The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-03
THE ARoADIAN CLUBS FAILURE.
Club Mana cement Examples Of its Follies
and Its Successes.

Ve0rs Tense OF Mrs. Fosters house on Fourth
avenue, near the Clarendon Hotel. at a rental OF
5000 per annum for the irst two years, and
5000 for the last year. In 1873 they had between
800 and 400 members, to say nothing OF the Rev.
| Henry Ward Beecher, host In himself. and at
that time an honorary member. Henry @. Steb-
bins was President, and the club was in a sound
financial condition. On the LIST Of MAY, 1875, they
moved to their new club house, on the West
side OF Fifth avenue, between Nineteenth and
Twentieth streets, OF which they had secured a
i've years lease at the rate Of $4,000 per annum.
The rent was not nigh one, even In these times,
considering tho very choice locality. During
the short period OF the Arcadian's stay ON Fifth
avenue, Mr.. Robert u. Roosevelt was President.
His administration has not been success. The
government of the club was vested In an execu-
tive council, consisting of tweniy -one members.
VINO ran the club how 1t was managed wo
are unable to say. For months past half the
members have been posted on the bulletin
board for non payment Of dues. The club was
unable TO pay its debts, and went into the
hands OF n receiver, Harrison Willard, the former
Treasurer, being appointed. This however, did
not suit Acker. Merrall s. Condit, wholesale gro
GERS. who cot judgment against the Arcadlan
for t1,i50, and sold out the establishment, root,
stock, and branch on the lat u July by Shefifs
sale. I he furniture and equipments sold for
THIS Is the third club which hos come to grief
during the last few months. FIRST, the Army
and Navy Club became involved, was unable to
paw the rent Of Its CLUB house, No. FL West
Twenty-seyerth street, vacated the premises,
the Four-in-Hand Grub House and grounds wero
sold out under foreclosure. If we NAV judge
from the remarks of Commodore Kane at a
monthly meeting OF the Yacht Club this spring,
the fnanci ] III ira OF that organization are far
from being In a healthy condition. He went 40
far as to say that " sonnet Ming was not done,
thew would have TO go into bankruptcy. This
has not yet happened. No DOUBT "somethIng
Even tn Union Club. the oldest club In New
York. which represents more wealth than any
other social organization IN THIS city, has OF late
presented by the committee with the annual re-
port for the yenr from May !, is75, to April 30,
committee estimate tn . a similar deficiency OF
about $1,000 will PROBABLY exist on May l, 1877.
with iuOiclous man gcment-such rs has
marked the administration OF the affairs OF the
Union League Cluo during the comparatively
the Union club should. at this present writing,
be not only out u debt. but have a handsome
surplus besides. II we remember riaht, tho
laud, 81 feet inches on Firth avenue. by 100
feot on Twcnty-flrst street, cost originally $i0,-
900. Bonds were issued for the erection OF its
present. building and It's equipment. They were
all taken by members. These bonds were called
In and paid on by degrees. In the II Of 1873
they had been all can .elled, an the only mort
gage ganst the club, mortgage OF $4,000, re-
prescntinRth origin lpurchase none mortgage
for the land, with an addition Of $4,000, made
was held by member who most opportuney
came forward and made the loan at a moment
when IL was most needed.
At a general meeting Of the club, held In Feb.
uary, 1874. tue committee submitted ana recon-
mended plan Of improvement, which was
adopted. II added one or wing room, two par
lors, one cloak room, one billiard room, and
necessary ceiia ,a' AN elevator Was MIRO
removed to the third ana fourth tories. The
cost Of the architectural improvements were
guaranteed not To exceed .e47,U0; IL wus stated
tn { the cost OF Il ting the Third story would not
exceed $1,000; and further that the interest ON
$4,000 he maximum to be ed and the
cost Of running the elevator would not exceed
f7,00J per mum. Unfortunately for the he ,th
and well being Of the members, n system Of So
called ventilation. a pet scheme with one Of the
members OF the committee, wis, q great cost,
introduced throughout tho house Powerful
steam engines In the cellar sent no eud OF hot
and cold .ir through secret ana insdlOua OPEN
inrs into every apartment Of this devoted build
at whist with their feet wrapped In overcoats,
wnile a tropical climate rel9ned about tho
Union Club mad nothing else lie was sure to
have cold. Many OF the older members those
porous condition during period OF thirty odd
years-oegan to think that this yentllitlon
scnSm o Sas GeoSaid plot 60 Get rio Of ne
their lon' rest during these severe trials.
