The San Francisco call., 1907-03-10
OLYMPIC ATHLETIC CLUB
SEEKS BIC MEMBERSHIP
Directors Ambitious Plans
for $o5O,OO0 Home on
Post Street

The directors OF the Olympic Club
are making unusual efforts to increase
the membership OF the great athletic
bilious plans for club building which
will be credit to the city and
which will be one OF the finest in the
world. To bring this about the by
laws must be amended to Increase the
limit on membership and also the cost
of life members. The limit has been
fixed at 5000 members OF all classes
and the price OF life membership at
$1,000.
President William Greer Harrison
and his associates on the directorate
hope to throw open the elaborate salt
water bathing system to the members
on June 1. Work will then be pressed
upon the remainder Of the building,
which will be dedicated before the mid
die OF next year.
The reason of the desire for an in
creased income is set forth by the club
officials in a letter sent to the mem
bers. In part it is as follows:
Work has been started on the new home ot
the Olympic Club. The property adjoining the
old site on the west and being 1916 feet On
Post street By a uniform width OF 1875 feet, mas
been purchased BY the Olympic Club. and the
new building win cover ITO feet on Post street
by 1877 7:6 feet deep.
skeleton plans for the new club building have
been approved. and the first and second base
ments. which include two swimming tanks. the
larger being 100 by 35 feet. and most perfect
and complete bathing system. viii be finished
and open TO the members BY June 1. 1907.
The total cost Of the contemplated club build
Ing, structure six stories in height. containing
In addition TO the eonveniences found in the old
club. lis living rooms, is estimated at about
$3.50, 600.
Thus far about $500. 600 has been collected
from companies in which the old club building
was insured. OF this little more than
S1OO, 600 is available for building purposes. as
the balance was used IN purchasing additional
property and in redeeming some OF the out
standing bonds. In these circumsta the
needed to complete the building BY securing
100 additional life members az $1,000 each
and 1900 more active members at 500. This
plan. II successful. viii net $3.50. 900, and with
show invested in the building over $3.50. 600
Adding TO this the real estate valued about
$3.50, 600 the total investment viii then Be 5000.
600, and this will be our security for whatever
the building. This plan may not at hrst reading
appear feasible but we confident IL VIII Be
carried out successfully enough TO enable to
raise all funds required
To carry out the foregoing scheme the bylaws
must be amended The adoption Of these amend
ments requires the votes OF twO-thrGs OF the
members OF the club. In opinion every
affirmative vote the proposed amendments
Of a clubhouse that, we believe, VIII be credit
to club and to city.
We hape that 1900 new active members viii
be enrolled before June l. 1907 II Is in
tentfOn to Increase the Initiation fee to $500
after that date; but our desire 10 increase the
membership is not as great our anxiety 70
secure worthy members. We shall be content
with less pretentiOus clubhouse. with cOngenial
and manly members. rather than an imposing
structure that IL not supported by the sub
stantial manhood Of our city.