Stikeen River journal., 1898-10-15
FORT WRANGEL Y. M. C.. A.
Growth of the AsSOciatiOn-W Work
Accom- plished-New Plans for
the Future-Officers.
HISTORICAL.

! AClOu is u uOurlSnlnR OrSAnlZaLlOn, less
than two years old, which has been
making steady progress In \ quiet way
since it's first meeting, Feb. 10, 1897.
The roll of members having only six
names at the beginning, has increased
until there are now about thirty, be-
sides absentees. The constitution per-
mits natives to join on the same terms
as whites. but very few have made use
of the. privilege. AS in other places,
the management of the Association is
entrusted to the active members, who
are christian men, but any man of good
moral character is allowed to become
an associate member on paying u small
annual fee.
THE HEADQUARTERS.
The Association occupies the build
ing erected by DR.. Thwing, at $50 Front
street, near the saw mill, for which the
nominal rent of one dollar per month
is paid. There is at this place game
room. with crokinole, checkers and
dOminoes, also good sized hall intend
ed for a gymnasium. and a bowling al
ley which is quite popular. The hall
has often been used for social gather
ings to which ladies are invited. Thurs
day evening is the regular time for
ladies to visit the rooms and make use
of the privileges. Religious services
for the natives are also held in this
building on Sunday and Wednesday
afternoons, but the evenings are re-
served for the members and their
friends to enjoy in wholesome pastime.
A limited supply of reading matter, in
GLIDING some books and magazines, has
been always on hand. The secretary's
room on the second floor is quiet
place for reading or writing. Strangers
are welcomed whenever the rooms are
open.
FUNDS RECEIVED.
During 1897 there we're received $751;
SO from members fees and donations,
and $685. proceeds of an ice cream So
cial. Most of this money was expend-
ed on apparatus for the gymnasium,
bowling alley and game room. In the
current year thus far, S120. 90 have been
received from members fees and dona-
tions, $500 from rent at different
times, and $3.50 from the bowling al
ley and sundries, total of $1,000 be-
sides 90 the net proceeds of concert
for the piano fund. These funds have
been administered as economically as
possible, and the association is out of
debt, excepting balance due on the
piano recently secured. No salaries
have been paid to any of the officers
and very little expended for services of
a janitor or carpenter most of the work
being done gratuitously by the men,
bers,
A NEW DEPARTURE.
For some time there has been evident
need of a respectable place for young
men to spend their evenings, centrally
located and attractive enough to draw
those who arc away from home and
friends and must otherwise chose be-
tween the streets and the saloons. The
Fort Wrangel Y. M. G. A. has uuder-
taken to meet this want by renting
rooms at the Seward block, 300 Front
street, and making them inviting and
cheerful with new wall paper, pictures,
books, magazines, papers, a piano and
SO on. These rooms were opened to the
public October 10th and will continue
to be open daily without charge to the
residents Of Fort Wrangel and strang-
ers in town as a sitting room and free
reading room. A circulating library
is to be esta blished as soon as possible.
and books loaned to members of the as
ISOLATION, contributors and others max
ing a suitable deposit. About twenty.
five dollars has been donated particul-
arly for this enterprise and as much
more is needed to complete the furnish
ing of the rooms and provide fuel ETC.,
for immediate use. Social gatherings
and religious services will be held from
time to time in the hall adjoining the
reading room, on Tuesday evenings.
The committee in charge of this branch
of Association work will spare no pains
to make the public at home in the rooms
and to make good investment of all
funds given them for expenditure. Do
nations Of books, periodicals and any
thing useful or ornamental will be
thankfully received.
| OFFICERS:
Loyal Young, President.
Clarence Thwing, Vice-President.
George T. Williams, Secretary.
L. H. Wakefield, = Acting Treasurer.
]. r. McKeand, Treasurer of the Read
ing Room