Georgia Historic Newspapers

    BETHESDA’S HISTORY
REMOVAL TO BETHANY DURING
THE CIVIL WAR.
home on the down grade.
|>OOR FINANCES ALMOST LEAD TO
ITS ABANDONMENT.
Tlic Successful Administration of
President Estlll Covering Nearly a
Quarter of a Century—Some Large
Requests and Donations From
Friends of tbe Orphans—lnvest
ments in Business Buildings—De
rrease in Membership ot the
Union Society and Increase in the
Number ot Boys at the Home—A
Grand Opportunity tor Fntnre
Philanthropists.
(Continued from Sunday Morning
News. Prepared by Thomas
Gamble, Jr.)
Mr. John M. Cooper was president of
the Union Society during the Civil War
and to his devotion to Its Interests, his
unceasing, energetic and intelligent
efforts in its behalf, was largely due
the continuation uninterrupted of its
iharities during that period. It was no
easy task that fell to him and to the
few who labored zealously by his side
to maintain Bethesda.
After the first year of the war the
pressure of its financial necessities be
came great. The public at large was
suffering from the same causes that
checked the flow of benevolence to the
orphans' home. Food of all kinds had
risen greatly in value, the currency in
circulation was steadily depreciating
in purchasing power, business of all
descriptions was suffering, remunera
tive work was growing scarce, the
pinch of poverty was beginning to be
felt In many households. While the
sources from which charitable dona
tions had in the past been obtained
were daily diminishing, the needs of
such an asylum as Bethesda were be
coming more apparent and the- de
mands upon it more urgent.
Savannah had sent its hundreds of
men to the front. Their ranks had
been decimated by disease and the
J. H. ESTILL, PRESIDENT UNION SOCIETT.
(Elected 1878).
weapons of war. Orphans left unpro
vided for awaited relief that could not
be given because of the absence of
means. To the limit of its powers the
Union Society exerted itself to care
for those whose fathers had fallen in
defence' of the South. If it had been a
duty in former years to succor the
orphans it was now felt to be doubtly
incumbent on it to at least temporar
ily relieve the children of those who
had died for their State. Weaker men
might have faltered, or even abandon
ed the trust, and feit justified in doing
so under the pressure of the deplor
able conditions that arose.
But fortunately for Bethesda and
those under its protection the men in- ;
to whose hands its destinies fell were
of a more determined and more cour
ageous mold. They never flagged in
their labors to support it, and when
circumstances came that called for
the abandonment, for the third time in
its history, of Whitefield's old site, they
sought a refuge elsewhere and there,
when the Union army hd.d swept in a
broad devastating column across Geor
gia and found Savannah an easy prey,
they reared . the. boys on
the same practical lines, and
with the same endeavor to
prepare than for' an honest' and in
dustrious manhood. It seemed as
though the spirit of Whitefield had
descended upon them and infused into
their souls that aggressive adherence
to noble aims that marked the evangel
ist during those many years when the
support of Bethesda rested entirely up
on his shoulders; when its fate seemed
to iie in the hollow of his hand.
Acting President F. W. Sims well
said in his report in 1886. in referring
to the service of the officers of the
society; “With difficulties opposing
them which we now can scarcely ap
preciate, they pushed on their good
work and with the assistance of a few
"f the faithful carried the society
through its severe trial." Too much
braise cannot be bestowed on the small
band of earnest laborers who carried
on the society’s home during these
five years. They deservedly rank high
among those who have been instrumen
tal in preserving Bethesda through the
many vicissitudes that have been its
lot in Its long life.
IteitifMJil to
In 1862 It was decided to remove
the boys from Bethesda und allow Its
conversion Into a military hospital.
The Pavilion Hotel In the city, the
Property of the society, had already
become the Wayside Home for soldiers.
Bethesda was exposed to attack at any
'tine, He croiw had been a failure,
provisions were scare# anil high in
K, vannah, and there was little reason
to hope that conditions would Improvt.
<o October the board of tnauagers de
-1 drj to secure a suitable location
'‘be*here. \ well Improved farm was
"•on obtained n ui Bethany, Id Jeffer*
or i ffunty, Hit miles from Msvsitiish,
'■'Mining lit acres, r.tiout ,1 aie*
'' which were i Iruied sod Improved.
