The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-23
THE Loss AND INSURANCE.
The Building and Its Furniture
VnIued ut $4,000.

valued ut $4,000.
The insurance upon the building will
not cover more than half the loss. The
value of the building, together with
church furniture, ornaments and other
property, is estimated at about $4,000.
The insurance upon the building is $685.
900, upon the organ. $4,000, and upon
church furniture and ornaments, 81, 800, a
total of $S2,5OO. The insurance was ham
died by KoHock & Screven, and was
placed as follows: Building, Southern Mu-
tual $1,000; Queen, 5000; Norwich Union,
5000; Northern, 5000. Organ, Norwich
Union, $1,000; Northern, $1,000. Furniture
and ornaments, Norwich Union, 5000;
Hartford, $500. The. matter of increas-
ing the insurance has been several times
discussed by the vestry, but has been
postponed on account of other pressing
obligations.
The blow falls at time when 1t Is
severely felt by the yestry and congre-
cation of the church. About four years
ago the work of remodeling the interior
OF the church, refurnshing it and INSTALL
ing new organ was completed at a cost
Of over $4,000. After much effort the
olncers OF the church had just succeeded
IN detraying the last of this indebtedness
ana were just congratulating themselves
that they were out of debt once more
ana could breathe freely. AS a result of
the clearing up of this Indebtedness, at a
meeting of the vestry, held yesterday it
was decided to increase the salary of the
rector.
Although generally regarded as a
wealthy congregation and. in. fact. yener-
ally spoken of as the wealthiest congre-
cation in the city, those most intimately
connected with the management of the
church finances assert that this impress
sion is an error and that in defraying its
obligations Christ church is confronted
with the difficulties common to most other
churches where large expenditures are re-
quired.
Several years ago there was some talk
In the congregation of disposing of the
building and site and erecting new and
handsomer building further south in a
more convenient location. The present To-
cation is in the heart of the business Sec
ton and the lot is a valuable one The
question OF rebuilding upon the present
site or upon new site further south will
doubtless be brought up again by the de-
struction of the building. The decision
VIII probably depend largely upon the
present value of the lot for business pur-
poses, though there are many who are
much attached to the old location and who
Will urge the reproduction of the old build
ing upon the same site.
The interior of the building was the
most handsomely finished of any in the
city. The design was by Mr.. w. G. Pres
ton, the well-known architect of Boston,
and the arrangement of the building af-
torded full scope for the exercise of his
powers. The ceiling was of deep, heavy
paneling in hard pine, handsomely carved
and finished and the effect was rich and
magnificent. The furnishing and finish of
the altar and chancel was costly and ele-
giant. The beautiful font of Italian mar
BILE, the Bishop Elliott memorial window,
the brass lectern, and the pulpit, me-
mortal to Miss Jane Young. were among
! the works of art destroyed. The memo
rial tablets to the former rectors, Rev.
Edward Neufville. Abel Carter, Charles
Coley and others will be total loss.
Mr.. Flnney was fortunate in saving a
part of the church records, the greater
part of the previous records OF the church
having been lost in the fire which destroy
| ed the former building in 1888. The Ed
| ward Neufville chair, a priced relic, which
has been in the possession of the parish
| for probably three-quarters of century,
was one of the few pieces of furniture
| saved, being in the rector's study in the
| basement
| Chief Mcclure regarded the work of the
| department as very good. When asked II
tneie was not a delay in getting the
| pressure on the streams, he said 1t was
no longer than is usually the case. A
delay is often caused by the time required
| for the increased pumping force at the
| water works to make itself felt at the
| scene of the fire. The vacuums In the
mains have to be filed, and a great deal
of the first supply is thus taken up. The
/ pressure, after the few minutes at first
/ when the delay was such a disadvantage
| was very strong, and several of the
| siamesed streams threw powerful jets.