Coral Gables Riviera

Open Hearings on Proposed Budget to Begin on Monday

CORAL GABLES RIVIERA

AN INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER 16TH YEAR NO. 18 CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA, JULY 4, 1941 PRICE FIVE CENTS

C. of C. Okays Water Purchase

All of the comforts of home are traveling with the Upton C. Ewings who left Sunday for an extended motor trip through the West. Here, Mrs. Ewing demonstrates the kitchen which is built into the trunk department of their sedan. It contains an ice box, oven, food storage compartments. Running water is obtained from a hidden pigot in the fender.—staff photo.

Library Board Asks City For $7,500 In New Budget

Disregarding the current controversy over the deed to the Community House and Library, the Coral Gables Woman's Club this week requested the city to increase its appropriation to the library fund to $7,500 for 1941-42. In making the request, Mrs. Andrew Doleman, library board member, stated that increased circulation of books required the hiring of an additional assistant for the coming year. Mrs. Doleman said that the library now has 15,000 books on its shelves and that last year's circulation totaled 56,000. At present the library employs Miss Margaret Beaton as librarian and two assistants. Miss Beaton told The Riviera recently that the library was forced into having an unlisted telephone because the staff was too busy to answer incoming calls for reference information. She made the statement when informed that the paper had received complaints from several residents who felt that a quasi-public library, supported by the taxpayers, should have a listed phone. The phone bill is paid by the city but the number is issued only to certain groups and individuals. The library has been receiving an annual appropriation of $6,000 from the city, but last year obtained an additional grant of $1,500 for new equipment. Only $6,000 has been set up in the city manager's budget estimate for library expense.

Reselling of Coliseum Is Considered

The possibility of the city taking back the Coliseum and reselling it, loomed this week as members of the commission discussed Coliseum, Inc's delinquency on its original payment schedule. The building was sold to Coliseum, Inc., on August 29, 1938 for $5,000 cash and three four per cent notes for $15,000 each due Aug. 29, 1940, 1941 and 1942. Upon maturity of the 1940 note, Coliseum, Inc. requested that the mortgage contract be re-written so as to provide for payments on August 29 in each of the years as follows: 1941, $250; 1941, $3,500; 1942, $4,000; 1943 to 1949, $5,000 each, with interest at four per cent. The commission, at that time, did not re-write the mortgage and contract, but accepted the $250 and $3,500 payment for 1940 to apply upon the note due that year. Interest of $1,800 was also paid, in accordance with the contract. In discussing the matter on Tuesday, Mayor Joe Whitley pointed out that excessive moisture, due to the ice arena, was causing much damage to be done to the ceiling and other parts of the building. He suggested that the commission confer with officials of Coliseum, Inc., to see if the original schedule cannot be maintained. If such an agreement cannot be reached, Whitley intimated that another purchaser for the building could perhaps be found.

NEW FIRE HYDRANT TO BE INSTALLED

City Manager A. B. Curry announced this week that he had secured an appropriation of $140 from the contingent fund to provide for the installation of a fire hydrant at Avenue Murcia and Red Road.