Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1922-02-03
SHALL LADYSMITH
BUILD AUDITORIUM?
Could BE Done Without Cumbersome
Tax neutrality-suspicious. CT Rich
land Center

Now thar the question of an audi
torillm, or community building. for La
dysnith has been preached. the people
of the city are going TO do some study
ing on the matter before giving it
their approval or disapproyal
1t will be admitted, generally we be-
tlieve. that Ladysmith needs such a
building The highschool gymnasium
is the only public room in the city
which is suitable for Il public gather
ing, and this room was never intended
for general conventions or gatherings
Of the people outside Of the school in
rerests and gymnasium work.
If this city needs a community build
ing. then the question is. what should
it cmbody and can we afford to build
it? 1t is not proposed TO start on such
a building before 1923. Looking ahead
to a larger and more important city
chan Ladysmith now is, an adequate
structure would probably cost in the
neighborhood Of 100000 More than
Fwo-thirdS of this amount or nearly
| $70. 600. in income taxes from one con-
Germ alone, will be available during the
next two years. So it is not expected
lat the tax rate will be increased
any over what it has been i'll the past
| N order to provide for the building Of
an auditorium. IN fact. at this time, it
| is expected by the mayor that the tax
rate will decrease and the amount of
| asSesSable property will increase dur
ing the next two years. All Of which
presages the ability Of the city to han
die the project without increasing the
burden ON the taxpayers.
y committee Of three citizens has
been obtaining information ON the sub
ject of a city auditorium. its desirable
comprehenSiyenoSS. probable cost. and
so forth. Naturally. they have been
seeking the information where such en-
terpriseS has been successfully carried
through in cities about the size Of La
dySmith Among other cities which
have built auditOriums and which was
pioneer along this line of municipal
enterprise is Richland Center city
of about $500 people i'm the southwest
ern part Of Wisconsin. Her people are
proud Of their auditorium and glad
that they built it. y real necessity ex-
| listed for such Il municipal building
there. as it does here The people
were about evenly divided on the sub
ject of providing such Il building, in
! fact the mayor Of the town had TO
vote off tie among the aldermen, and
when the election was held the voters
sustained the councils action.
\ small pamphlet issued by the auth
critics of Richland Center contains the
following information concerning their
auditorium:
The building is built of hard red
brick and concrete 1t is three stories
and fireproof. II has the fan system
of ventilation and the direct method
of lighting throughout. The dimen-
sions ON the ground are II feet by 122
feet The auditorium room proper is
most beautiful and inspiring room
to sit in. The seating capacity Of the
room is arranged in Il semi-circular
order The main floor seats $40 and the
balcony 2SS. The area of the stage is
As feet by % feet. 1t is we'll equipped
with ii complete line Of scenery suit
able for various entertainments. On
either side Of the stage are eight dress
ing rooms for the convenience of the
actors.
The auditorium room proper is OPP
Grated under the supervision of COM
and confirmed by the council. The
committee employ Il manager at a NOM
inal salary who carries out their wish