New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-04
THE WEALTH OFTRINITY PARISH
NOT AN EASY THING TO MEASURE 1T IN
DOLLARS.
FAIR ESTIMATE, HOWEVER, WOULD BE
$4,000 ooo-THE HEIRS OF ANNEKE JAMS

,od nubIicy that the property on Manhattan Island
uned nv the Parish of Trinity Church was worth hoo
Ices than sl5OO00,0Oo, whereupon the heirs Oh 'ho
,,o ,,rnonted Annekc JAMS began to wonder how long
:. r,d be before the estate would be divided so that
o, nigh, have his or her share. Strange TO say. tho
vestrvmen Of the parish who are the officers Oh tio
Trinity corporation, regarded the commOtoh uicrcoy
rc,,ed among the heirs with great complacency' anu
one Of them recently told Tribune reporter tha' il
h,r n the long since departed Anneke continued 10
materIallzc ia future as rapidly as they nave III u
mast there would not be enough money TO 20 arounu'
avon n the estate were valuable as the wellkno"h
t,vcr referred TO had alleged IL to be- Shortly aiter
he made this declaration letters from alleged heirs VI
the famous anccstrcss began TO pour In upon te NV
DR. Morgan Dix. Trnity's rector and the weiiRiio"'
citizens comprising the vcstry, mOdestly asking 70 DO
informed of the date when the property would DC W.
yded among them, the impression seeming 10 nave
obtained currency that they had but to ask 10 RECEIVE
! their proper proportion OF the estate
For many wears the Anncke JAMS heirs, whose name
is legion indeed have been sustained by an uhiaters
tusi that before they should be summoned 10 JON 'c
ipnumertbe caravan they would realize their dreams
Of wealth If it were not for the earnesneaS Oh Ie'e
alleged heirs and their evident belief in the genuine
moss ~ their claims, their professions would be e1-
| trcmey ludicrous.
II NAV dlsappont the alleged heirs to know tlat TIC
Trinity property is not worth nearly as much as 9loo'
600 OoO and indeed, there is no evidence that "ouiu
| br
than 600 alleged heirs and the number is constantly
! Increasing.
DR. Dix made an official statement a few years ago
I'm ronly 10 numerous questions as TO what Trinity
Church did with Is enormous income In when ne dc
cIored that the entire annual income OF the property
from all sources would not exceed fJoo,oOo' WHICH
orId bc coual TO nearly per cent interest $1,000.
600 or allowing per cent tor maintenance ana re
pairs. 4 per cent net. During the last seven years
| this income has not varied to any great extent
The figures given, however. do not fairly represent
the market values of even the scctarlan taxable
propcrty which is only small proportion oil the
whole for the reason. among Others that the income
is largely from ground rents. which do not return
ANYTHING like so great percentage upon the principal
ne g per cent gross. It would be fairer to assume
that the income given represented principal OF from
SIG 600 900 to S20,OO00OO, this calculation being
based upon the fact that much Of the land Is so Id
Gated as not command the highest rates Tor grohho
rents The greater part OF tho taNabe property
lies between Canal and Christopher SIS. west of Var
l,, and Hudson SIS in which area there are thirty
one blocks Of It, all built upon. Nearly all OF TINS
tract IS leased on ground rents for long terms OF
| years.
CHURCHES ~ THE PARISH
The property actually used for church purposes Is
~ course of greater value than the remainder Iherc
arc no less than churches IN the parish al pu'
one Of which. with the land upon when they are
hullt ar, owned by the parish. These are TRINITY
Church in broadway. opposite Wall A.; IT. PanIs
Chapel broadway, between Fulton and Ne'ey St'''
! :, Jobn's Chanel Varck above Beach st. Trinity
| chanel Twenty nfth.,t. near broadway st. thrya
o,tom's Chapel. seventh ave. and Thirty hih'hN'.'