*'‘d including a lard* resident# and
,J ' buildings the pries being bill
* ‘si#, while |tiv was paid for stack,
implements, and a slave. A vacant
carriage factory In Bethany was se
cured and the upper floor converted
into a dormitory. The boys were re
moved from Bethesda In November and
quartered here until early In 1863, when
anew building was erected on the farm
and they were gathered at their new
home. Instruction was at first pro
vided for them at an academy at Beth
any, they uniting with the school there
under Mr. Mallon, who had been en
gaged to teach them at
Bethesda. The following year
a school house _ was built
on the farm for the boys, thirty-five
of whom were being oared for and ed
ucated. In 1864 Bethany suffered some
tVKat from Sherman’s forces in the loss
of horses and other stock. Fortunately
officers of the army Interposed or the
loss to the home might have reached
considerable proportions. As soon as
peace was established a movement was
instituted to re-establish Bethesda-
T.he keynote to th,is was sounded by
Hon. Solomon Cohen at the anniver
sary gathering at Marlow- in 1866. “How
stands Bethesda?” asked 'he. “In ruins,
like Rachel of old, weeping for her
children because they are not. Bethesda
is in ruins. Why stand we then idle
here? If there ever was a time when
the voice of charity appealed in clar
ion tones to the hearts of the good, that
time is now. The fearful desolation ot
the land, swept as it has been by the
besom of destruction, is a perpetual
call for deeds of dignity.”
Bethesda was in a dilapidated state,
almost in ruins, and was occupied by
re.cently freed negroes who gave but
little care to the buildings. Under Gen.
Sherman’s orders all of the sea islands
had been turned over to the negroes.
While Bethesda was not on a sea isl
and. being an unused property devoted
to public purposes, it was taken £k>s
session of by the freedmen. After some
legal proceedings tihe society secured
control of its property again, made
necessary repiairs and in February,
1867, the boys,- now twenty-two In
number, were once more at the old
homestead. The farm at Bethany was
shortly afterward sold for $3,000. The
floating debts of the society were paid
within a couple of years and Improve
ments made to its properties. The
dwellings on York street had been sold
in 1863 for $11,620, and the money in
vested In railroad securities. The Way
side Home for soldiers became the
Pavilion Hotel again when men return
ed to peaceful occupations, and the
society found itself confronting the
necessity of large expenditures upon It.
Unable to lay out the money without
crippling its usefulness at Bethesda, it
was decided to accept a proposition to
lease the building to the existing les
see, David C. Noe, for ten years, at
the old rent, $3,000 a year, he to add
another story to the building
and the property to revert
to the society at the expiration
of the lease without cost to the so
ciety for improvements. In August,
1867, this lease was signed. The so
ciety *then found itself, as it believed,
assured of an established income for a
decade. Unfortunately for it, Noe was
unable to fulfill his contract, and in
1872 the hotel was taken from him and
leased to A. Fernandez, the improve
ments made by the former lessee com
pensating the society for the loss of
rents due by him. In 1880 part of the
hotel lots were leased to G. Noble and
the'hotel was leased at SI,BOO a year.
These arrangements were unsatisfac
tory in their results and the society
found itself with a large and valuable
property from which it derived but lit
tle income. Plans were laid to erect a
large hotel for tourist travel on the
site. It was found that the cost would
be too great and this project was drop
ped. Negotiations had on a former oc
casion been entered into with the
Board of Education, controlling the
other and larger portion of the build
ing. to sell to it the Union Society’s
the city having made the title
fee simple under grants of 1883 and
1886. These negotiations were resumed
and finally in 1887 a sale was consum
mated, the society receiving $50,000 for
it’s rights in the property, which was
then converted into a portion of the
academy and has since been used en
tirely for public school purposes.
Bequests for tbe Home.
Some time prior to the war Mr. An
drew Low presented the society with
160 acres of land in Alamakee county,
lowa. Unfortunately, this bequest
proved a veritable incubus. After pay
ing taxes on it for nearly forty years,
the society willingly sold it in 1894 for
$l5O. Another real estate bequest that
has so far been but a burden was that
of a half interest in Tipperary, a plan
tations of 704 acres in Bryan county,
under the will of Uriah Cranston. Mrs.
Ann Bryson had a life interest in the
plantation, and on her death it was
provided that it should go in equal
shares to Bethesda and the Barry Male
Orphan Asylum, the latter a non-exist
ing Institution. Mrs. Btyson died In
1880 and the half Interest of the Party
Orphanage was presumbaly vested in
the Catholic Bishop of Savannah. The
legal questions Involved have never
been disposed of, although twen
ty years have since pass
ed. Under an amicable arrangement
between the interested parties the
nroperty was put up at public auction
on Jan. 1. 1895, and was bid In for the
Union (Society at $1.47 an act's. No legal
tub* have ever been possible, and the
plantation remain* as when Mrs. Bry
son died, of no value to the legatees.
