The record-union., 1899-07-18
GENEROUS Mr.. HUNTINGTON
WHAT HE WILL DO FOR THE
ORPHAN ASYLUM.
Is Willing to Give $4,000 Toward
a Fund for Purchasing
More Ground.

UnSelHSH, DiS-nearteQ concern Ado
actuated several people for years re-
garding the Orphan Asylum in this
city, their idea being that the institu-
ton, which has been all these years
SO satisfactorily and beneficently man
aged by band of good women, and
has had the support of the people re-
gardless of religious faith or other
parting of sentiment, ought to be bet
tered in it's surroundings. =
They have noted that the asylum
building is old and not modern; that
it is wooden when it should be fire.
proof; that such an asylum should be
provided with fire escapes; that 1t
should be situated in ample ground
space, where the children may, when
of proper age, be engaged in cultivat-
ing each it's own little garden plat, as
is the European custom-in short, that
this, one of the best and most salts
factory Of all the asylums Of the State.
needs to be better housed.
1t is located now on a single block
of land in the heart of the city, when
it ought to be upon ten or twenty
acres of ground on the margin Of the
city, where room in plenty can be had,
and the surroundings of the institution
be made ideal
The busy, whole-souled women man.
aging the institution cannot from their
labors turn to the carrying out of such
a large scheme. But others have had
the plan long in contemplation. Recently
Charles NJ. Prodger, who has had the
asylum close to his heart these many
years, loved it unselfishly and longed
to see its surroundings made fit for
it's Importance, and such as to enable
the management to do better still by
the inmates, consulted with other citi-
zens having the interests of the asy-
lum at heart, and resolved to make q
start.
He figured that the present block on
land occupied by the institution could
be disposed of for a neat figure, and
that it would make an admirable site
for a new High School, or any other
public purpose; or for a children's
playground, a hope he cherishes to see
fulfilled. That the asylum could be
located upon the margin of the city
with ample eligible ground space for
the benefit of the children, and a hand
some, modern, safe structure erected
for the housing of the inmates.
But all such things take money, and
to raise money some one has to make
start. Actuated by the generous inn-
pulse that moves him in all such work.
Mr. Prodger addressed C. P. Hunt
ington of New York; laid before him
the facts, told him how desirable
new and modern asylum building is,
~ - 1,n
if the lady managers could be given
plenty of ground space for the train
ing, industrial and otherwise, of their
homeless wards. He asked him frank
ly if he would help out on the first
proposition.
Mr.. Prodger has just received an an
swer from Mr.. Huntington, in which
he says that while he is constantly
called upon and does a very great deal
in the way of aiding worthy schemes
for public good, he is compelled to
deny great many. That he thinks
we'll of the proposition to aid the Sac
ramento Asylum to a new home with
ample ground, and that as the estf-
mate is that to carry out the plan
would cost $4,000, he will give one
fifth of that amount $4,000 on the
condition that the remaining four
fifths is raised. If the estimated total
should prove insufficient and more be
needed, he might contribute something
more, but he should desire to be kept
posted as to the facts.
Naturally the answer has greatly
gratified Mr.. Prodger and the earnest
souls counseling with him, and their
next move will be to find more men
like c. P. Huntington, who realize the
virtue of the movement, and are will
ing to help it on to contamination.