept by the city
for the interests of the community.
For an example, Mr.. Watson gave
some facts about the high school
operetta which was staged Thurs
day and Friday evenings of last
week in the Presbyterian church.
The high school, it seems. were IN
able to present their Operetta in
any other building and had con-
siderable trouble in procuring the
church. Had the city hall auditor
ium been available for the stu
dents it would have been possible
to produce the play under much
better circumstances.
Freeman VetOes Project
For a while it began TO look as
though residents of Aledo and vi
cinity were to have a public gath
ering place. Alderman ]. o. Free
man then took the stand against
the project He stated that on for
mer occasions when the hall had
been in use by the students it had
been abused. In the winter win
dows had been left open and the
heat turned on, and after each
occasion it was necessary for
room and put it in an orderly con-
ditiOn. lie stated that the new
school being built provided for an
auditorium for the students use.
that the farm bureau was available
for farmers meetings and that it
was unnecessary for the city to
maintain the hall at a DEED ex-
pense City Clerk W. n. Emerson.
Jr.. stated that on most occasions
when the hall had been given over
to community entertainments that
the doctors holding offices in the
building had complained of being
disturbed The question was then
raised as to whether the Aledo
club would be able to rent the hall
without the doctors complaining
more than eve.
Legion Held Second Option.
Fallerans post OF the American
Legion Of Aledo held the second
option on the rental of the hall.
As the post would want to hold its
dances in the hall, it was decided
that this would be against them.
as it would be impossible to spon-
sor dances in the hall unless some
new fire escapes were constructed.
After discussing the project for a
while longer the discussion drifted
into other channels and the meet
ing adjourned without any action
being taken.
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