Il Augustine's chapel, II0ustonst between Seooh''
ave and tho EOwcry. and It. Cofnelluss Ohdpoi on
oovcrpor.s Island The last.named chapel has been
included in Trinity Parish s,nce l7'"' "'e inc "'I
Dcnar1 fcut dropped Governors Island from the H''
If ARMY post, FIR which chaplain, arr provided. The
r,,on for thu, Sep that the ISLAND Icing Witmh
tho Flr-t Ward Of the city. the religious deho''h"
tons 81 the ward should take caro oil the SpHl'D"'
welfare Of the soldier. 1870.
When asked recently il he could give the eN"'
value Of tho church property IN the parish one 81
~, vestr,me said There 1, 10 Way OF learning II
| thai | know Of You or any one else can ma"' ~
good an estimate r. can. OF course d" i.'",'
! church should be torn down ana Ns ste anu ''''
graveyard cut up into building lots the P'Vp'',
would bring an immense price but ~ '"'' - mn
never to occur any estimate of its comnerc'al N""o
! would he extremely lar.ictchci. suu suppose an
e.tln,a,. could be formed based upon even &C uhiAeS
, contingency. The eamc might be said Of Inc
propcrt, surrounding II. Paul, These Nv" 'hni'h''
o,cupy AL entire block each In the very heart OF ue
ln,.nc., part u the cty. and the land ior 'o"''
mcr,.al purpose. would be OF great value
Would YOU be- willing t. say that all 81 inc
/ church property IN thr parish Including Trinity ana
=, raul's and the scctaran lands, IS commercially
worth SloOOOOoOOf" Wa asked.
oh. no. wa. the reply would not be willing
to make auy estimate a. an. but can. thnR' 'oi-
.lsicutly c>prc-, the opinion that II That Is your
Would il be- sac to say that 375,ooo.ooo is not
WcI really do not Ike 10 mdorse any con
lcctur.s the value but your Judgment Is better
/ now than 10 va, ptobably.r
Tearcr than mi, the a,tutc vc-tryman would noy
. commit himself In forming an estimate OF the lo'll
value Of the parish property commcrcaliy spc'ling,
] fl. -
/ cemetery. Ia ElcycnlhaVc. above ohe-mnditd aut.
are Cfcrn acre In this tract which /, In neighhor-
hood I'm which ~" land nkelv to increase IN value
,Sn,,r'iN rc sIP[I'' 'o cay D'''" VI ''p
THE VARIOUS EXPENDITURES.
It would seem that IN, income Of $500 ooo IS
sufficient to meet the demands Of tn parish. All 81
The seven churches named are maintained from this
| income. The receipts from pew rents do not reach
onctveneth Of the amount devoted o. the support of
the churches the design being to make them all free
churches The parish supports eighteen clerymcn.
seven oreani,ts 100 chor,tcrs and twelve sections
and assistant sexton, and the corporation pays the
,aarle, OF controller corl. counsel and eight
hooLLeepcr,. There are maintained also system Of
ia daily parish schools. employing eighteen teachers.
and having % capacity Of nearly 1000 pupils. a
system Of Industrial schools aud m innrmary. Tn,
parish supports five beds Ia II. bukcs Hospital and
contributes to the support OF eighteen churches
outside the parish. larse annual conribuiions ai,o
city Mission society The Italian Mission Of New
York. the Church German society. and 10 Hobart
college at Geneva. y. y. Trinity pays the salary
Of The chaplain ~ ST. Tarnabas Home ana contribute,
10 tn, salary OF the Bishop Of the Diocese.
The church building, are not taxed but nm annual
taN Of about 3d5ooo !. paid ON the scctarian lands
40 doubt II the alleged heirs Of the decreased Annckc
value OF the cntrn parish property they would make
It urn In more than 100000 annually, IN The way
II an income but perhaps It would not all be- spent
for church purpose, Is the case
IT was an orIr Of tns Sorpo0n TnS aa na'
| Ing falacy.