The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-10-31
The PubIic Buildlngs for Penn square.


lature to the donation Of Penn Square for the
use of public buildings. 1t therefore only
remains for that body to give its consent,
and we will have the squares put to that use
which the founder of our city originally de-
signed. But at the same time, on the passage
of the required law by the Legislature, it is
important that certain conditions be laid down,
to which the societies TO be favored must con-
form before the gift of this valuable piece of
real estate shall become absolute. The pro-
perty was designed by Penn for public build
ings, and it is only proper that the societies
should be public in character, and not merely
in name. To vote the possessions of the city
to close corporation, or one in any way ap-
preaching such characters would be an out
rage on the public. We require of those
associations a wider extension OF the prl-
vileges which they now extend only to
their members. We think it but due to
the city that some amendment
should be secured to the plan on which these
societies are at present conducted, which will
cease to limit the advantages of their exist
enOe to a few members who are regularly
assessed at high dues. Thus, in the case of
the Philadelphia Library, we do not deem it at
all proper for the city to give one of those
valuable squares to an association the privi-
Ieges of which are restricted to stockholders,
who have to pay thirty dollars for a share of
stock and heavy extra dues per annum. By
such proceeding the city will in reality be
donating handsome present out of the pub
lie purse to the limited number of stock
holders of the Library. With this Hberality
on the part of the city should come CORES
ponding iberality on the part of the members
of the favored corporations. While we do
not think that they should be demanded to de-
liver up their shares, and make their institu-
ton Immediately public library,
yet we think that some steps might
be taken which would ultimately lead
to that result. The present collection of works
in the Philadelphia Library is the basis for
great free library, like that of Boston. 1t is
the nucleus around which could be made to
centre most magnificent collection. So
long as it continues private corporation, its
sphere Of usefulness must necessarily be
limited. But should its stockholders vote to
gradually change it into free library, by
agreeing that if the State would buy up such
shares of stock as would not be donated to
the cause by the holders, and the State then
vote such an endowment as would secure for
it a permanent income, great step would be
taken in furtherance of noble object. As a
rule, the stock of the Philadelphia Library is
held by class of people who would will
ingly donate their shares to such public
end. By this means we would have the
Library quietly transformed from private
to a public institution; and by opening it to
all our citizens who are vouched for as re-
spectacle by any two prominent gentlemen,
as is the law in the Boston Library, its sphere
ofusefulness would be immeasurably increased.
A slight annual charge to such as took out
works. say a dollar per annum, would, with
the endowment from the State, yield reve-
nue., independent of the donations which it
would certainly receive, amply sufficient for all
the wants of the Association.
We have thus sketched off what would be
the true plan of future operations on the part
of the Philadelphia Library, on taking pos
session of one of the Penn Squares. And the
same general features should govern the course
of the three other societies which are to be
similarly favored. Nor is the idea at all Chi
merioal. The steps necessary are rendered per-
fectly clear to any one who will take the trouble
to investigate. All that is necessary is some
incentive, and that can be secured by making
the adoption of some such plan condition
precedent to the grant of the squares to the
corporations. If the adoption of such an idea
by each of the four societies is made an essen
tial requisite to the presentation of the
squares the first step will be secured. There
is ne necessity for any haste in the transferral.
Let the change be gradual. If it takes
ten years it does not matter. But let the
ultimate change be at once made, in effect, in
the management of the associations. If such
a return for the liberaEty of the city should
be made by the new occupants OF the squares,
we have no reason to doubt but that they
could secure handsome endow-
mont both from the Commonwealth
and the municipality. 1t would be
to the direct advantage Of both to make the
public buildings an ornament and pride to
our city, Their influence would be felt
throughout not only all the State, but
throughout all the land, and a central spot be
found around which the scientific and literary
men of the nation could congregate. The
beneficial influences of the adoption of the
proper plan cannot be over estimated, but if il