Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-07
Y. M. c. A. BUILDING
An Official Statement of the Kind
Of Structure Needed.
PRESENT DEMANDS FUTURE GROWTH
What is Proposed in Advancing
The Work for Young Men. :
THE ONEY STU ALTON

character of the new building needed by
the Young Mems Christian Association has
just been prepared:
The Young Mems Christian Association
Of the city Of Washington is without a
home. because Of the destruction, by fire.
of the building at 400 New York avenue
northwest, on the oath day Of July last.
When the population Of this city is made
a basis of comparison with other cities.
and the numerous young men. resident and
visiting, is considered, also the quality of
work accomplished by the management in
their former limited quarters, 1t Is without
doubt the will Of the citizens Of the nations
capital that a building be erected and
equipped that will be equal to the assured
demands of the immediate future, with a
margin for growth.
The history Of the association demands
that this building shall be such as will meet
the requirements of the advanced work Of
the Young Mems Christian Association, and
that no permanent quarters be secured ex-
cept such as are designed for the purpose.
The Kind of Building.
area Of not less than 10000 square feet, in
which should be a public hall with a seat
ing capacity of 1000 people at the very low
est-many think 1t should accommodate
1000 A gymnasium with all the modern
improvements and appliances, shower, tub
and needle baths, improved dressing room
facilities, plunge or swimming bath, bowl
ing alleys. members reading room, public
reading room, library, reception hall. assem-
bly, room for 800 persons, bicycle store room.
educational class rooms to accommodate
1000 students-there were 43S students
crowded into the old rooms in one year.
Glasses In stenography, arithmetic. book
keeping, English. penmanship. algebra,
geometry, physics, mechanical draughting
and typewriting were cared for In the year
1S04-'95. In arithmetic, stenography and
bookkeeping the demand for accommoda-
lions for students was almost four times
greater than the supply; an Illustration
given Is that in arithmetic; there were 147
students enrolled; the capacity of the room.
40.
A Growing Work.
free-hand drawing. languages. electrical and
mechanical engineering. manual training
and many other studies which young men
need, requiring not less than 1900 square
feet Of floor space. Then there Is call for
special library for students, technical and
scientific. Amateur photographers will have
to receive attention, amusement and recrea-
ton rooms, chess and checker rooms.
The boys will need special attention and
must be kept separated from the men, using
the gymnasium when the men are not pres
ent and their own rooms at other times.
They will need reading room and library,
recreation room and lecture room.
The needs include space for the Office
rooms for board of managers, committees.
Bible study. then come public comfort-ele-
Vators, heating apparatus perhaps a roof
garden. and the many things that prob
Quire. to say nothing Of the privileges that
the host of strangers and residents who are
not members are always accorded.
The Plans Suggested.
There are two plans suggested with re-
gard to an income to help meet the expense
Of such building and so great work:
First-Stores on the ground floor.
Second-A home for the new city library.
Either would require all Of the first floor
It is hardly necessary to state that $780, :
600 could be used in the preparation of such
a building, in addition to the lot now in
possession of the association, while the
amount OF money Is not so much to be con-
sidered as the necessary equipment. If the
plant can be secured for a smaller amount
of money the association managers will be
more than gratified. The public can be as
sured that the organization which has car
ried on SO magnificent a work at SO small
faithful to the larger trust.
In order that the required amount may be
raised promptly and lot secured. so that
the work may suffer no further hindrance
than is absolutely necessary, a meeting of
the business men Is called for Wednesday,
September IS, at noon. in Masonic Hall,
and the subscription list is now open at the
temporary headquarters in the Lehman
building, second floor Of 1925 New York
avenue northwest.
All interested may subscribe, such
amounts to be paid quarterly, covering a
term of four years.
The subscriptions ought to be divided as
follows:
10 subscriptions Of 5000 each. $50, ooo
20 subscriptions of $500 each........ $1,000
% subscriptions Of 1000 each........ 25,OOO
so subscriptions Of 500 each. $4,000
100 subscriptions of $50 each........ $4,000
$50 subscriptions Of 100 each........ $4,000
This statement is presented by the joint
committee-fnance and building-of the
Young Mems Christian Association, and is
designed to aid any friend of young men in
coming to decision as to the amount he or
she may contribute in order that the city
of Washington may have q building for
young men equal to the absolute needs,
even more than to do what other cities have
done for young men.
8. w. WOODWARD,
Chairman Finance Committee.
JOHN B. LARNER,