The so. lety 1* also entitled, under the
state laws, to all ungranted lands in
Chatham county In excess of lo.oso
acres for the Chatham Academy, but
although the grant was made over a
ntury ago no benefits have ac
rneo to It from tills source, nor does
iigeiy that any ever will.
other donations and hqus. though,
f r.f a mot*
tUnrsi let In >• the C4ty Of **-'■•'•**•*
granted the society as an sndowintnt
THE MORNING NEWS: SUNDAY. NOVEMBER 24. 1901.
fund the four-fifths balance of pur- j
chase money due on nineteen Spring
field lots, aggregating nearly $12,000,
payable within fifteen years, with in
terest payable annually. That year a
bequest of SI,OOO also came to It under
the will of James Porter, who, a year
or two before, had given the society
SSOO, and at other times in a long mem
bership had shown his interest in its
work by liberal assistance. In 1868 the
society was left a legacy of SIO,OOO by
George Hall, a successful merchant Of
Savannah, and was also the recipient
of two SSOO city of Savannah bonds
from Edward Padelford for Us build
ing fund. On the death of Mr. Padel
ford in 1870 the society received under
his will one hundred shares of South
western Railroad stock as the last ex
pression of his liberality toward a
charity in which he had shown an ac
tive interest for many years. In 1860
Mrs. Marla Edwavds had left the so
ciety a half interest in her estate, val
ued at $30,000, the revenues to go to her
grandchildren during their lifetime.
The interested parties being willing to
sell, the. society, in 1868, borrowed $5,-
000 from Mr. Padelford, and purchased
their interest in its half of the estate.
In IS7O Mr. Padelford remitted the so
ciety SI,OOO of this claim. In 1869 the
annual average cost for subsistence,
clothing, education and otherwis-e pro
viding for a boy was given as $162: The
membership of the society at this time
was 545, but many failed to pay their
dues. In 1870, for the fourth time,
Bethesda was the scene of build
ing operations, and anew
and larger structure, more perma
nent in character and better designed
for the uses of an orphanage than any
of its predecessors had been, began to
arise as near the site of the original
House of Mercy as could be deter
mined. The corner stone was laid with
Masonic ceremonies at the celebration
of the 120th anniversary, on April 27,
in the presence of over 2,000 visitors.
It had long been the ambition of the
society to replace the inadequate and
decaying frame structure with a mod
ern brick building. As had been point
ed out, the war paralyzed the first
movement tn t at direction.' With the
new era of prosperity a spirit of great
er generosity toward Bethesda became
manifest among the people of means,
bringing some liberal contributions for
the building fund as well as several
large bequests. For the new building
donations were received from Mrs. S.
E. Coleman of SSOO, Jacob Waldburg
SSOO, Charles F. Mills, SSOO, N. B.
Knapp S2OO, W. B. Hodgson SIOO, D. H.
Baldwin of New York SIOO, Andrew
Low SI,OOO, Miss Mary Telfair S2OO,
William R. Garrison of New Ybrk S2OO,
Moses Taylor SIOO. Other smaller do
nations ran the total beyond $4,000. As
the society had but $1,700 in cash avail
able when the building began, and
its expenditures on account of it dur
ing three years exceeded $33,000, it was
necessary to sell considerable of its
securities to provide funds for com
pleting the central portion of the
structure and preparing it for oc
cupancy, the construction of the two
wings being postponed until the socie
ty’s finances improved. The founda
tions were built of tabby, the super
structure of brick. The society on its
occupancy, in an incompleted state, in
1873, was maintaining 40 boys. It was
then the expressed hope of President
Minis that many of the members would
live to see the day when Bethesda
would continuously shelter one hun
dred boys. At the anniversary in 1888
it was reported that there were one
hundred and six boys but the number
was not maintained. Since 1896 the so
ciety’s beneficiaries have never fallen
below one hundred, there being at
present 132 at the home. In 1883 the
west wing to the main building was
erected at a cost of $4,055, largely
through donations, two gentlemen
giving SSOO each, Mr. Edward
Lovell giving SSOO. Ex-President
Joseph Story Fay sending a check
for SI,OOO from Boston, Mrs. G. W. t>e-
Renne contributing S2OO, nearly all of
the lumber and a great part of the
bricks being donated, and many other
minor cash contributions swelling the
total. In 1895 the eastern wing was
built under a contract for $7,806, new
stables were built and other improve
ments made, requiring a total expen
diture in that and the following
year or two of over $15,000. This com
pleted the building as originally plan
ned and fitted it for the comfortable
accommodation of 125 boys. The farm
Urea has also been increased by the
purchase in 1892 o? 30 acres on the
south for S4OO, in 1896 of ten acres
at the junction of the orphan house
grounds and the Montgomery road, for
SIOO, and in 1900 of 83 acres, making the
total 500 acres, or the same as in
Whitefield’s day.
Another Crisis at Bethesda.
