Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-18
PROPERTY TAX HIGH READY FOR OPENING
Southeast Is 0verassessed Dedication Tomorrow of COL
Says Clarence F. Donohoe. ored Y. M. C. A. Building.
GIVES SPECIFIC INSTANCES STRUCTURE COST 100000
Shows Some of
Made Lower Figures ment to Make Chief Address
INVESTIGATION THOROUGH EXERCISES IN GYMNASIUM
Home Washn Organization
Time nd
~ oloredM
Dedication Tomorrow of COL
ored Y. NJ. C. A. Building.
STRUCTURE COST 100000
Secretary Stimson Of War Depart.
ment to Make Chief Address.
EXERCISES IN THE GYMNASIUM
Home of Washington Organization,
18th Street NV, Designed and
Built by Co1ored Men.

Announcement is made by the Off
Gals of the Twelfth Street Colored
Y. NJ c. A. of the formal opening and
dedication of its new building tomor-
row afternoon at $3.50 o'clock. The
services will be held in the new build
ing, 1916 18th street. Henry L. Slim
son, Secretary Of War. will deliver the
principal address 1t was President
Tafts intention to dedicate the build
ing, but he was prevented from doing
SO by his Ohio trip Music will be
furnished by the Amphion Glee Club.
At the conclusion of Secretary Slim
sons address the building will be
thrown open for inspection. The ex-
ercises will be held in the gymnasium
Of the building. The opening exer-
cises will continue throughout the
week. with special event each night,
ending Sunday afternoon. May 26, with
mass meeting for men to be address,
ed by Rev. M. w. Clair. This will be
the first mems meeting held in the new
building.
Program Of the Week.
The program Of the week is as follows
STANDARDIZATION day-3:3O pm: Ad-
dress, Henry L. Stimson, Secretary of
War; music. Amphion Glee Club; inspec-
ton of building, music, Azalia Mandolin
Club.
Observation-Disclosures day-11 am: Con
secration service conducted by the Allied
Ministers Unions. Association night, s
pm: Address by prominent Y. NJ. c. A.
workers of the country; reception to con-
tributors, campaign workers and mem
bers. A special welcome Is extended to
pioneer workers in the Y. M. c. A. move
ment; music, Azalia Mandolin Club.
Tuesday-Military nights p.m.: Exer-
cises under the auspices of the 1st Sepa-
rate Battalion, National Guard, District
Of Columbia; music, Azalia Mandolin
Club.
Observation-Disclosures nights pm: Ap-
paratus exhibition by an expert team
from the Central Association; various
athletic and aquatic sports; music. Am
phion Glee Club.
Thursday-Fraternal nights pm: Re-
ception to members of fraternal. benevO-
lent, civic and religious organ1za tons !;
music, Elks' Glee Club.
Friday-School nights pm: Reception
to students of the public schools, their
parents and teachers, to the students and
professors Of Howard University, and all
OIileT euuCdllCHdi lHSllIutlOhS, oPC0hihS !,
music, Harmonica Quartet.
Saturday-Ladies' nights pm: Exer-
cises under the auspices OF the G. Y. w.
C.. A; reception to lady subscribers,
mothers. wives and sisters of members
and all women's organizations; music
Sunday, May 26-Men's meeting: Special
address by Rev. M. w. Clair, pastor of
Asbury NJ. e. Church; music, Elks' Glee
Club.
Colored Men Only Employed.
One of the interesting features con-
nected with the erection of the building
is the fact that every brick in the build
ing was laid by colored contractor, and
that colored man, w. Sidney .Pittman,
is the architect. These facts, taken into
consideration with the payment of ST.
OGO to the fund by the colOred people of
Washington, it is pointed out, makes the
building a monument to the skill, the in
dustry, the brains and the loyalty OF the
members of the negro race. III. W.
Chase, an ex-Slave and resident of WASH
ington, contributed $500 to the building
fund. Two other conspicuous subscribers
were John d. Rockefeller and julius
Rosenwald of Chicago, who gave $4,000
each. The central association of this city
paid the balance.
Lewis +. Johnson. executive secretary,
states that there is less than 5000 in
unpaid pledges outstanding among the
colored people in the city of Washington
and many of them are paying the sums
pledged at the present time, and it is
most likely that many of the subscribers
will complete payments during opening
week.
1.-The collection of the subscriptions to
this enterprise was the sensation of the
city of Washington, said Mr. Johnson.
Men In all ranks of life, from the
humbleSt 81 per week labOrer to the 81 600
per year government official, mingled to-
0afh nr vloff nd 90 We
of their means and service for the benefit
of this cause. Hundreds of men gave
volunteer service in going from door to
door and collecting these pledges. The
result is tribute to the eArnestness of
the men, their ability to organize and
their willingness to be directed by the
experience of their own race in a gigantic
undertaking. The payment of the pledges
proves that the colored mans word on
paper can be taken at it's par value.
The corner stone was laid by the Presi-
dent of the United States Thanksgiving
day, November %, 1907.
Total Cost, 100000.
The building contains four floors and
basement, and the total cost will be
over 100000 Its four granite columns at
the entrance stand as four stalwart hosts
extending a cordial welcome to all who
approach. In the basement are a barber
shop. Turkish bath. social rooms. SWIM
ming pool (5Ox2O feet, to feet deep,
| shower baths. lockers and furnace room.
The swimming pool contains $4,000 gal
Ions Of water and hot water heater has
been installed that has a capacity of 10.
600 gallons per hour. Entrance to the
building Oil the first floor is into spa
cious lobby with reading room on the
south side and home parlor on the north
| side. On this floor will also be found the
executive offices. lunchroom, committee
room and the gymnasium.
The gymnasium is one of the prettiest
rooms of the kind in the country. hav-
| ing light on three sides and a thirty
foot ceiling. The running track, and
also the balcony. entirely surrounds and
overhangs the gymnasium. The gym
nasium is fully equipped with all the
latest and modern gymnasium ap-
paratus. The second floor is taken up
with the assembly hail. boys depart
ment, classrooms and offices. The third
and fourth floors are given over entirely
to dormitories. There are forty-four
dormitory rooms.
The building is fitted throughout with
electric lights and steam heat.