New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-26
WILL THEY CONSOLIDATE? ?
A Rig ATHLETIC SCHEME on FOOT.
THE MANHATTAN AND THE STATEN ISLAND DIS
CussING UND-N-A FINE CITY CLUB HOUSE
AND ADMIRABLE COUNTRY QUARTERS
WOULD THEN BELONG TO ONE
ORGANIZATION.

The members of the Manhattan Athletic Club
seem determined that their cherry diamond en-
blem shall wave triumphantly over all other
athletic competitors. Every effort is being made
10 further tie financial. social and athLtic IN
tercsts of the club. and the membership OF inc
organization has steadily increased of late, un'H
now about 800 people are entitled to wear the
cherry diamond on their sleeveless athletic shirts
If they feel so disposed
The clubs handsome new building IN Madison
AVE. now rapidly approaching completion, VIII
be- when finished superior in architectural beauty
TO- and will have more ample accommodations
than, any other building of its kind In the
country. Not satisfied with thls, the club seems
determined to increase It's scope in other direc-
tions. and for some time committee has been
looking around for suitable country house or
home for the club. The cherry diamond athletes
look with envy upon the fine quarters of the
rival club of the Mercury foot at Travers Island.
and have determined TO secure quarters equally
if not more advantageous. This committee. of
which w. J. Swan is the chairman. has been hard
at work since the Manhattan Club was informed
that il would have to vacate its famous grounds,
at Eighty -sixth-st. and Eighth-avc.
This committee has visited grounds all around
Manhattan Island but has been unable to Sc
cure desirable site. \ steamer has been
chartered frequently and the committee has
made many pilgrimagcs up the Sound and down
around Staten Island. An island in the Sound
possessed many of ,hc advantages desired. but
she owner of the property could not see the sub
ject in so favorable light as the committee
Erastus Wiman has also been in communication
with the club and has offered some desirable
property on Staten Island. The Lynch estate, in
Harlem, through its agent, has also offered the
Manhattan athletes some property along the
Harlem River which could be converted into
desirable quarters for the wearers of the cherry
diamond.
II the present deal which is being dis
cussed, is carried out. the Manhattan Athletic
Clubs trouble about grounds will be settled In
short order. This scheme is nothing less than
the consolidation Of the Manhattan and Staten
Island athletic clubs. If this deal is consum
mated il will be the most gigantic consolidation
ever accomplished in athletics.
The present membership Of the Staten Island
Club is about 900, while tie Manhattan member
ship list now reaches 1.5O0 Many of the most
famous athletes Of the country belong To these
clubs. and such "a consolidation would result III
the getting together in one club of the most
famous lot Of athletes in the country. The New
York. Boston and plucky little New-Jcrsey clubs
would gracefully retire 10 rear seats and have
little TO say for time.
But the massing Of so much Drawn and muscle
would be only one of the many advantageous out
comes of such consolidation. The Staten Island
Athletic Clubs handsome and spacious grounds
at New Brighton furnish just the place desired
hy the Manhattan Club. The boat-housc and
ample water facilities and well-kept and con-
venicnt grounds would suit the Manhattan Ath-
Ictic Club to a man. In return for country ac-
commodations the Manhattan Club has the hand
some city clubhouse. now nearly completed. 10
offer in rrturn To- the Staten Islanders.
A Tribune reporter several influential mem
bers of both clubs last night, and all showed
dispc csiton 70 say nothing for the present. Willie
acknOw lodging that such "A scheme was hhner
consideration. they said that tie discussion was
merely informal, and that no decided or ofcial
steps had been taken. II seems mat ne ldea
Of a consolidation was first suggested by Chairman
Swan nearly two weeks ago and If committee
has not already been appointed 10 look mp the
subject. such body probably VIII be appointed
Many of the Manhattan favor such
scheme and while some Of the Staten Island men
DO, others do not Those who object seem 20
think that In such pooling OF issues IN" Man
haitian would get by far the best OF the bargain.
While | acknowledge that such a scheme is
being discussed said one of the board Of gov
srnors of the Staten Island Club last night there
Is some uncertainty as 10 It's being carried out.
think we should give great deal more than we
should receive by such deal How the two
clubs could pool their financial issues would also
be a delicate matter satisfactorily to adjust Our
club owns property valued at 81 900, which car
ries a mortgage Of only 10000. The Manhattan
Athletic will carry mortgage of S400,0O0 on its
new clubhouse in MadsOn-aVc. and this amount,
] believe does not include the Interior furnturlnS
Of the building which may amount 10 SlOO,-
900 more
1T is not generally known. but the Newlork
Athletic Club proposed just such a consolidation
nearly five years or before that club secured
its country quarters at Travers Island. Each clnb
appointed committees 10 canvass the matter but
satisfactory terms could not be arrived AT and the
matter was dropped and the NewN OrkerS secured
their present quarters at 1ravers Island. Three
wears ago g. VI. l.. Sacks. who at that time took
such an interest in the Manhattan Club, also sug-
gested the consolidation scheme as nj present dis
cuSscd. hut the matter was dropped and nothing
ever came Of il.