The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-08

|
the office of Colonel II. NJ. Boies yes
terday, the following appeal Ito the cit
liens of Scranton" was drawn up.
| In the destruction of our Young Mems
| Christian association building, a great
| disaster has befallen our city. 1t Is the
| first serious public calamity, affecting
| all classes of our people alike, which has
| ever overtaken us The loss of property
| is great, but that we can restore. The
| unfortunate loss of precious life which
has followed the ravages of fire is ir-
| reparable, but we can do something to
comfort the widow and fatherless, and
relieve their necessities. These things
| which we can do we should do. We feel
confident you will do them.
The building which was burned, as 'he
rapidity of Its ruin has made evident,
| was exceedingly dangerous for the public
uses to which it was devoted. Often over
| thousand people within it's walls have
! been exposed to the dangers which so
| suddenly destroyed 1t after it had closed
| Its doors Thursday night. The work of
| the association had outgrown its accom-
| modations. Nor was 1t designed to meet
| the present requirements of highest USE
| fulness, although 1t is difficult to esti-
| mate how much of our present prosper
ity, our rapid growth in population, large
| ly due to the high character and reputa-
| ton we enjoy, Is due to the influences
| tnlS aSSOClatlOn mas thrown drOu1u lho
| young men who have grown up in Scran-
ton during the last thirty years of its
| existence here. We believe it is not too
| much to say that every property holder
| In our city, every person who now en-
joys its privileges and opportunities, owes
no small percentage of all he has ac-
| quired or values here to these potent in
tluences, which, like the rain of the heav-
ems, have fallen on all alike.
| AMOUNT EXPENDED.
The trustees of the Young Mems Chris
| tian association have expended upon this
property since March, 1885, including the
5000 given by Mrs. f. A Hackley to de-
fray the cost of the plant, and fixtures
for the installation of the John Raymond
Institute and Manual Training school,
the sum of S10l,232 We estimate the
value of other contributions by the di-
rectors and public in furniture. improve
ments library, etc, at $4,000; making a
total cost of our loses, Sill, 232.
We estimate the present assets of the
association to be the value of the two
lots on Wyoming avenue at $500 per front
foot, $4,000; the total amount of insur-
ance on building and furniture, S5S,WO;
John Raymond endowment fund, $780,
900; a total of $4,000, which important
amount is idle and inproductive without
a suitable home and building for the
association. What is needed now is a
fire-proof building, the first four stories
| of which should contain stores to rent
for income, good hall, gymnasium,
| swimming and other baths, offices, read
ing rooms parlors class and manual
training rooms, and at least three
stories of dormitories and rooms for sin
| gle young men, which can be rented, say
| at an average of $500 week, to the
number of at least 100, together with
apartments for the secretaries and en-
ployes, a cafe, kitchen and roof garden.
| In short, Christian home for the home
less young men of our city.
We estimate that such a home can be
provided if you will contribute by your
subscriptions the sum of 100000, which
has been destroyed by the flames. In
the hope that you will do this, few
| subscribers have already pledged, on con-
| dition the whole amount is raised, $50 900.
The subscriptions are made payable IN
five equal annual installments, so that
the burden may be as light as possible.
SUBSCRIPTIONS ASKED.
| viii everyone who will recognize his
obligations to the association, and wishes
| it's highest future usefulness, everyone
| who is interested in the salvation of
young men, and the future of Scranton,
| send to any member of the board of
trustees, whatever subscription he or she
| can make to this cause, whether small
| or great; and do it now; in order that 3
may know without delay what plans 10
adopt for immediate reconstruction?
We will see as many as we can; We
cannot see all. We will endeavor to eX-
ecute your wishes prudently and faith
| fully. Let us erect a noble monument TO
the Christianity and Philanthropy of
Scranton, and let everybody have an in
vestment of money in H.
w. r. Storrs.
Vice President.
A. w, Dickson,
| l.. Il. Sturges,
For the Board of Trustees.
IL. NJ. Boies
Secretary and Treasurer.
Hon. William Connell, president of
) the board of trustees, which consists
of five members, was unable to attend
the meeting owing to a business en-
gagement which called him from the
city. w. r. Storrs was chosen vice.
president and presided over the meet
ing. Z. L. Fuller was elected a trus-
tee to fill the vacancy on the board
caused by the death of James Blair. A
| letter was read from w. D. Mossman
of New Haven, Conn, the first secre-
tary Of the association, expressing his
, sympathy at the loss the association
! had sustained in the destruction of the
building.
SITES PROPOSED.
Several sites were discussed by the
trustees for the new building. 1t viii
first be necessary to dispose of the
present lots. If this can be done 6
site will be selected elsewhere. The
, Pierce property on Washington ave-
nue., near Vine street, which is now
occupied by p. S. Page, was offered fol
; $4,000 The plot of ground on which
the house stands is 120 by $50 feet II
size. The Stewart property on Spruc,
street, occupied by the German stable
10 also being considered. 1t is 65 b.
$50 feet in size and is considered one O
the most valuable pieces of real es
tate in the city Attorney Kulp, o
( Wilkes Barre, was in the city yester
Z day and discussed 3. price for II will
} members of the board of trustees.
} The latter are very much i'm faVo
} o: securing a property that will b.
) more desirable than the Wyoming ave
\ rue site for the work of the associa
( tion and t.ey also earnestly desire t
( eret building after the plan out
hned in the appeal to the end that tn
association may be of the grea-Cst pos
s'bl" service to the young men of thi
} community.