Additional remembrances came with
the passing years to swell the society’s
endowment funds and permit of an
extension of its work. Unfortunately,
though, the interest and support from
the general public lessened. Bethesda
has not received the encouragement
and aid from Savannahians that its
usefulness Justifies. The number of
members paying their annual contri
butions with promptness decreased and
but for the rich benevolence of the few
friends of the institution its work
would have been more restricted each
year instead of expanding to meet the
requirements of the growing population
of Savannah. In 1873 Mr. John J.
Kelly left the society the block bound
ed by Whitaker, Barnard, President
and State streets, with improvements,
from which the society derived a rental
of SI,OOO a year. Two years later Miss
Mary Telfair bequeathed it a valuable
piece of property at Bay and Jeffer
son streets, but as it was involved in
litigation it was some years before
Bethesda derived any benefit from It,
the will case not being disposed of un
til 1883. In 1891 this property was
leased to Henry Solomon & Sons for
fifteen years at $1,200 a year, the les
sees paying for all Improvements and
repairs. Good fortune seemed to be
smiling on the Union Society, when
the yellow fever epidemic of 1876 In
flicted another crushing blow. Its re
sources were seriously affected by the
business depression of this season
and the succeeding years. The loss
of rents led to a curtail
ment of the society’s work.
Where there had been fifty boys sup
ported by it in 1874 only twenty-eight
boys were provided for in 1877, and at
the anniversary In 1878 it was reported
that only nineteen were enjoying tne
advantages at Bethesda. The state of
Its treasury Indicated a further dimin
ution In their number in the following
year and gave force to the suggestion
that Bethesda be closed and the boys
boarded in the city. It. was at this
crisis in the affairs of the society that
Col. J. H. Estill was made president
over his protest, a position to which
he has been re-elected at each succes
sive anniversary for twenty-three
years, a longer period than any other
man has held the office. No other one
man. with the single exception of
Whitefleld, has watched over and
worked for the planting of Bethesda
on * firm basis with more disinterest
ed zeal than Col. Estill. He asgumed
the position of president only after hie
declination had been unanimously over
ruled by its members, and with a full
realization of Hie society’s impoverish
ment and the difficulties that were to
be met In supplying the needs of the
Institution placed under tils executive
supervision. It proved no easy task to
lift the society out of the financial
slough into which It hsd fallen. When
he became president Bethesda wss run
down The help had been reduced below
a point where it could take reasonable
rgre of the property the fanning op-
In Ibe extreme, and the Income of the
society was Inadequate to pi ojoet>
provide Uv eves tne auyUi wJw of
boys then in its charge, the expenses
of the home eating into the endow
ments. The discouragements were
many, there were doubtless times when
it appeared, even to the .most san
guine, that the society could not be
established on a solid financial founda
tion, but the difficulties were all over
come and eight years later, in declining
a re-election. President Estill express
ed the gratifying opinion thsut the so
ciety’s hardest struggles were ended,
that its financial condition had so im
proved that little difficulty would prob
ably thereafter be met In meeting the
demands upon it. Realizing the value
of his services, and the fact that his
long experience and knowledge of its
affairs eminently fitted him
for the office, the society
refused to accept his declination.
Bethesda had been put into a more
practical working shape than ever be
fore, and was more nearly meeting its
design of starting the boys well on the
road to an honest, intelligent and in
dustrious manhood. In his work at the
home Col. Estill had been ably sec
onded by Supt. A. V. Chaplin. Mr.
Chaplin was elected to this position on
the day Col. Estill became president,
and has served under him for nearly a
quarter of a century. Sixteen months
from now. If President Estill and Supt.
Chaplin live, they will celebrate the
quarter centennial of their uninterrupt
ed official connection with Bethesda, a
record in which both may feel a par
donable pride, in view of the results
achieved during that time. From nine
teen boys in 1878 the number had grown
to 123 at the last anniversary, while
the income of the society from perma
nent sources has increased from $3,500
to $9,000, the result of the Judicious
management of its properties. Confi
dence in the sagacious business admin
istration of President Estill and those
associated with him has led to several
handsome bequests in addition to those
already enumerated. Col. N. B. Knapp
left $2,500, which, like the Telfair be
quest, became temporarily tied up in
the courts. In August, 1885, Mr. W. F.
Holland, formerly a resident of Savan
nah, but at the time of his death a cit
izen at Bar Me, made the so
ciety his residuary legatee. This be
quest proved the largest the society has
ever received. At first it was the im
pression that the estate would yield
but a small amount. A rigid investi
gation under President Estill's direc
tion soon proved that the bequest was
an exceptionally large one. Consider
able litigation became necessary, but
eventually the society obtained in all
$48,418.21. In 1887 Andrew Low left the
society $5,000, and in 1893 it received
SI,OOO under the will of Dominic Brown.
