The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-24

many, there were doubtless times when
it appeared, even to the most san
guine, that the society could not be
established on a solid financial founda-
ton, but the difficulties were all over
come and eight years later, in declining
a reelection, President Estill express
ed the gratifying opinion that the So
ciety's hardest struggles were ended.
that it's financial condition had so i'm
proved that little difficulty would prob
ably thereafter be met in meeting the
demands upon it. Realizing the value
of his services, and the fact that his
long experience and knowledge of its
for the office, the society
refused to accept his declination.
Bethesda had been put into a more
practical working shape than ever be-
fore, and was more nearly meeting it's
design of starting the boys well on the
road to an honest, intelligent and in
dustrious manhood. In his work at the
home Col. Estill had been ably sec
onded by Supt.. A. V. Chaplin. Mr..
Chaplin was elected to this position on
the day Col. Estill became president,
and has served under him for nearly a
quarter of a century. Sixteen months
from now, If President Estill and Supt.
Chaplin live, they will celebrate the
quarter centennial of their uninterrupt-
ed official connection with Bethesda, a
record in which both may feel par
donable pride. in view of the results
achieved during that time. From nine
teen boys in 1873 the number had grown
to 1913 at the last anniversary, while
the income of the society from perma-
nent sources has increased from $500
to SO, 900, the result of the judicious
management of it's properties. Conf
dence in the sagacious business admin
istration of President Estill and those
associated with him has led to several
handsome bequests in addition to those
already enumerated. Col. n. B. Knapp
left s., 500, which. like the Telfatr be-
quest, became temporarily tied up in
the courts, In August, 1885, Mr.. W. T..
Holland formerly a resident OF Savan-
nah, but at the time of his death a cit
izen Sf-Bar- -Uarhorr Me- made the so-
ciety his residuary legatee. Ghis be-
quest proved the largest the society has
ever received. At first 1t was the I'M
preston that the estate would yield
but a small amount. A rigid investi-
CATION under President EstilPs. direc-
ton soon proved that the bequest was
an exceptionally large one. Consider
able litigation became necessary, put
eventually the society obtained in all
S4S41S21 In 1887 Andrew Low left the
society $1,000, and in 1898 it received
81, 900 under the will of Dominic Brown.
Early this year Mrs. Charles F. Mills
left Bethesda 5000. Several minor be-
quests have also been made during the
past twenty years.
Making Good Investments.
The sale of the Pavilion Hotel prop
erty and the Holland and Low legacies,
gave the society a total fund exceed
ing 100000 and rendered it pos
sible for II to improve the
property bequeathed by Mr.. Kelly,
situated in what was destined to be a
business district, and add to its reye-
nues from that source. Mr.. w. G.
Preston, of Boston, prepared the plans
for what is known as the Whitefield
building at Whitaker and President
streets and it was completed by March
l. 1889 and leased to the county for
| court house at $4,000 a year. In the
| great fire of this year some small in
| ferior buildings on the rear of this were
| destroyed, and were replaced in 1893
| by twelve one-story brick structures,
costing about $4,000, stores which have
| proved a remunerative investment. On
the vacating of the Whitefeld building
by the county, it remained vacant until
April /, 1891, when it was leased to the
| United States government for postof-
fee purposes for five years at $4,000 q
year, after the society had expended
| $500 in fitting it UP for this purpose
At the expiration of this lease it was
renewed for $2,800 a year. This use OF
the lower part of the building contdn-
ued from 1891 to 1899, the upper floors
being rented to private business con-
Germs. After the new postoffice was
completed the rooms which had been
| occupied by it were left vacant for a
short time and We're then rented for
business purposes. While the income
from this source has varied from year
| to year, the returns on the whole have
been satisfactory. It's situation, as
well as that of other business struc-
lures owned by the society, is such that
| their value must enhance and the rents
| derived from them increase as busi-
ness expands. In 1901 lots on Whitaker
street between York and York street
| lane We're purchased and improved by
| the erection thereon of four two story
| brick buildings, stores on the ground
| floor and flats above for residential
| purposes. This investment of $19,0
bids fair TO be one of the best
| the society has made and to provide
! it with an increased income regularly.
| The needs of a growing city have de-
monstrated the foresight of the mana
gers of the society in investing its
funds in buildings devoted to mercan-
| tile purposes, and the outlook is that
beginning with the coming year the
revenues of the society will be ade-
| quate,. probably for the first time since
| the war, to meet all demands arising
| from the maintenance Of 125 or more
boys. For several years its expendi-
lures have been $1,000 or more.
| greater every year than the income.
| the society's assets. having suffered
| from the failure of the Central Rail
road in 1898, 1t holding at the time s29.
900 in securities of that company and
| its leased lines. Despite this the man
| ayers adopted the policy of never turn
| ing an orphan child from its doors.
even though its endowment was ex-
| hausted in providing for them
But Bethesda may be said to be at
last, through the sagacous manage
| ment of its affairs in recent years.
| standing solidly on its feet, with a fu-
| ture full of brightness and every in
| dication of its usefulness broadening
| with each passing year. Given the
| proper support and hearty encourage
| ment it merits from Savannahians cf
all classes, it need not be many years
| before fully 200 boys will be gathered
| within its walls. Savannah was not as
| large a city forty years ago as it is
now, it was not as prosperous nor as
/ rich a city, it was not as enterprlsinR
| and progressive, yet in 1861 nearly l 600
| of its citizens cheerfully contributed
| their $5 each a year to the support OF
| Bethesda and were proud to be en-
| rolled among the members of the Union
| Society. 1t does not speak well for
| the SaVannahians of TO-DAY that with