Toe result, financially, OF the improvements
and EN- ue l'Shmcnts was permanent Increase
In the MORTGAGE debt, not Of $4,000, nut OF
$4,000. BESIDES. the improvements, including
the elevators and the ABOLITION Of tue bar nave
caused the necessity 81 additional service,
amount NJ TO nineteen persons, who have TO bs
supplied with liveries and with DO ,ru The new
drawing room, on the hrst iioor, l. never tree
from vibration caused by tue steam engines be-
low. with this constant noise to keep up tho
illusion, one can re Il himself comfortably In
THIS magnificent room, shut his eyes. ana mag
inc himself on North river steamboat. II tho
club house were sold at public auction To- NOR
row II would not. In the opinion OF those
best calculated u judge, bring ono dollar
more by reason OF those improvements. And
as Tar "a the material comfort Of the members
Is concerned, these $l0O,tOJ nave been inJudi-
ciously ent with tue exception OF the iignt,
cheerful dining room, tho improvements add
bat little To tue well being Of those who fire.
qucnt the club. Extensive decor .tions are
nrither u'ciul nor IN good taste, In he large
apartments Of the Union CLUB. But when IT oe-
comes necessary to study economy, all expenses
IN th,s ERECTION should I've carefully avoided.
The successful MANAGEMENT OF an 81 gautZa-
tion ike tho UGion Clue, WI ch cuploys some
seventy Ave persons discusses a nav roll of over
$4,000, anu furnishes ncRr,y s,5,01D cash To the
rst. ursnt account In c Cd anu every year, re-
quires not only the constant SUPERVISION. care,
ana attention II the sub committee who direct
aud control the EXPENSES and CHI; rges OF the
CLUB but also very considerable experience aud
executive talent. Every hcad of fanny knows
how difficult II IA to stop the leaks IN tue an H.
est estlolisb ment. he running OF - clue Of ono
Thousand members. with IA restaurant attached,
Is bushes ~ Itself. IL comes about as near
as possible To hotel keeping. m4n-hoNover
clever he otherwise my oe-who his shown
himself inoaoaole OF managing his own anairs,
l. not likely TO succeed IN managing tuo uf ira
uf others, and much less to succeed MANAGING
the anAlrs of n large club. Tee restaur mt ac-
count Of the Union CLUB from May /. 1875 10
April 30, 1876, SHOWS lors OF Sl,6N 90. With
efficient man cement aud no LEAFS ,his account
would undoubtedly pay prof.. IL Ia handl-
capped with tue uoard Of seventy five persons
~ nifty cents per day, estimate for tue past
year at Sl3.6s1.b, out per contra, 1t has ~ rent
or servants " igo9 To paN no table equipage,
linen, or washing to furnish.
Deimouico hnes for ten wears. on the corner
OF Fif n avenue and Py1nty-sixth street, NJ tho
rate of $36.U0O oI $4,000 year, building not
suitable Tor us purpose; he makes. at hIs oWn
charge, very extensive and extensive alter
ions or a permanent Character; ne employs,
pays, and feeds u s.an OF sery4nts, VINO must
take turns and he ON nand from \. NJ. tIll long
after uidulghti ue purchases iuruii ure, carpets,
mi rors, table tQtipa2e, gl So linen, a., and
ye makes IN enormous fortune by ms restau-
rant. We viz. no doubt, be told int he makes
his prunt CHIEFLY from wine, ANA the bar. and
that the Uhluu Club make Lutte profit from
wine. Hestaurnht prices (wlnes eXCoptod) arc
little lower at the Uuion Gao than at ID I'm oni-
cos. The drinks at tue bar are about the same.
but DcluOnicu. down town. sells comp rdtiVciy
little VINE; ana the new es,ablisumrnt
he Ia nuiug up on broadway, near Pine
street, will a. diI the broadway aud Cnamoers
street oue, depend Tor success on class OF
people who spend very little Tor wine In A
word, the restaurant pays ENORMOUSLY OF itself
We believe that TIE Union club will never stop
the innu,neraOle leaks which consume It's rev
enues till II farms out the whole restaurant ue-
partment to some responsible party ike Del
monioo, letting MIN run h, he paying attend.nt
charges and expenses, Including the wages OF
ala servants .rheu In [ den rlmenf