New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-15
PRICE THREE CENTS.
TO BUY THE STEWART HOUSE.
THE AMBITION OF THE MANHATTAN CLUB
cRAMPED IN THE PRESENT QUARTERs--A COMMIT
TEE CONVERTING WITH MR.. HILTON ABOUT THE
SALE or THE


SALE OF THE MARBLE PALACE"
II the Manhattan Club and the heirs Of the
Stewart estate ca come TO an understanding re-
garding the value Of what is generally known
as tho Stewart mansion. at Thirty-fourth-st and
Fifth-ave, and IL the involved legal questions now
forming issues in the courts regarding the property
shall not prevent it, the marble house which A. T.
Stewart built because OF his wfe's desires, will
be occupied IN time by the club. Negotiations
have been In progress for some time between
authorized representatives OF the Manhattan Club
and the executors Of the Stewart estate relative
TO the purchase of this property.
There have been good many questions involved
in tho matter. The one phase OF it which has
been clearly defined il that tho Manhattan Club
wants more commodious quarters. Its brownstone-
front house at Ffteenth-st and Fifth-avs has long
served as the centre OF q splendid cuisine, as a
Mecca for good fellowship and a haven OF rest
for good Democrats with a leaven of Republicans.
But now the Manhattan is in trouble: IT considers
itself cramped; it has had its eve on the Union
League Club and the luxurious building at Thirty
ninth-st. and Fifth-ave. and it has longcJ to get
near that region Of unadutcraNd happiness.
VARIOUS RUMORs ABOUT THE MANhIpN.
The feeling that the Manhattan must have
more room has existed for some time. Of late it
has taken on definite form The leading members
took the cry in hand and finally Frederic H.
Coudert vlce-presidcnt of the club, aud j. Ser
geant Cram Of the House Committee. were IN
structed to look about for new lodging place
for the club Ofall the places uptown, the Stewart
mansion appeared to the members as presenting
as fine front-Dure white marblc-in comparison
to the imposing faCadcs of the onion League Club
building as any Messrs Coudert and Cram,
therefore, called upon eX-Judge IIilton-who with
Charles j. Clinch is an executor for the Stewart
property for sale for club purposes or az all
and whether the present state OF litigation would
admit al the desired transfer and, too, IL nos
chiefly, what would be the sum demanded for
the house
There have been various views aHoat as % what
the executors of the estate intended to do with
the building One which was current for some
time was that eX-Judge Hilton would purchase
1T for himself. Another was that Charles j. Clnch,
Mrs Stewart's fourth nephew" would f0rego tho
attractions OF life in Paris and settle down In tho
marble palace" The tentative efforts of Messrs.
Coudert and Cram seemed to Set these possibilities
at rest 1t learned that the house was Tor sale.
Then came the question Of legal complications.
1t is though: that these will form insurmount-
able obstacle to the transfer OF the property. IL
had been determined that the house sha, be sold
and that the proceeds used in settling up tho
estate and although the suits of Prescott Hall
Butler OF his sister, Miss Rosalie c. Butler aud Of
Mrs j. Lawrence Smith are pending. if all ths
heirs concur the house be sold and the heirs
can fight over the proceeds well the house.
So the legal complications have gone for un ghs
IN the Manhattan Clubs Efforts.
THE VALUE OF THE HOUSE
There is naturally difference of value put on
the house by the Club and the executors IL IL gen-
orally thought by the club that s7Oo.oOo ought
to purchase the house. The executors AT
least 81, 100000 for The house which IL Ii Generally
understood have cost s2oO, 900 more tlau JLax
Inc negotiations are sCI open. Frederic IL.
Coudert WAS asked abOdC tile matter yesterday.
lie took the question wan his usual iacrilcy
ana urnanity as lie replied, with smile:
Ncll, Jou see tine Manhattan CiuO has been
growing 1t now is mofe prosperous than it has
ever been before L'adinS members OF the club
nave come 10 The concius. on that il should have
more commodiOus quarters. We have been look
| ing Tor them We wish to go further up
noMa oown n, ,hs men iwiLh twinkle In his eyeJ
Union League Club does not appear ready 10 sell
out-at least it went until March H. lss9-and
SO as the Stewart mansion was the only building
near the gorgeous Union League quarters where
the Manhattan felt that it could settle consistently
WIN its pride and proportions, negotiations were
opened with view to the purchase of the prop
erty."
Mr. Coudert naturally did not desire to say
what lie. as representative Of the club, thought
the stewart house worth what sum had been
offered AS to the litigatons involving the
house he said: These need not stand in the way.
The heirs agree to have the house sold AZ
present the house is bringing in nothing in fact it
Is an expense IL is not occupied | believe. The
heirs can much better ltigae over the proceeds
than over house which is bringing in nothing"
Not WHOLLY IN THE INTEREST OF DEMOCRACY.
Mr. Coudert was asked il the proposed move
was in the interests Of pure Democracy as cp-
POSED to Repubcansm 20, no." tue answer;
" the Manhattan Club takes in Republicans AS we'll
as Democrats. Roscoe COnkling AID Clarence A.
Seward are members. Republicans can get their
,emonade at the Manhattan cafe easily as can the
Democrats"
The Manhattan Club has set its heart on the
Stewart mansion and only the question OF terms
can now stand in T. way, is the opinion of leading
members. The president of the club is MantOn
Marble, Mr.. C0udert being vice-president The
constitution of the club sets forth that its objecs
is to advance Democratic principles to promote
social intercourse among it's members and to pro-
vide them the conveniences OF club house" Tho
social features Of the club and its gastronomo
attractions are well known. There are 600
members in the club the membership being
limited to 1000.
SOME OF THE CLUB MEMBERS.
Among wcll-known members OF the club arc
leon Albeit. John T. Agncw, George p. Andrews,
Samuel d. Babcocll, Henry f. Abbey. S L. NJ Bar.
low, George @. Barrett. Miles Beach. Surveyor
Beatte. Cunning $. Bedford August Belmont
John r. Brady Charles ]. Canda, Henry L. Clinton.
Roscoe ConlS.ing, Edward Cooper. s. S Cox Austin
Corbn. Frederic r. Coudert, John ID. Crimmins,
John f.. Develin, William Dorshcimer, p Henry
Ss0 jms as hSsS s%a % t fcws4 IT, Slq hRnfse Fs
b Flynn, John J. Freedman Henry A. Gildcrslceve,
William 4. Grace, Hugh J: Grant, John Clinton
| Gray, Ashbel Green, DR.. William A. Hammond
Mayor Hewitt, George Hoadly. George L. In.
graham, Abraham r. Lawrence, Charles F. Mac
| Lean, Randolph B. MARITIME, Charles j. Nehrbas,
| Delaney Ncoll, Herman Oclrichs, Richard
| O'Gorman, Oswald Ottcndorfer. Edward Patterson.
Maurice j. Power, Roger 4, Pryor, Rastus S. Ran
som, Edward III. Schcl Mckenzie Semplc. Fred
erick Smith, James Q: Spencer Charles H. Truax,
Lawrence Turnure Charles ii. Van Brunt, George
| NJ Van IIousen, Andrew J. White William G..
Whitney d. d. Witbers Frank Work and lsidol
Wormser.
| NEWTON KILLSIy THE NATURAL 0AS REGION.
| PIrrsBuRc. Jan. IA (SpeeiaD. .-Grapevillc tho
| pennsylyanla Railroad Is to have an acquisition In
/ IL rollin mil Iron mill unrks