The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-06
.ent to render it perfectly

second story front is also given, showing the
interior arrangements of the building. The en-
tire structure has front of 80 feet and depth
of 3O1 feet, thus giving surface of a. $50 square
feet. The second floor lie 65 by 80 feet In dimen-
sions, and has surface of $500 square feet,
which makes the total supeI6cies of the new
building 29, $50 square feet nearly three times
as great as that of the building at the corner Of
Fifth and Libtary streets.
As shown in the accom- mpanying cuts, the main
library room lie n by 100 feet, with an area of
1898 square feet. There are two large reading
Ioome-one Tor The use of ladies and the other
Tor gentlemen-just in the rear OF the library
each each OF them being 80 by Ga feet.
Back OF these, and easily accessible by
means OF the central hail. is the newspaper
room, AZ by ~ feet in dimensions and 9eIg feet
In area. The FIRST floor is also provided with
two toilet rooms, one of which is 16 feet sduare
and the other l3 by l6 feet; and two oonversa-
tion rooms, each 2S by 80 feet. These last viii
prove great convenience to the freouenters of
the library. In addition to four committee
rooms, and large apartment for the meeting
OF the directors, the second floor will contain 3
Splendid classroom, 80 feet in width and AZ
feet inches in length.
The New Building Movement.
The present accommodations of the Library
have for several years been inadequate to its
continually increasing necessities. move.
dious quarters was therefore started by the
stockholders over eight years ago; and at an
adjourned meeting held on the 25th of January.
1859, the Directors were requested to ipo hire
nto the eXpediency of moving to some more
central location, and also to ascertain the % ro-
bable expense which would attend such re-
moval.
At the annual meeting in 1860 the d irectors
reported that a suitable location could be OH
tanned for $50, 600, on which a building large
enough to accommodate the Library for thirty
years to come could be erected at a cost of
500, ,000. The value of the old building was
reported at about $50 600, so that there would
remain about $G5,00O 10 be raised by subscrip-
ton and donation. But in January 1861. the
Directors reported that they had consulted
several leading citizens OF wealth and public
spuit, who united In saying that the community
wa not IN d condition to contribute the am punt
required.
In 1868, however, the Directors again took
the subject into consideration, aud ordered that
all the moneys accruing rom the sale ofstock
after January l, 1868, should be set apart and
invested as Building Fund. This plan has
been pursued, and the following amounts have
been transferred to the fund during the past
four years.
ISG3...."........ $3.50 lS66.........."..-. S56l3
leO4..''.'''''''''.'''..'. 900 -
At the annual meeting in January, 1866, a
committee of twenty-five prominent citizens
was appointed to take into consideration the
new building project, and 10 solicit subscrip-
irons Tor the same. On the 18th OF December
following, the subject was by them brought
before the stockholders, at special meeting, at
which resolutions were adopted 10 the effect
that new and more commodious building was
eXpedIeht, desirable, and necessary; and that its
location should be central, so as to afford easy
access to it from all parts OF the city reso
luton was also adopted, authorizing the raising
or $500, 600 Oy donations ard the sale OF stock
ana SCRIP. But the committee of tg enty-fve
took no steps towards carrying out its recon-
mendat ons, and sOOG ceased altogether to act.
At 'he le9inning OF last year, boweyer,
the Beard OF Directors made alother effort
to increase the bull ling fund, by sending clrcu-
lars 10 ali the stockholders urging them 10 take
an active part in the sales of stock and scrip,
and in soliciting sui, criptions, while SPECIAL
circulars were at the same time for Sarded to
such wealthy citizens as it was thought would
| feel disposed to ad the undertaking. The re-
| spoDses to all these petitions were few and far
| between, and people had gradually come to the
! conclusion that a new and commodious build
ing Tor the use OF the Mercantile Library was one
| OF those indefinite and intangible Affairs which
| belong altogether 10 the next century. The
| subject rested in this unsatisfactory condition
unul we were suddenly startled by the an
| nouncement OF
The Purchase of the Franklin Market
| Building,
which is located OH the west side OF Tenth
street, between Chestnut and Market certainly
one oil the most desirable positions in the entire
city for a public library. This bailding was
erected about six years ago, and was for time
used as a market house; but it was subse.
quently purchased by the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company, with the object of converting it
into passenger depot. This project was aban-
doned, and during the last years of the war the
building was leased to the United States Gov
ernment, and used as commssary storehouse.
When the firm of French, Richards d Co. were
forced 10 seek temporary quarters by the
fire which destroyed their establlshment
at the corner of Tenth and Market Streets
they obtained lease of the building, and have
since been the occupants ofit Their lease does
not expire until The first of next October, with
the option of a renewal until the first of Janu-
ary following, but it is quite probable that the
new and handsome warehouse which they are
now ereeiing on the site of their old stand will
be completed before that time, in which case the
Mercantile Library Company will be enabled
the sooner to commence their improvement OF
the property. IN .T-r
The purchase was effected during the month
| of March last the amount to be paid being
| fixed at Sl26, 900. OF this sum, the Railroad
| Company requires payment OF $4,000 within
short time, to raise which requires the utmost
| earnestness and prOmptness ON. the part OF the
| friends of the bIary.
To complete the purchase and make the neces
| sary alterations, will require the raising OF from
| $780, 600 to S160,00O, ia addition TO all the pre-
| sent available means and resources OF the
| Library Company. The managers have taken
| the matter earnestly in hand, and, although the
enterprise ls certainly formidable one, there