The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-04-26
HOTEL FOR GIRLS,
Home Bequeathed to Workers by
New York Merchant.
EXPERIENCE SHOWED NEED.

od99rot5 thak FtpNVi ~
Working Women Be Erected In
Business District, but Does Not Con-
fine Executors to Any One Region.
New York-Charles Bertram Web
ster. a merchant who died March 1G
last, bequeathed about one-third of his
large estate for the foundation Of a
corporation which Is directed TO erect
In the retail dry goods district an
apartment house wherein unmarried
working women shall have apartments
at cost.
The decedent, who for many years
lived Mt the Hotel Netherland, was Il
native OF Providence, II. L.. n son of
Josiah l.. Webster, n dry goods mer-
chant there. He came to New York
early in life. In 1896 he retired from
active business. but never lost his In
terest in It or I'm the people who work
ed for the firm.
Before providing for the project
which had long been in his mind, Mr..
Webster %bequeathed to five cousins
$1,000 each. set aside $4,000 to Thorn
as w. Beckley, described as a 'serv-
ant" and gave $4,000 to his coach
man, Frank Falkner.
He bequeathed TO Joseph l.. Web
ster, his brother, all his horses. car
riages, harness, clothing, jewelry and
automobiles and two-thirds OF his re
slduary estate. He then said:
Having beer engaged for many
years In the business known as a de
partment store in the city of New York
and having employed a large number
OF unmarried women in that business,
| have realized hat the domestic envi-
ronments OF many OF them are not con
ducive to their morals or health. and
have concluded To endeavor TO improve
the condition of some of them by Civ
ing them the opportunity TO live In
clean, wen ventilated, comfortable and
attractive apartments, and for that
purpose | direct my executors to form,
or cause TO be formed, as DOT as prac-
ticable after my death n corporation for
benevolent purposes under the mem
bership corporation law of the state OF
New York or under such other law OF
the state of New York as may be ap.
plicable Mt the time.
THE particular objects for which
} such corporation Is to be formed are &c
: generally improve the conditions Of I'm
!, married working women and particu
larly TO establish, maintain and con
| duet apartments in the borough Of
Manhattan for occupation by unmar
ried working women regardless of theil
religious belief or nationality an(
I wherein they may find comfortable and
I attractive homes.
THE name of said corporation shall
be the Webster apartments. and the
!, territory In which the corporation shall
be principally conducted shall be tho
). borough of Manhattan"
The decedent suggests that the build
ing be erected I'm the vicinity OF the re
. tail stores, but does not contine the eX
ecutors to any particular district. liz
says he thinks the sort of building h
} desires can be erected and equipped TO
about 100000. but he does not confin,
his agents to this sum. They can spen,
more If they think necessary.
1.-The building shall contain a librar,
and restaurant" directs the decedent
land such other a~ppurtenances as VIII
tend to render the apartments com
Portable and attractive. Apartment
are to be let furnished and unfinished
J II direct that said apartments shall
not be conducted for profit. but solel.
s for the purpose of providing unmarrie'
working women with homes and whole
some food at n small cost TO them AM
: In deserving cases without cost TO then
= | direct that the directors of said cor
- poration shall fix the rentals and tn