, 1880-02-01

The remarkable growth Of the Astor IL
brury in New York warrants the prediction
that Chicago at some future day, starting
with the Newberry Fund, will possess one OF
| the greatest libraries in the world. Mr, John
! jacob Astor has recently conveyed to the
! library founded by his grandfather piece OF
land adjoining the present building, and pro-
poses to furnish the means for enlarging the
present facilities Of the institution by about
one-half. This library was opened not
longer ago than 1853, and began with an
endowment Of 100000, which had been
bequeathed by the. John Jacob Astor who
died In 1s4s. In 1855, AIr. William 3. Astor
followed up the good work begun by his
father, conveyed additional ground to the
Trustees, erected new building, and ell
larged the number Of volumes. At the death
Of William B. Astor, In 1875, the property Of
tbs Institution had doubled. The present
John Jacob Astor's donntions have increased
that property to the value OF S., LIZ, ,95z The
fund for the maintenance OF the library has
grown to $4o1 ,000, and the number Of books
has increased from $1,000 volumes to 100000
volumes. The number Of readers in 1865 was
$4,000; there were 50, 600 readers last year. ).
The progress that has been made by the
Astor Library in New York is q forecast Of
that which may be expected from the New
berry Library in Chicago, which will start
with fund three or four times as large as
John Jacob Astor's original donation. The
Newberry estate is probably worth not less
than $8,oo0,Oo0, at the present increased,
though still low, value Of property, and one
half Of the entire estate, when divided, goes
to the Library. The division is delayed be-
cause the Courts apprehend . possible contest
from minor collateral heirs In case division
should be made before the death Of the
widow. The Supreme Court, however, has
granted new hearing, and may find that
there will be no basis for such suits. and that
the: estate may be legally divided at once,
under the terms OF the will. It's to be hoped !
that this view win be taken OF the case, so
that the Trustees may proceed without fur
ther delay to carry out Nh. Newberry's de-
sires. 1t cannot be doubted that once fairly
under way, the institution will be the recipi-
ent Of other bounties, and grow in size cnd !
usefulness as rapidly as the Astor Library.
The Newberry Library is designed to be an
institution sim1lar to tho Astor Library,-not |
Tor the miscellaneous circulation OF fiction |
and light popular reading,-but repository
for the best works In all branches Of knowI- !
edge and investigation, with adequate faci1i~ |
ties for study and the prosecution Of earnest |
research. No books are ever taken from the |
Astor Library; 1T is an institution for reading |
and reference, and the books have been ac-
cunulated with. special regard to literary
axcnIIenca and fusefn1neas The Nap,herr.v
Library, conducted upon the same plan, will
be to Chicago what the British Museum is to |
London, and will attract to this city and edu-
cate among our own people large class Of
authors, writer's, students, and Investigators,
sho will some day make Chicago equally
as literary centre as it is al
'eady in its character Of commercial centre.
Hence 1t Is important that the Supreme Court
hall authorize the beginning Of the great in-
titutlon at the earliest possible date