The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-25

fer with the County Commissioners to
urge upon them the paving of the road
from Sandfiy TO the Bethesda, presented
the matter to that body, which referred
ii to its Committee on Roads, where L
now rests. The idea at first was 10 pub
the old Bethesda road in good shape, by
restoring 1T to its original lines and grad
ing 1t, but the committee thought it best
10 try to have the Montgomery road i'm
proved by hardening it with gravel or
shell and they are working on that line.
Since the last anniversary the County
Commissioners have opened several new
bitches and cleaned out some old ones
through the lands adjacent to the orphan
House. This work has doubtless improv-
ed the sanitary conditions of Bethesda, for
there has been a marked absence of sick
ness of all kinds in the institution. On a
recent visit to the orphan House l found
that out of 18 boys there was only one in
the sick room.
Owing TO the increased work devolving
upon the matron, by reason of the greater
number of small boys in the Orphan
House I appointed Miss Ella Davis as as
sistant matron, and for the same reason
l ordered the new dormitory in the eastern
wing turned into a nursery for small chill
dren.
There have been 1856 boys in the Orphan
House during the year; Al have been adj
mitted, and % released. leaving 12S boys
now under the care of the society.
L take pleasure in reporting that Super
intendent Chaplin, Mr.. McClory. principal
of the school, and all other officers, and
the employees of Bethesda, have been eff
Client and energetic in the discharge of
their duties. | would recommend that the
Board of Education be asked for a small
increase in the appropriation for the sup
port Of the Bethesda School, so that we
can increase Mr.. McClory's salary, which
is much less than is paid TO other teachers
having the same work and responsibility.
During this year Sunday services have
been conducted by Rev. j. A Smith, Mr..
John Wilson and Mr. Ward, to whom the
society is under obligations for giving the
boys the benefits of religious instruction.
The Subday School has been conducted by
the officers of the society, assisted by the
same kind neighbors who have always lent
their help in this good work.
Messrs Lester & Ravenel, and Lawton
& Cunningham, as usual, have given their.
services and advice free of charge; Hon.
H. L. Ferrill, ordinary, has with his pro-
verbal courtesy attending to indenturng
boys; and Drs. Chisholm, Lanier, Dun
>can, Hers Mingledorff and Backman
have answered to every call upon them
for their professional services.
Since the last anniversary the Society
has lost several members by death;
among them Samuel P. Hamilton Esq,
Joseph Story Fay, Esq, president of the
Union Society in 1853 and 1854 Mr.. Ham
ilton was one of Savannahs best and most
public spirited citizenes, and was a warm
friend of the society. Mr. Fay, though
he removed from Savannah in 1860, was al
ways a cheerful contributor to every call
made upon him in behalf of Bethesda.
He was last surviving honorary member,
excepting our venerable ex-president Col.
r. ID. Walker
In closing this report and thanking you
for the continued confidence you have ex-
tended to me in the mana cement Of the
sacred trust that has come down to you
through many generations of Georgians,
may l not ask every member of the So
ciety to use his efforts to bring in one or
two members during the coming year?
The Union Society has done great work
in caring for thousands of homeless boys
and is still doing good work; 1t has as
good, If not better claim upon. the peo-
pie for help than any other institution in
the state. No one need be ashamed to
ask assistance in the name of Bethesda.
VIII you not, one and all, put your
shoulder to the wheel and see what ear
nest work In behalf of deserving as well
as an ancient charity will do? Five
hundred additional members will enable
us to keep the gates of Bethesda Whit
fields House of Mercy for many Souls"
wide open, as we do now, never turning
away any homeless boy who is entitled
to admission under our rules.
The following statement of the financial
status of the society by Treasurer Walter
Coney is also OF interest:
Treasurer's Report.
Savannah, Ga. April l, 19O0.-Col j. H.
Estll, President Union Society, City:
Dear Sir-Replying TO your commune ton
of recent date, I have the honor TO state:
Of ba oil a.,
rear of Whitfield building was "a, 1910, Of
which $1,000 was paid for plans, and $4.-
0S9. 40 was paid the contractor for building
The stores were completed June /, and
since then have yielded a rental of $500. 10 /;
there are two of these vacant at present
The stores are increasing In popularity
and the nelghborhod Is becoming better as
a business location, so that we'can expect
good returns from this investment next
year, which has already proven wise one
The government vacated the Whitfield
building Aug l. The amount paid by
them for rental in this years statement
was $9S5S; in addition to this
sum, other tenants in the build
ing have paid a rental of S1,1iS; the entire
building is rented to Oct. ], 1900, Lindsay
& Morgan having leased the portion oc-
cupied by them until that date and the
other tenants, while having no lease, are
very certain to remain until that time.
A suggestion has been made and tender
1t for consideration, that in case Lindsay
& Morgan should wish more space after
Oct l, an extra story be placed upon the
small stores, thus extending the second
floor all the way through, and Offering
Lindsay & Morgan ths entire second
floor instead of their taking the present
second floor, and the third floor now oc-
cupled by Mr.. c. s. Richmond IL IT were
found advisable TO do this Mr. Richmond
might be retained as a tenant.
The sale OF the postofIice fixtures in
creased our years receipts by $26925
The school house at Bethesda destroyed
by fire was insured for 1000, which
amount was promptly paid.
Mr. Witcover was paid SIS for plans for
the new school building. Outside Of this
the building, through the liberality OF the
stewards, has been erected with very lit
tie cost 10 the society. There has been
some extra expense for locks and, posi-
bly,, hardware and labor. but the brunt
OF the expense has been borne by the
stewards.
The tenant OF the Springfield plantation
is paying up much better than In former
years.