, 1874-01-25
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THE OLD
CUSTOM-H0USE SITE.

| Letter from william H. King, ESD,
I President OF the Hoard OF Educa.
tions
| II tho Editor Of The Chicago Tribune:
| SIR: In your paper OF the 18th instant, in N
editorial headed ssTho Old Custom-Houso Site,'
referring to the fact that the title to the proper
| ty is not yet vested in the city, you say: "If
| this be true, may it not be 81 we'll to hayo tile
title made direct to the Public Library Of the
| City OF Chicago. instead Of the Board OF Educa-
| tion?" By what method or process Of 1eason-
ing such L
DIVERSION or SCHOOL, FUND PROPERTY
could be justified is beyond my comprehension
That tho property to be exchanged for the '' old
Custon-House site" is School Fund property
has mover, to my knowledge. been questioned,
In tile proposition, signed By the
Mayor, Comptroller, Corporation Coun-
sci, members Of the Common Council, members
of tho Board Of Education, and Directors Of the
Public Library, to the Secretary Of the Treaa-
ury to exchange the old Bridewe1 lot for
the old Post Office and Custom -Houee site, 1t is
stated that :" the School Fund Of the City Of Chi
cago OWLS the south half of Block 81, School
Section, being 1885 feet On Fifth avenue, aud
$50 fest on Polk street. to the South Blanch Of
the Chicago River, and with frontage Of 200
feet on said river aud containing about 75.430
square feet" The property above described is
known as the cid BrldeTel lot, and is the prop
erty proposed to be exchanged for the old Post
Office and Custom-House lot.
THE LEGISLATURE
Of this State in an act approved April 4, 1873,
ezempting tho property from taxation whea 1t
shall be acquired by the United States, uses the
following language:
SECTION /. Bs It enacted bv the People Of the s1ate
Of Illinois, 1epresen<d IN The General assembly, That
tho United States Of Anortcs may, pursuant to oct
Of Congress entitled San net to authorize the sccro
PROPERTY IN Chicago, arprdved March 5, 7ss acquire
the following described property atuated N the City
Of cs M n tue G. Poy of ceok sn and se or @
fronting $50 feet Polk street. and 1884 feet on Fifth
avenue aud being the property Of the School Fund Of
thu City Of Chicago"
The property to be exchanged for the old
Post Office site being School Fund property, and
held by the Board Of Education
N TRUST
for specified aud well-dedned purposes. could
the Board be justified in permitting the property
received in exchange therefor to be diverted
from the purpose and object for which it is held
in trust?
There are many charitable institutions in Chi
cago, and many excellent institutions not COM
ing under that designation II the Board Of
Education is at liberty to violate tho trust re-
posed in it. and donate trust funds OF trust
property to other than it's legitimate purpose OF
object, there would, probably be variety OF
opinions as to which would be the most worthy
object for such donations.
Tho Board Of Directors Of the Public Library
have never asked not intimated, to my knowledge
or belief, that it desires any OF the School Fluid
property except on such terms aa shall be Just
and equitable.
By the lar under which
TIE PUBLIC L1DEAnT
Of Chicago Was organized, it Is provided "Ihat
tho City Council OF each Incorporated city shall
have power TO establish and maintain public
library aad -ending-room for the use and benefit
of tho inhabitants Of such city, and may levy
tax of not to exceed ono mill on the dollar an-
nuaily, and, in cities OF over 100 900 inhabitants,
not to exceed ono-dfth of one mill annually, Oh
all tho taxable property in the city, such tar to
be levied and collected in like manner With other
general taxes OF said city, and to be KNOWN as
the Library FUND.-"
The assessed valuation for taxation Of "the
taxable property in the city" for the year 1879
vas S3tl Ga, IT'S, aud tar thereon OF ope-mth
OF mill on the dollar would amount to 96232o
The amount appropriated for
TIE LIBRARY FUND
for tho year 1873 by the Common Councll was
$50 O0D. instead Of tho full amount authorized
by law TO be appropriated By tho law tho tax
for The Public Library is not limited to any par
ticular number OF yea1B. but may cont1nue 1ot-
ever. a..
Iaw. I assisted in procuring its paeBage. re-
fer to it simply to ehow that the directors OF
the Library do not need, neither have they asked
for, = g1atuity from tho fund appropriated
for tie education OF the children Of the |
city, By proper management OF the Library
Fund Chicago may eventually hare one OF the