The New York herald., 1921-05-03

TO complete the building or even start II.
Another 100000 must be paid to Post K
McCord before the specially fabricated
arch steel can be released, and until the
steel is delivered the contractor Edward
Corning. can proceed no further with the
construction work. 1t had been hoped
to release this steel. on which $4,000
has been paid on account. by taking adj
vantage OF an offer by Judd II. Wells,
president of the Wells Construction
Company. who offered to advance $780,
600 toward the cost Of building II loo
members would purchase life member
ships at $4,000 each or If 100 members
would each procure four new members
at $500 each.
Mr.. Wells stood ready to advance the
money against the instalment purchase
of these membership bonds. but unfortu-
nately the bond statesmen employed by
Mr.. Gavin and Tex ORourke have been
unable to induce a round century of
members to come across" Hence Mr..
Wells's offer is in allegiance.
Mr.. Gavin believes that a way is going
to be found out of the wilderness very
shortly. There are two plans on foot
One Is to construct the club by an en-
tirely new departure. making 1t the GEN.
tire of a large apartment house block to
be financed by another corporation on
large building loan.
Negotiations are under way for a
s2.000.000 loan by which the existing
mortgages on the property. amounting
to $500 600. will be taken over and the
balance used for the construction of
fourteen story apartment house, with
the International Sporting Club occupy
ing the centre and lower part of the
structure.
The club, under this new plan, which
is already in the architects hands, would
rise to a height of four stories in the
we'll or courtyard of the apartment
house, with a splendid dome over the
arena of the club. All the plans for
lounging rooms, dining rooms. &C., would
be preserved, though certain residential
features would probably be abolished.
as members would be privileged to rent
small bachelor apartments in the main
building.
The new plan Is novel departure In
club construction. but Mr. Gavin believes
II would prove great success and a
remunerative investment for the cor
poration undertaking the construction.
The clubhouse premises under this plan
would be rented for a long term of
years, and there is proposal to use the
club corporations equity In the site.
which is estimated at about $500, 900 or
term ahead, thus leaving the club free
to use It's income from dues for any
purpose.
This proposition Is still in a state OF
negotiation. and nothing definite has
been done. IF the negotiations fall
through, Mr.. Gavin. at the suggestion
of several OF the members, plans to or
ganize a finance committee. including
many OF the wealthiest members of the
club. and to leave with them the task
of either procuring sufficient building
loan or devising some other method of
raising the wind" to build the club.
Mr.. Gavin feels that something OF this
nature should be done right away, as
the clubs brightest prospects depend
upon house warming this coming fall,
or at least by the time snow flies.
Mr.. Gavin Is an Irishman who re-
Gently became naturalized. He was for
several years associated with the Ma
tional Sporting Club In London and one
of its timekeepers. His wife is one of
the best known women golf players.
They live at 55 East Thirty-fourth
street.
Major A. ]. Drexel Biddle. one OF
the founders of the club and its first
president resigned last May as the re-
suit of differences which had arisen be-
tween him and Mr. Gavin. Major Biddle
has since become interested in the Madi-
son Square Garden Sporting Club. of
which Tex Rickard is the promoter. and
in the Athletic Institute and gymnasium
run by philadelphia Jack" OBrien in the
Garden. Major Biddle has always taken
a great interest in boxing and O'Brlen
is one Of his proteges.
AS there is no love lost between
Rlclkard and Gavin and O'Rourke. Major
Biddie no longer takes any interest In
the international Sporting Club. II Is
said that the Major thought too much
money was being spent on "organiza-
ton" and not enough on building con-
struction at the time he resigned. Tex
Rickard lost all interest In the Gavin
project about the same time.