New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-17

dollar thereafter Thirty-one trades or handicrafts
represented each to be- considered branch
OF the General Committee. and each 20 elect It's
own delegate for that committee yearly An ron
chest. with three locks. purchased. in which TO
deposit the funds OF the society. and certificate Of
membership IVES designed and engraved. This iron
chest soon proved inadequate. and real estate was
bought The assets to-day are beyond the three
quarter-of-a million mark. and ono time the an
nual income reached $1,000. It's history may be
thus briefly sketched: Il was incorporated by the
Legislature March Il, 1872 bought The lot at Broad
way and Park Place and laid the cornerstone Of It's
own Mechanics Hal! in 1852. founded the Mechan-
les Bank. now at No. % Wall-st.. easily dsrn-
guished by the emblem Of the society It's door.
in 1910; established mechanics school and founded
the apprentices library IN 1920 opened instructive
OF lectures in 1893; founded a public read
ng-room in 1856 free 10 every one without any re-
stricton whatever fully supplied with daily and
weekly papers and popular periodicals and maya
zines. and in 1878 removed 10 its and spacious
building formerly the Suydam mansion. No Is Es -
Sxteenth-st where in its enlarged sphere or use
fulness. lis well-manaRed library Of eighty
it's evening Schools of frec-hand drawing mechani-
cal and architectural draughiing modelling. de-
signing from objects OF art typewriting and stenos-
raphy in successful operation.
In 1910 the property at Broadway and Park Place
leased TO he Security Insurance Company. \
building erected. which was bought by the So
ciety in 1889.
VARIOUS LINES OF ACTIVITY.
The Apprentices Library founded the same
time as the Mechanics School IN 1920 This circu-
lating library had been for some time contemplated
and was opened with about four hundred books I'm
the same building the school. it having been
learned by consulting with employers and visiting
the various workshops Of the city that not less than
74o apprentices would like al once to become read
ers. The new library was accessible in the evening
only. the books being received and delivered by a
member Of the society. But in 1874 a Librarian was
employed and ever since then me society mas bee
open daily from o clock in ihe nlrnnt. until ln
the eyen'Es. AZ ne end Of q dozen Years The
Chambefs-St bULdlhg was round 100 ~mall, anu the
society bought threes-or1 brick school building ia
Croshy-st for $4,000 and rented The Chambcrs-st
mousse ioi once continuing III receipt OF tht ~
come until 1851. wlcn the property reverted 10 the
city. At the tim the library was removed along
with the school ln october lsa2. 10 It's new nome
in Crosby St II contained about ten thousand Vol
unes In ls5 me ontiiuei progress OF ihc society
wing added 10 each side OF the school building
at cost of nearly $1,000 and courses Of lectures
were established for the winter months. The 500
ciety desired entrance 20 its library and lecture
building at No. 40 Broadway which was duy orna-
mented with the hammer and hand. and altered 80
20 connect Ia the rear with the c-osby-si. prop
ety.. An unexpected source OF income clnc through
The leasing Of the lecture-room 10 the original
Christy Minstres. which continued for over twenty
hve years. notwithstanding that numerous members
OF the society regarded the scheme with Giefavo..
REMOVAL NECESSARY.
But the growth Of New-York made il necessary
TO find a more central site. The .no;ce fell upon q
spacious old mansion in Sixteenth-sL. between
Broadway and Flfth-aNe, which was purchased al
a cost OF $3.50 for a new Mechanics Hall. The
edlhce the entire lOt 37isxlSD ANA furnished
for the time ample accommodation. Tho aitera-
t!ons, repair and furnishing cost the additional
OF s2J.f26 The removal ami dedication occurred
in the cary part OF 1873. and again the raca tei
buildings were rented Ia reply 20 a recent inquiry
to how this ancient soc iety acquired such a
handsome revenue. The reply was. because II
never sold piece of real estate that Il once goi
possession Of
Typewrting and stenography are taught 10 many
women. and twelve free scholarships have been
founded in the New-York Trade school
AT Of this and much more viii be duly brought 10
mind Al III" dinner OF the society tomorrow night
AT the Hotel Brunswick. /. will be in ceiebrai on
OF the 10th anniversary. Warren s Conover vii
preside. and the following VII respond 10 toasis
Mayor Strong The city OF New YOrk': Controller
Fitch. Benefits TO the city Accruing from It's
Benevolent Institutions General Stewart /. Wood
ford. The Found'rs-lheir benevOlence and Mu-
tual Aid: ex-Consressman Roswell q. Horn The
Socletys Early Conception OF the Idea Of Protec-
lion 10 American Industries the Rev. Samuel A
Eliot. OF Brooklyn. The soc:etys Educational
Work and the Rev. Or 4. Palmer The SO-
cieiy's PAIR ot;sm and Public Spirit" There viii be
80 persons al the dinner including many women.