, 1873-06-10

ist 70 bo purchnsed. Thus, tho Englisl, Govorn-
mont sends 212 voumoH. largo octave eizo, of their
ofs q n an na q o
tions With oil tho civilized countries Of tho
globe, from tho earliest periods Of tlloir history.
| These, published by tho htAstor Of tho English
mont passed in TIL, yoar 1900, havo, occupied
hundreds Of tranBoribera nnd translstors ii nll
| languages, ut d cost OF timo and money which
| preclude tho ,lttcr possibility Of sucl, n thing
Tile complete aot Of tho English patent~0 0flco
reports. with como 1900 specifications, nId
$500 volumes, boeidoB tho annual additions Of
lao volumes zach year, cat. scarcely ever 60 into
aro but three Or four conpleto sets ID tho public
libraries OF this country. Tho Untyorsity OF Ok
ford, that most anoiont aont OF English Iearnng,
Inns mado up aud annt to Chicago collection
merit Of the works aont-aro, in stylo Of bind.
ings and typographical appoarance and work
manahip, OF i yaluo which, Tor the same number
Of books, could scarcely bo replaced in 81; case OF
boan thus done for tho city
In respect to tho Library, groat anxiety as to
whit 10 yet to DO done BY ourselves Tho real
work Of opening this Library haa yet to bo &C.
compnshcd, both ~ to books and binding: b.
tribute books and become n lender, to the
thousands who will become readers Of them, o
largo sum Of monoy-sny ut least $40, 0,000-must
DO expended ln purchasing, to place upon tho
Of fiction, Of writer's Of talen, novo1s, work. of
biography, and history or, III other Words, tho
cheaper popular literature Of tho day: Thoao
works, according to tho experience Of other pub
lo libraries Of this country, oonnitute 70 to rs
por cont Of ali tho works called for, and that are
taken to bo 1ond by tho naagos Of o city popula-
ton. OF such worka we haVc as yct comparatively
few. Wo arc fortunate, howoyer, In having
11#fn nd fhn
tho Quantity Of tho works accumulated. In such
library aB wo arc establishing the character OF
tho books already on our shelves aro proper
nucleus In tho formation Of great metropolitan
tho "walls OF tho future s'ediHco should be
raised. -,
THE NEW BUILDING.
Before tho Doard can open tho Library to tho
genera Pubic, even tor tho purpoao e. reading
| mora ample accommodations ian necessity which
tho public must accept US inevitable.
Fortunately, tho difficulty Of providing for this
want will probably be solved as soon as the
funds en- 20 f1na to rnro*:s . tho books neeas
borrowers. Tho Board have acquired
sufficient, knowledge Of tho works OF
other libraries, at Boston and at
Cincinnati. to bo satisfied from their own
will be required for assistants from those fur
nislod by tho Board of:Publio Works In tho
present temporary quarters.
IT ID FORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCE,
tn oil this progress wo have been making, that
public opinion from tho worry first indicntod the
old Post Otloe site as proper location, and tho
building 1t8olt, as ,being iu dinlensona and Gym
motry OF style and architecture, adapted to ful-
I'll al requirements Of q now Public Library
building; Upon IN examination Of tho condi-
tion OF tho walls and foundations, they wore
found equal in strength to rostoration Of q
building in style and proportions tho samo as
before. Tho United Statos, after aelocting nn-
Other site for Ito future use, had neod Of the
ono abandoned, o1oopt. for an Appraisers waro-
houao or store for goods, and this required for
! convenience q river or wnter front. The sug-
gestions Of the public mind woro at onco
s'ssa. aSt9a up9n, and conveyed to THO United
cstizcna Of Chicago who at once opened cor
rospondenco with tho Secretary Of tho Treasury
with the object Of accomplishing what was do
sired:
Tie efrort,-in which tho members of your
honorably body, united with tho Mayor Mr.. Mo-
| dill, tho members Of tho Board OF Education
and also tho Board Of Directors, ,--in an appliea-
ton to Congress for an exchange with tho
Chicago River, for tho Post -Oflco site, ind
building, on tho cornor and Dearborn streets,
resulted, as your honorable body iB probably
awaro, il tue passage Of tho aot Of Congress Of
| made by the Secretary of the Treasury and tho
| appointment OF 4 Commission to ascertain tho
difference In tho value between the two pieces Of
ground. JnriAdiction having boon coded to tho
gnt9a I'd. ssss ss, by aGs OF tho Losisae
| tions Of the act Of Congress-. tho Sec
rotary Of tho Treasury appointed the
Hon: Thomas Drummonl and Norman 3. Judd,
the Commissioners on behalf Of tho Govern
curronce, Thomas Hoyno and Edwin Il. Sheldon
On tho part Of the city. Tho four Commission
era thus appointed choso as tho fifth person tho
Hon: John g: Rogers, who then organized, and
the first step WAS then taken in the proceedings.
This Commission, after several sessions, and
the careful examination Of sovaral experts in
knowledge as to the value Of real estate in Chi
cago, recently submitted their full report Ia
writing to the Secretary Of tho Treasury OF the
| United States, ind tho same is now before him,
subject to his approval. Tho Board do not GU
tertain doubt but that tho Secretary will &C.
cept the Judgment Of the Commission appointed
to ascertain the value Of tho property. Aud
cd by Congress aud the municipal authorities,
aA well as the whole municipal public Of Chicago,
will soon follow in full contamination OF thoso
| proceedings.
Tho two actH, tho act OF Congress- aud tho not
Of tho General Assembly in this Btate IN further
anoo OF the general object, arc about to bo ratl-
fed by . concurrence Of all interosts, State and
| National, in which there aeoms to have beon d
unanilnity Of action rarely attained from the
| frat.
This Board entertain tie moat reasonable and
well-groundod confidence that for aeyeral ycara
at least, with proper adaptation Of tho aron OF
space contained within the present wall OF the
old POST Office aito and building, that it's rostora-
tion Gun be mado to furnish ample aud con-
Yanfent accommodation for nll the businaes TO
be done, and for business aBsiatants, besides H.
lowing the necessary halls, alcovea, and galleries,
in which the shelves and hooku OF the Library
can be arranged. But. while expressing thit,
opinion as to what may be done for some years
to come, lot us not bo understood as
saying that, with O. woll-arranged readlng-
room equal to the present demand fitted up
for the general public on tho min floor Of
the building, that there Ia any more room at
present than what may bo needed. taking into
account the nature of the work to bo done WITH
in the first ono or two years in preparing tho
general library, with Wow to tho extent Of tho
public demand, md the accession Of now matter
| within that time. -
| FINANCIAL CONDITION or TIE LIBRARY.
| The Board now call your attention to tho hnau-
| cial condition Of this trust
| f1,n law rAnttiraa va ghNl,1 p}atn tha "a rinua