Early this year Mrs. Charles F. Mills
left Bethesda $5,000. Several minor be
quests have aMo been made during the
past twenty years.
Making Good Investment*.
The sale of the Pavilion Hotel prop
erty and the Holland and Low legacies,
gave the society a total fund exceed
ing SIOO,OOO, and rendered it pos
sible for It to improve _ the
property bequeathed by Mr. Kelly,
situated in what was destined to be a
business district, and add to its reve
nues from that source. Mr. W. G.
Preston, of Boston, prepared the plans
for what is known as the White field
building at Whitaker and President
streets and it was completed by March
1, 1889, and leased to the county for a
court house at $4,000 a year. In the
great fire of this year some small in
ferior buildings on the rear of this were
destroyed, and were replaced in 1899
by twelve one-story brick structures,
costing about $4,200, stores which have
proved a remunerative investment. On
the vacating of the Whitefleld building
by the county, It remained vacant until
April 1, 1891, when it was leased to the
United States government for postof
fice purposes for five years at $3,000 a
year, after the society had expended
$3,500 in fitting it up for this purpose.
At the expiration of this lease it was
renewed for $2,800 a year. This use of
the lower part of the building contin
ued from 1891 to 1899, the upper floors
being rented to private business con
cerns. After the new postoffice was
completed the rooms which had been
occupied by it were left vacant for a
short time and were then rented for
business purposes. While the income
from this source has varied from year
to year, the returns on the whole have
been satisfactory. Its situation, as
well as that of other business struc
tures owned by the society, is such that
their value must enhance and the rents
derived from them increase as busi
ness expands. In 1901 lots on Whitaker
street between York and York street
lane were purchased and improved by
the erection thereon of four two-story
brick buildings, stores on the ground
floor and Hats above for residential
purposes. This Investment of $19,000
bids fair to be one of the best
the society has made and to provide
it with an increased income regularly.
The needs of a growing city have de
monstrated the foresight of the mana
gers of the society in investing its
funds in buildings devoted to mercan
tile purposes, and the outlook 1b that
beginning with the coming year the
revenues of the society wiil be ade
quate, probably for the first time since
the war, to meet all demands arising
from the maintenance of 125 or more
boys. For several years Its expendi
tures have been $2,000 or more,
greater every year than the income,
the society’s assets having suffered
from the failure of the Central Rail
road in 1893, it holding at the time $29.-
000 in securities of that company and
its leased lines. Despite this the man
agers adopted the policy of never turn
ing an orphan child from Its doors,
even though its endowment was ex
hausted in providing for them.
But Bethesda may be said to be at
last, through the sagacious manage
ment of its affairs in recent years,
standing solidly on Its feet, with a fu
ture full of brightness and every in
dication of Its usefulness broadening
with each passing year. Given the
proper support and hearty encourage
ment it merits from Savannahians cf
all classes, it need not be many years
before fully 200 boys will be gathered
within Its walls. Savannah was not as
large a city forty years ago as it is
now. It was not as prosperous nor as
rich a city, it was not as enterprising
arid progressive, yet in 1861 nearly 1,000
of Its citizens cheerfully contributed
their $3 each a year to the support of
Bethesda and were proud to be en
rolled among the members of the Union
Society. It does not speak well for
the Savannahians of to-day that, with
a population twice as great as at that
time, barely 250 of its citizens are
found willing to assist so noble a char
ity in this simplest of ways. It is due
to the few. and not to the many, that
Bethesda stands as It does to-day. the
embodiment of phllanthrophy wisely
administered. In 1892 only 134 members
paid their dues and three years later
the receipts from this source were but.
$7lO. showing 142 meeting their obliga
tions. In 1899 the annual contribution
was paid by 151 and a committee of
ten was appointed to solicit new mem
iters, the result being apparent In an
increase to 240 paying dues In 1900.
Hardly one-eighth of the expenses of
Bethesda are to-day met by the contri
butions of the members of ths Union
Society. The boys have not been reared
“In the lap of luxury.” Theirs hga
been a wholesome, work-day existeti e,
best fitted to turn them out prepared In
some degree for the struggle# of life,
but there has been no lack of proper
provision for them. There has always
been an abundance of substantial food,
suitable clothing has been supplied,
and their surroundings ha vs been
healthful
For the past twenty tears, It la safe
to aay, the total average expehae for
the rup|arrl and editiatlon of aa* h boy
fan a :■ '.at ire* hgut Übl’ef Ji'iv, kaa
than $S a month, a record probably un
equalled by any similar Institution In
America. Bethesda has done much
with little and done it well.
