To construct " building of the proportions of this Club naturally requires much work not only in the: handling of materials but work in the realm of finance and other ma TOL started committees which have laboured 0 long anid faithfully in the construction of this Club 1 would practically have to ead you a list of the entire membership, for everyone has done his bart either directly or indirectly in supporting this) enterprise. I do wish, however, to give special credit to our building committee, which fon each floor. By means of this Plant all dust is extrneted by electric vacuum cleaner situated the basement, The fire protection of the whole building is very complete. The system is fed from three sources, direct connexion from the Water works Co.'s main, 'a powerful electrically-driven turbine pump situated in the basement and, as an additional safeguard, a pampins connexion has been' installed, 9 means of which the Municipal y Brigade can pump through piping in the building to any desired point.
Mr. J. Harold Dollar. President of the Club, sai It is my pleasant duty to-day to welcome you to the offici opening of the American Club. This Club had its beginning.in 1016 when a small group of business men formed a bridge club known as the "Slim" Club with a limited membership of 52. Quarters were rented above Brewer's Book Store, The number of applicants for membership in the Slam Club was soon so far beyond the limit that it was decided to change the bylaws so as to have unlimited membership. It soon developed that our Quarters were too small so the Slam Club moved to 33. Nanking Road where it continued until May 10, 1917, when at a general meeting it was decided to incorporate the Club and change ite name to the American Club.
Naturally it seas "thought that the quarters at 83° Nanking Road Shas, since the inception of our build ling, worked long and faithfully. I [think Tam safe in saying that many jef them have given almost as much Htime to the construction of our club as they have given to their own busines 7 also desire to mention one name for special credit, and that is our architect, Mr. R. A. Curry, who reduced our ideas to paper and who planned and worked out the consum-motion of the idea into the Club which you see to-day, modern in leo very possible respect.
Credit ix also due to the various firms which supplied materials. fo our now building—they gave ux the best they had and the results stand Jar a permanent monument to thelt endeavours ax well ax to those of the building committee which put hem together.
It is not my par long speceh—that served for Mr. Cunningham, the American Consul-General, who has been in Shanghai over almost all of the period of the history of the Club. Mr. Cunningham has been not only the official leader of the welfare of promote: ix Club
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.