, 1880-05-16

and the continuance of the matter, as
described by the Mayor, is also due to the
neglect Of the city authorities. After the
great fire, and the establishment OF the
Public Library, there was general desire
! to provide suitable and permanent building
for 1t. The old Post-O Office and CuStom-House
| site was considered as the best location III The
city for the purpose. 1t was understood that
| that site would be altogether too small for
such new building as the Government might
want, and, being no longer needed by tne
United States, it was deemed advisable to
procure it, if possible, for our Public Ii
brary.
For this purpose an appeal was made to
Congress by the city authorities, and in con-
sideration of the condition Of the city at that
time, Congress directed an exchange OF that
lot for al tlnimproved lot owned BY the city
on the river. When this legislation had been
matured it was discovered that, the lot on the
river having been school property, the Board
of Education claimed the deed from the Gov
ernment to the old Post-Office lot. The
Board of Education persisted in the claim,
refused to allow the property to be used Tor
public library purposes, and, having no
money at the time to improve the lot, sat
down. after the fashion Of the dog i'll the
nlangcr, unable to use the lot for school pur-
poses and refusing to allow it to be used for
library purposes. The result has been that
the Public Library has had to lease quarters
III private buildings, paying high rents there
for, while the Board of Education,
after leaving the old Post-Of1lce build
ing idle for some years, found tell
ant, who, in consideration Of cheap rent,
patched up the old building, and has been
and is now using it for theatre. The lot
was obtained from Congress upon the ex-
press promise that 1t was to be devoted to
tile uses of public library. and had it not
been the understanding that it was to be de-
voted IT, that public purpose Congress would
not have even listened to the proposition for
all exchange of lots.
The Board of Education acted unreasona-
bly, in the matter. 1t is true the lot was
technically "school property" but it was
nevertheless public property, and the library
is an important part Of the educational system
Of Chicago. and is supported and patronized
by the same taxpayers who support the
schools. The exclusion Of the Public Library
from that lot has cost the city for rent
Of other premises perhaps more than the
amount the School Fund has ever realized
from it.
The suggestion was made that the bul lding
would be large enough to furnish the Library
sufficient room and leave enough space for
suitable offices for the Board Of Education,
and thus stop the rent the Board is paying
For A,.k+ +ho ;rb orI1
Board at the time secuted any partnership
occupation, so the public has ever since been
taxed to pay rent for the Library rooms, and
also to pay rent for the extensive rooms of
the Board Of Education. This is a clear IL
lustration of the abonlination Of "Boaru" "
governmental minor departmentsetting up
an Independent proprietorship of public
property, and compelling the whole city to
submit to its irresponsible and stupid dicta-
tion.
The Board Of Education still exists, but its |
membership has changed, and we suggest to
Mayor Harrison that he wrestle with that |
Board on the subject. Let him ascertain |
when the present lease Of the theatre ex-
pires, and on what terms that ard will al
low the building to be used permanently by |
the Public Library. We concede it is master
Of the situation. Though he is Mayor OF |
the whole city, his authority does not in-
c1ude the Board Of Education, except to ap~
point its members. There may, however. be
some members of that Board reasonable
enough to comprehend that the use Of the
building for a public library will contribute
as much to general instruction and education
rs its use by a theatre; that the Library is in
daily danger of being destroyed and lost, and
that nominal rent from the Library will
satisfy the demands Of the law, and at the
same time relieve the Public Library and the
city from present heavy charge for rent.
That building, with reasonable annual ex-
penses, could be readily adapted to the uses
1f public library; it would answer all the
purposes and meet the wants Of the public
sor twenty-five years to come; its location is
he most central that could be found, and
svery consideration of public convenience,
ustlce, and propriety suggests that the prop
,rty asked OF Congress for the Library,
granted by Congress for the Library, and
:rabbed by the Board Of Education from the !
library, should be now devoted to the uses of
he Library. If the building is not at the
disposal Of tho Board, that body may now
AXE such action rs will give assurance that
+ will be given to the Library atthe ter1lina-
ion Of the present lease.
THE CINCINNATI FESTIVAL.
The great event 10 which musicians and
he musical people Of this country will look
With interest this week is the fourth bien-
ial Festival at Cincinnati, which opens on
tuesday and closes with an extr; concert
complimentary to Miss Annie Louise Cary