A Manual Training; School.
In 1880 application was made to the
Board of Education to take charge of
the Bethesda school. The request was
based on the broad ground that the
children at Bethesda if not provided
for at the home would be of necessity
cared for by Savannahians and entered
in the public schools. The Board of
Education declined at first to provide
a teacher out of the public funds as
requested, but when the application
wus renewed in 1885 the board decided
to establish a public school at Be
thesda for the education of the bene
ficiaries of the society and such other
children as mtght attend. Five hun
dred dollars a year was allowed for
this purpose. In 18S9 the board in
creased the appropriation for the
school to SI,OOO and the following year
an assistant teacher was provided, the
attendance then approaching one hun
dred. Subsequently a third class was
formed. In 1889 a technological school
was also established at Bethesda
through the generosity of Mr. Edwin
Parsons. In his report for 1888-89 Pres
ident Estill had strongly urged the
establishment of such an institution
as soon as possible as a medium for
training the boys in industries and fit
ting them for successful mechanical
careers. On reading the report Mr.
Parsons was so impressed with the
practicability of the suggestion that
after a brief investigation he sent a
check for $5,000 to President Estill for
the erection of a building for this pur
pose. A building 50 by 100 feet in size,
with two floors, was begun on Septem
ber 20 and was completed early in 1890.
A spacious boiler house, blacksmith
shop, water tower with a tank of 2,500
gallons capacity, were also built. The
main building was provided with ma
chinery suitable for a manual train
ing school, it being proposed to give
instruction in carpentering, followed by
a course in blacksmith work. The first
donation not being sufficient to cover
the- expanse. Mr. Parson* made
a second one c r SSOO and
offered to pay the remainder
of the bills, which he did at a later
date to the extent of $1,672, making his
total donation for the school $7,172. The
title conferred upon the Institute was
very properly "The Parsons Techno
logical School.” Unfortunately this fea
ture of the w-ork at Bethesda has nev
er proved the success that was antici
pated. Its results were distinctly dis
appointing, due, in a large measure, to
the inability of the society to pay suf
ficient salaries to secure competent in-
structors. For three years the boys
were given the benefits of the school
as far as the society’s means permit
ted. It became evident, though, that
unless It was prepared to expend con
siderably more than its managers felt
Justified in doing, the boys would ob
tain but meager benefits from the
school. The technological department
was accordingly abandoned in 1893. In
1898 part of the machinery was sold
and the building devoted to school pur
poses. The following year it was de
stroyed by fire, with considerable ma
chinery, school furniture, books, etc. It
is one of the aspirations of President
Estill that in the near future this fea
ture of the operations of Bethesda may
be resumed on a more comprehensive
and more practical basis than in the
previous experiment. At the one hun
dred and fiftieth anniversary celebra
tion in 1900, President Estill announc
ed a donation of SIO,OOO from a party
who his name not reveal
ed, the total amount to be used in the
erection of a brick school building. It
is estimated that an endowment of $50,-
000. providing an assured income of
$2,500 to $3,000 annually, would enable
the society to conduct an up-to-date
technological department. Nowhere is
there a better opportunity for practi
cal benevolence than here. An endow
ment for a technological department at
Bethesda by some wealthy Savannah
ian would create a monument for him
that would otrtlast any that might be
placed over his remains. With the work
at Bethesda constantly before them,
with a full realization of the blessing
it is to the unfortunate and of the ser
vice it is rendering the community at
large by providing for those who oth
erwise would become charges on the
general public, it does seem that bene
factions would be showered upon the
institution by Savannahians of means.
Yet of all those who have passed away
in the last ten years but one, and there
have been some whose accumu
lations approached the million dollar
mark, has distinguished himself by a
legacy to so worthy an object. Sa
vannah 1s renowned for its hospitality,
Its generosity is never appealed to in
vain by outside sufferers, yet for some
unaccountable cause Bethesda’s needs
fail to meet with the response that
would naturally be expected for an
absolutely non-sectarian institution of
Its character.
As the late Rev. Dr. Holmes beau
tifully suggested In his address at the
anniversary in 1882: “If a man wished
for himself a fame which all men
might envy, he could find no surer
way to secure it than by linking his
name with those of Whitefleld and
his coadjutors in the endowment and
permanent establishment of Bethesda—
for it ought not to be left to the un
certainties of adventitious circum
stances—so that it should remain per
petually the asylum of the homeless,
the help of the orphans, and the stream
of Its Influence should be like our own
beautiful river, which, watering all
lands through which It flows, and bear
ing on Us bosom the commerce of a
great people, ceases not till it moves
responsive to the tides of the ocean
and is lost In the great Image of etern
ity.”
(The End.)
—All Through.—The Rev. Dr. Saint
ly: Bobbie, I don’t see you at Sunday
school any more.
Bobble: No, sir. There isn’t any
thing more for me to learn.
The Rev. Dr. Saintly: No more to
learn! What can you mean?
Bobble (proudly): I’ve licked every
boy In the class.—Town and Country.
—Baron Ludivor Moncheur, the new
Belgian Minister. Is expected in Wash
ington soon. His marriage to Miss
Clayton, daughter of the United States
Ambassador to Mexico, will take place
in December in the City of Mexico.
Fmm Dootai* IJf|li
Pyramid Pllo Cura.
Dr. WlUUiOf, a prominent oriAcini
iur|ton, u*yn: "It ii the duty <f
evtry •uryaon to avoid an operav ton it
poaatbla to i.urc lit any o/her way and
after many mala with the Pyramid
FUe <*ure f utibealUUugiy re<otfitu*i4
it In prefer*n< a to an oj*iUoh For
aale hy ait dfuiiiili k, w ,l
’‘Pile*. and t*ura' # mailed ftta.
I‘iia.una U' uif 'Jt, M-usnaii, MuA,
grCKSTEIN’S
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.
In order to make room for our display of Toys aud Holiday Goods,
we offer extraordinary inducements to purchasers of Ready-mad#
Goods, Furs, Blankets, Comfortables, Rugs, Art Squares, Curtains, etc.
The Goods Must Go. We Name Prices That Will Move Them .
We Guarantee a Perfect Fit
On All Ready-made Garments Sold by Us.
$13.50 Tailor-made Suits $2.50 Walking Skirts
Now $9.50. Now $1.39.
$20.00 Raglans 1 ’ ‘ *B.OO Dress Skirts 1 1 !.i, I
, Now $12.50. Now $4.98.
$12.00 Automobile Coats f *4.00 Misses Automobile Coats . J
Now $7.98. Now $2.49.
$12.00 Flush Capes ■ j $9.00 Misses Automobile Coats .)
Now $7.50. Now $6.50.
39c Ladles’ Fleeced Underwear 15c Ladies Fast Black Hos*
Now 25c. Now 10c
50c Men’s Fleeced Underwear 19c Ladies Fancy Hos* ] iit 21
Now 39c. Now \2y*c
Ladles and Misses Kid Glove* 75c Silk Baby Caps I,f v .( j)
Now 69c. Now 49c.
$7.00 wool 12-4 Blankets $12.00 Eiderdown Comfortable* \ ]
Now $4.98. r Now $9.00.
$4.50 wool 11-4 Blankets *2.50 Sllkoline Comfortable* r g 1 ■
Now $2.98. Now $1.69.
$3.00 Gray Wool Blankets J " *LB6 Large Comfortable* Li' l)
Now $1.75. Now 98c.
75c Cotton Blankets 50c Good Comfortables f" i
Now 49c. Now 39c.
75c 54-lnch Sacking Flannel *I.OO Black Wool Cheviot , j
Now 39c. Now 59c.
50c French Flannels . *1 00 Black Guaranteed Taffeta
Now 39c. Now 69c.
10c Canton Flannel . 25c Table Oilcloth * 2 V/JLlVk'} 5
Now 7c. Now 15c.
15c Large Pillow Cases _ $1.25 Hemstitched Sheets -.•■*-***
Now 10c. Now 98c.
20c Hemstitched Pillow Cases 5c Sheets, size 90x90,
Nowlsc. Now 49c.
REMEMBER—We Always Sell What We Advertise.
GUSTAVE ECKSTEIN & CO,
13 and 15 Broughton St., west
THE MELDRUM CAMPHOR AND CHEMICAL CO.,
Camphor nnd Celluloid Crystal Hrtnm and Manafactnrlng Chemliti.
Incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Capital $500,000.
Divided into 50,000 6 per cent, preference shares of $6.00 each and 50,000 ordi
nary sares of $5 00 each. Payable $2.00 on application, SI.OO on allotment and
$2.00 three months after allotment. Issue of 27,000 6 per cent, preference and
27,000 ordinary shares of $5.00 each at par.
DIRECTORS:
ARCHIBALD MELDRUM, F. I. S„ Blackshear, President.
M FRANK. 904 Cauldwell avenue, Bronx, New York.
GARDNER W. KIMBALL, of Delaware Trust Cos., Wilmington. Del.
C. G. MURRAY, Blackshear, Ga., Resident Director for the Globa Mfg. 00.,
Ltd.
SOLICITORS—ESTES A WALKER, Blackshear, Ga.
ASSISANT CHEMIST—T. S. GRAY. Blackshear. Ga,
BANKERS— BLACKSHEAR BANK, Blackshear, Go., GERMANIA
BANK, Savannah, Ga. i
Office and Works, BLACKSHEAR, GA.
M. TEMPLE TAYLOR, Secretary and Treasurer Pro Tern, Savannah, Ga.
Registered Office, 902 Market Street, Wilmington. Del.
ABRIDGED PROSPECTUS.
This company has been formed to adopt and carry out an agreement be
tween Archd. Meldrum. Manufacturing Chemist, Blackshear. Ga., U. S. A.
(lately with the Blackshear Manufacturing Company, Blackshear. Ga). and
the Globe Manufacturing Company,Limited, Camphor Refiners and Manu
facturing Chemists, 11 Mansion House Chambers, London, Eng., and whose
works are situated at West Norwood. England. Hoboken, Antwerp. France,
the said agreement being dated 2nd day of September, 1901.
The agreement comprises the sole rights of United States and Canada
to manufacture camphor, celluloid crystals, and by-product* under the Globe
Manufacturing Company’s various processes.
The processes being secret, it is not desirable In the Interests of the
company to give any details, but the secret documents have been duly sealed
and deposited with the company’s solicitors a* per agreement with Mr. Mel
drum.
A working capital of $50,000 Is ample for the manufacturing of B 0 tons
of camphor, celluloid crystals and by-products per month, and for which a
market has already been acquired. The gross profit on this production 1”
estimated to give, after bearing all charges, a sum of not less than $120,000
for distribution on the Preference and Ordinary shares, leaving a sum of
$70,000 for the purpose of reserve fund, or for further extension of the
business.
The company also acquiree 250 acres of land, a dwelling house, and an
abundance of fine timber. The purchase price for the land is $,200; for the
rights to manufacture, under the various processes, $282,000, leaving a bal
nmchinery capable.of producing 3 tons ullding works and installing plant and
ance of $211,800. The total cost for bper day Is $61,800, leaving the working
capital at $50,000, and SIOO,OOO for future issue.
The only agreements existing are:First. Eetween the company and
Archd. Meldrum, wherein he sells to the company the American rights for
manufacturing at $282,000 and 250 acres of land, including dwelling house and
timber at $6,200, total $288,200, payable as to $158,200 in cash and $130,000 in
Ordinary shares.
Second. Agreement between the company and Archibald Meldrum.
wherein the latter agrees to act as managing director for ten years at a sal
ary of $5,000 per annum.
Third. Agreement between Archd. Meldrum and the Industrial Trust
Company, 60-62 Liberty street. New York, as to the guaranteeing of this
issue. , ~
Mr. Meldrum will be a large stockholder, having agreed to accept a large
portion of the purchase price in ordinary stock, thus showing the business
will be conducted upon safe lines. Mr.Meldrum is a thorough, practical man
ufacturing chemist, understanding the practical manufacture of camphor, its
by-products, borax, boralc acid, sulphuric acid, arsenic, starch, and many
other chemicals too numerous to mention. Any Improvements that Mr. Mel-*
drum may bring out as regards reducing cost of manufacture, oc new pro
cesses, become the property of the company. This company will consider
the manufacture of various chemicals and more especially arsenic and for
which there is a growing demand. A convention was held at Brunswick, Ga.,
on April 9, 1901, to consider the cultivation of the plant known as “Cas
sava. ” HI arch can be manufactured at a low cost from this plant, and should
It be planted to any great extent in this state, starch manufacturing will
also be considered. It is estimated the company will be in a position to
fill orders early next year. Already arrangements have been and are being
made for the sale of the total output of the company's products.
The advantages of manufacturing at Blackshear are many. Firstly, the
air is pure; secondly, the water is good and free; thirdly, labor is cheap;
fourthly, transportation Is easy, as the railroad would run Into the works;
fifthly, it Is handy for New York and other markets, also for shipping. The
Imports of camphor for year 1899 amounted to 1,807.541 pounds, valued at
$322,100, and In 1900, 1,789,000 pounds, valued at $485,071. It will be seen there
is a good outlook for this company.
No promotion money is being paid and Mr. Meldrum pays all ex
penses up to allotment. Prospectuses and application forms rosy be had of
the bankers, solicitors, offices of the company, or secretary.
McDonough & Ballantyne,
Iron Founders, Machinists, |
Blacksmiths. Boiler makers, manufacturers of Stationery
and p<,i tut.is Engines, any site from 150 horse power to * t
horse Boline and Pump* new end second I.and Vert!- |j>
sal and Top Running Cora Milts, fcugae MUI and Bans,
Whs fling. Pulleys. Ha TELEPHONE NO. IN.
ORDER BLANK BOOKSTHUM THE MORNING NfcWS. SAVANNAH.
13