New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-21
AMONG THE CLUB-HOUSES.
THE UNION LEAGUES NEW HOME.
WORK TO BE PUSHED RApIDLY-oTHER HOUSE
BUILDERS IN THE FIELD.

WORK TO BE PUSHED RAPIDLY-oTHER HOUSE
BUILDERS IN THE FIELD.
The Union League is the most Interesting OF
The house builders to watch just now. Last week
il entered the field with hop. skip and Jump,
but so quietly that few people were aware of
the fact On Tuesday evening the contract Tor
building the new home was finally and abso-
lutelv awarded to w. d L. Lamb, jr., and on
Wednesday morning ground broken and the
dirt carts were at work taking away the debris
Already the work OF excavation is considerably
advanced, and in a week the laying of the founda-
,ions on the well-chosen site at Dean-st and
Bedford.ave. will be begun.
While their start has been made without any
flourish OF trumpets, the laying of the cornerstone
will be an entirely different affair. special
meeting of the club members has been called for
next Thursday evening to arrange for the laying
of the cornerstone with appropriate ceremonies
Ii is suggested that well-known speakers from
various parts of the country be invited 10 that
interesting incident, and that there shall be
general Qualification" The report of the build
ing committee will also be handed in.
There is another affair of Importance which will
also come before the meeting. In view of the
large number of applications for membership that
have been presented since the last regular meeting,
on June %, which still remain Enacted upon,
il is deemed proper time by many to raise the
initiation fee from $50 to $50 before the influx
becomes too great. The membership of the club
now amounts to nearly 500. There seems to be
a general feeling that the initiation fee should be
raised TO $50 before this number reaches 600,
and that it should be increased to $40 when
there are 500 on the roll.
This, however, does not imply any deviation
,icI
club was started. 1t is not intended to be merely
an aristocratc retreat, though it will undoubtedly
have one of the finest club houses in the country,
but essentially working club and young men
of good character irrespective of the size of their
fortunes are welcome. 1t is intended that the
comforts of the club shall be entirely within
their reach. They are wanted to assist in work
similar to that accomplished by the club Ill
registering voters and increasing the Republican
vote in the Twcnty-thrd Ward. Already the club
has ninety members from the Twenty fourth Ward
we'll qualified to do the same kind of work IN
that section, and il may be taken for granted
that the organizations influence will be shown
dccsively in next falls elections.
There is no doubt that the building of the
new house will do much to stimulate the growth
of the club. But although this is agreeable
rejection to the members. another one equally
the dollar for the $4,000 they will eX.
pend For example, the Messrs. Lamb took
the specifications for the entire building, and
fguped up the actual cost of carrying them out
TO dollar Then they took $500 from that
figure and let the difference stand their bid.
Their motives in doing this were the the
plumber who got the Job for that portion of the
work by offering to do it $4,000 less than lbs
highest competitor One of the committee said
TO him: How can you afford TO do that work
for the price you have named?' lie replied
shall lose something of course But l can afford
TO do that by reason of the lasting and widespread
advertisement l shall get do not know how
/ can get another advertisement OF such high
character So cheap" Taken altogether it is not
mittee have squandered any money, and Architect
Lauritzen says that neither do the contractors
feel
The Montauk are also on the alert about their
new clubhouse, and have been making steady
progress in arranging for the commencement of
the structure Last Wednesday evening a meet
ing of the trustees held, and most of the
building committee were on hand Among those
present were Charles f. Moore, president OF the
club; James a. Hayes, j. Roger Maxwell, f. l.
A. Z. Lamb Albro J. Newton f. H. Sayre, John
F. Tapscott and w. w. ROsSiter. George w. Sill
cox, who out Of town, Timothy l.. Woodruff,
who is in Europe and Leonard Moody who found
there would be quorum without him, and there
fore stayed in Maine TO look after his hay-crop,
The proceedings were long and important. though
not particularly eXhllarating TO those who took
part. About two hours spent with the
architect, Francis II. Kimbal in a technical dis
cussion Of the revised plans and specifications.
They were finally accepted, and the building and
site committee were empowered 10 award con-
tracts for building the clubhouse soon as
satisfactory bids could be obtained. The president
and secretary were authorized TO sign the con-
tracts in behalf of the club.
The bonds were taken care Of by an agreement
among the trustees who are also the incorpora-
tors, to the effect that the unsubscrbed balance
of nearly $50 900 should be guaranteed by them.
This will assure a working fund of 100000
10 start with. leaving about S65, 900 of the
cost 10 be provided for by first mortgage TO some
institution II will not be many days before the
Montauk will take the initial steps toward the
building of their handsome Venetian clubhouse,
and already c0terprising photographer has
applied TO the president for information to the
exact time when ground will be broken that he
may photograph the scene.
lively pace with it's housebuldrng but
il has been remarked by many who have seen
il that the side and partition walls OF its new
structure have gone up much more rapidly than
the front walls OF the house, which have scarcely
been touched While any paSser-by see that
fhc third story tier of beams is in position, they
could see no evidence of the bay window or round
Daus saws, however that this condition of affairs
will soon be remedied. He informed the writer
that all of the trouble about the terra Gotta
mouldngs and ornaments which have now arrived.
much 10 his own relief and that Of the $50 other
members Of the club From this time until il is
finished, he SAYS, the new clubhouse will continue
TO put on bold front, which will please instead
of soaring those who view il.