The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-04-24
THE ANNIVERSARY MEETING.
Continued from Twelfth Page.


bers of The Union Society: Through
the courtesy of w. j. DeRenne, Esq,
a manager of this society," / had the
pleasure of reading the first report on
the affairs of the Bethesda Orphan
House, written by it's founder, the Rev.
George Whitfield, and printed in Lon
don, 1T42. The pamphlet is almost the
size of that in which the annual pro-
ceedings of this society are usually
published, and it's contents very much
on the same lines. 1t is a summary of
the work of the orphan house from its
inception to the date of publication;
and contains an account of all receipts
and expenditures during that period.
In referring to what he had accom-
plished Mr.. Whitfield mentions the
building of a road from the orphan
house TO Savannah, doubtless that now
known as the Bethesda road, for the
improvement of which a petition is
before the honorable County Commits
sioners for their consideration. 1 have
reason to believe that this ancient high
way will be rebuilt at an early day,
which will be another help to the
Bethesda and its work.
You will see, by an examination of
the orphan house property, that much
has been done since your last meeting.
A better and more certain supply of
water has been secured by boring an
other artesian well, and building a
10000 gallon tank under the roof of
the main building. A hot-air engine
and pump, as a reserve force in the
event that the hydraulic ram fails to
work, places the water supply at the
orphan house almost beyond the posi-
bility of failure.
The floor in the large dining room
has been renewed, or. more properly
speaking, a new floor has been placed
over the old. This very necessary work
was done by the stewards of the So
ciety, and paid for out of funds in their
hands.
The city property, from which the
society derives the major part of its
income for the support of the orphan
house, is all rented, except the north
ern store of the Whitfield building,
which has been vacant since Oct. l,
1902, and one store in the annex. The
area between those buildings, formerly
used for closets, has been built over
and made into a store.
There was a fire in the Whitfield
building on the night of June p. 1902,
which caused considerable damage to
the property. The building was re-
paired for an amount within that re-
ceived from the insurance. The fire
originated in Richmonds Business Col
lege, on the third floor.
on March s, 1903, a fire broke out
in Virgins plumbing shop. occupying
the western stores in the annex. The
property was only slightly damaged
and the loss was fully covered by in
surance The total damage by these
fires was s2,7s1.25.
Mr.. C. H. Dorset, chairman of the
Committee on Finance and Property
has devoted a great deal of his valu-
able time to the management Of our
real estate.
BY resolution of the board of directors
the Committee on Finance and Prop
erty was directed to invest the donation
of Mrs. ]. H. NJ. Clinch of $40. 900, then
deposited in one of the banks of the
city and drawing interest. in the $780,
900 Central of Georgia Railway 5 pei
cent. bonds, constituting a part OF the
general investment fund. and that the
money so released should be
used in paying certain outstanding in
debtedness of the society and meeting
current expenses. This is the only
change in your property since my last
report These matters are more fully
explained in the report of the Commit
tee on Finance and Property.
Tipperary plantation which was under
offer of sale at my last report to the
Hilton Lumber Company for $500 was
sold to that concern, and I am very
glad that the society is rid of IT,
The farm products for the past year
were sufficient for the demands of the
orphan house. The chairman OF the
Committee on Farm, w. j. DeRenne
Esq, in his report makes certain ex-
cellent suggestions. and II will be well
TO authorize him to have them carried
out.
The school is doing well. Prof Otis