Evening star., 1895-07-24

rectors, especially Mr.. 8. W. woodward
who is the first vice president, and actively
identified with tho work of the association.
1t Is expected that as soon possible a
meeting of the board of directors will be
held, and 1t is probable that en- appeal VIII
be issued to the public asking their aid IN
the erection of a new building: In talking
| on this subject this morning Mr John B.
Larner. who is director Of the assocfa-
tion, and chairman of the building COM
| mittee, said: 1.-THE fire of this morning
| building site and 5000 in cash. The In
surance on the property is about s1S.5oO
There is b balance LA Of the % debt o,,he on the
viii probably be required to meet
the current obligations. Deducting the
5000 from the amount of the insurance
morey. it VIII leave. as said. the sum of
5000 Now, the question is, what shall be
done? 1t is my opinion that the present
site is hardly large enough to accommodate
such building as we need. Some adjoin-
ing property will have to be bought. and
then we will be in a position, If the citi-
zens back us up, to begin the erection of a
new building. It seems to me that the
good work which the association has done.
and Is doing, is appreciated by the public
generally, and especially by that important
element in our community who give en-
ploymefn to young men. These successful
business men recognize the practical value
of the influence which is exerted by such
an organization the Y. NJ. c. A., and
they have contributed and are contributing
each year money toward the support of the
association. 1t Is well known that the as
ISOLATION reaches a large number Of young
men, and affords them facilities for gain
ing an education. for physical DEVELOPMENT
and for social and religious opportunities.
1 believe that we have the approval of the
community and that an appeal for funds
to make good the loss which We have just
received will meet with generous and
hearty response"
Another member of the board Of directors
Mr.. B. H. Warner. said: Fires always
prove advantageous to growing cities when
they sweep away old buildings and do not
kill people. have no doubt the rule will
hold good in this case, and that new
building will follow the destruction of the
for and beneficial methods Money will
come sooner or later to clothe the Y. M.
c. A.. in garments suitable for its great
work"
The Kind of New Building.
Mr.. Theodore A. Harding, who was for
| merly secretary OF the association. and is
row member Of the board Of directors,
| said this morning that he believed steps
| should be taken at once to secure the neces-
! sary funds and proceed with the erection
of building. The present site, which has
| a frontage Of fifty-six feet and depth of
about 132 feet, in his opinion, affords am
pie room for a building, suitable for the
use OF the ASSOCIATION. 4 think that the
| location is desirable one," said Mr.. Hard
! Ing, land. in fact we have not been able to
find location which Is satisfactory. The
present site Is estimated to be worth about
| in location that would be appropriate for
anything like that sum of money. OF
course the details of the building can be
settled upon later on, and therefore an esti-
mate as to its cost cannot he accurately
made / believe that there should be pro-
vision in the new building for stores, and
possibly for offices, in order that the asso-
ciation might derive some income from
that source. The building could be run up
| five or six stories or more, and ample facIli-
| ties could be secured for carrying on the
work OF the association. believe that
| such building should be the center of
work IN city like this, and that there
| should be branches established at different
points. If this were done It would relieve
the pressure on the main building, md 1t
| would not be necessary to erect such a large
structure. This Is the plan followed in
Baltimore and in other Cities and believe
is an excellent one."
What Ex-President Gurley Thinks.
One of the former presidents of the as
sociation and who Is now a member OF the
board Of directors Is Mr.. w. B. Gurley.
He said this morning that he believed a
| new building should be erected. The ground
| now owned by the association. he thought,
was hardly sufficient and therefore 1t
tional space. When that was done he be-
! lieved that steps would be taken at once
to put up the new building. He was Of
the opinion that the people of the city
would support the association and that a
fund could be raised sufficient to enable
the association to at once proceed with
this important work. He thought that the
public generally appreciated the import
ance of the work which the association
was doing. 1t was not only a help to the
young men who were natives Of this city,
but to large number who came from the
different states. This latter element was
such an important one here that when
| he was president of the association he
proposed that an attempt he made to in
terest the citizens of the different states
! in a movement for the erection Of a new
building. SO that the young men who
came from the various states would feel
that they had a part in the association
and could claim a home here. He favored
| having room in the proposed new build
ing which would be given the name of
some particular state or in some other way
| identify the state with the association.
upon, he said, but he was confident that
right here in Washington a sufficient
amount of money could be raised for this
purpose.
No Time Should BE Lost.
While looking at the ruins of the build
ing Mr.. E. W. Woodruff, another director,
said that while he could not say what ac-
ton the directors would take, yet he be-
lieved that new building would be erect
ed. He thought that no time should be lost
| and that at once the necessary steps should
! be taken. AS to the site and character Of
the building he had no opinion to express.
Some indication Of the public sympathy
which has been aroused in behalf of the
association was shown by the remark made
by Rev. Dr.. Butler, the pastor of Luther
Memorial Church, who was inspecting the
! ruined building this morning. He said: