, 1880-11-07
THE PUBLIC LlbhAhf:

4 snss sses"-o..s,nn Of .lae sRookery.'s
1a~ sanos.,na letter from the President OF
ane ..',;a rfhrarv Board tn the Chairman OF
TIE ru".ss ~ IN Future Library Building"
me ..s with interest The suggestion that
w1u w ht.douarters at the City Governs
toe ~ ,ur,rd over 10 the Library after the
mens 11uu Ia cx,mpictcd Is a new one, and
new ~ Consideration lis Il possible means OF
oeee s.,,,o rom present complications:
p1n.Ic IlgRAnl, chlcAoo, Ny; h9y; 6- 66-3ames
L0ns Aaen zl...x t.,I;sry Buiang g"-DEAR SIR: The
on FMs,,c "FMs.. takcn BY the Hoartl nf Education
IecTIas Re- Iessinr the old post-uA;ce Building and
u tnss me fpss psacieay ends ali m prospees S
period ~ p!hi;c Ishrary would find Il permanent
taas .ln N int builttpz. The terms of the ltase
eo he sn1 s aI ,,'s,3an es
Of me T. NV l. not necessary to now more thun
res. abide 70 the mnrai claim put forward
me,ea p ~ Library Beard ~ tae reeogn'uon Or lts
right tsao!S u osruuancy vi the said building for
Fundt tnrnses. 20 n The H,mrd of Directors Of
Hbraiy raiyp,c p% Library could noi ignore the history
snd iacs q tne sud b. mcaas Of ~ xhseh a0as as
through Nm ~ most tucontes,abic testin0nv. the
sha*n y eg,s.ss @ f;oreruncut was induced to make
ta fransfef 70 the Gsy OF its.s Hs1; s, 0nt ms
toa,,s t1,',s m ~ horor AMI good thtth:
, n this Btlard. anu VIII engage III an tsspe-
PET ,nanuer the attention aud consideration Ut
ca! cis!IGnmrhittee: What steps should be tuken to
..."n. so". aud provide suitable pertnanent home
e. sss1n ~, Public L.b,aryY The imperative need
Of cbunee rn the psetsen, eaea eaa m
~ ~ - sotT-ayide11t, and the Library. moreover.
u sar,ostl 10 the cons,s:'t hazard Of destruction
hr ire, from its s'tnanon and surroundings.
na1n,,s of The Library hase up TO this endured
ss'ifh a degree Of patience scarcely to be ex-
necIed the toilsome and futiRaing ascent OF Two
nd r7ret tights Of stairs. atd the many other
S SSr,wtmcks md discomforts ineident 10 the cx-
fstjne situation. Doubtless they hnvc indulsed
,he t,.,e rhat steps would be taken ut an curly
az 70 transter ths rrs % e n'ns nor mns @
mixed, cudcayor to procure another and II more
ropyenient location. with improved facilities,
but none more suitable was altered last spring.
ghe question 1T future location and permanent
building it would seem. can only be .iei.uitly
stgtled and provided f,r by and through the nc-
ion Of the Maytr and the City Council: and for
ihc ; importance of eulisttng ani cngaKing the
teat and fayor Ut the city authorizes, 50 that
tbs problem shall II possible tind un
early and satisfactory ,t sotntion. sug,, !
70 the board that Dearborn Park ~ afforded u
suitable site for Il permanent. building, with
ample *'scs,pe and verge" for all future needs,
At least In the way 1T Rrs,uud Space. Apart
frQ,p the legal aud other obstacles in the way of
tho dez1icauon OF the square to the prnpUseu
use it may be doubted whether the location
wou!d BIZ jn lself the most suitable and con-
yeu4ent location far tue Public Library, taxing
ip.a acesu1nt the likelihood OF its future sur
rpundings- venture to make the suggestion
that the premises at present occupied BY the
streets. covering d lot 10 feet square. fronting
op Albums, La Salle, and Quincy Streets and on
tho east side an alley twenty feet wide. affords
be uband.,ucd and the public offices transfer
10 the new City-fiall. 1t would still serve for tho
purposes Ut the Public Library. The location
BE- North aud West Divisions, Is closely ad- M
areut tn the Post-Ofice and Custom House,
Ind at the same time Is just removed from the
'uxx and noise OF the great thDroughfnres- The
'.esent building would serve, at least for
Fhtie. for the uctds Of tbs Library by making
ew easily-cHt-ctcd and inexpensive changes
nd slterattons in the interior until such
Tould feel warranted in undertaking the erec-
lon of ii permanent Public Librnry building. So
ar Us am Informed on the subject, NJ, legal
bstacles t,r iturcdtsnents stand iu the way ut
b. City Council should It see tit to dedicate and
ssgn the property TO the proposed Use. 1t te-
'ngs to the Water Fund, and the fuit control OF
I, and 1t is subject to dispusal by that body.
!. then. the ls't and premises in ques1iot. may
used and occupied. As at prs:sent, for Il City
a!i and public oiiict's. why uot when Vacated,
J doubtless it will be within the next year or
70. fix there the settled and permanent home
u the Public Library? The Librurv had its be-
inning anu 1N1ud znelter Tor its fFSt ACcuuiu- !;
tons IN the ''0ld Taslk.'' and. now that the !
her appointed historic memorial Of the fire
Is fAiIt.t of its contemplated designation there
mains no more suitable and appropriate lnc:s-
k'n fnr the Public Library Than the same Old
asik. which then indted will be II remark able
t'iumeht to the destruction aud resurrection !
Chicugn.
What more suftRb1e-,shat more acceptable
e can be made Of the property By Inc City
ouncl2 ! therefore suggest to your Com
ittee. which am well convinced will not luck
aud. prot'ided the project sha(l
ect with tbe concurt1.nce nf the Hoard. to
amply seek1o engage the attention and fuvor
the Mayor and City Eouncil t4,warls It,
The Chicago Public Library haa already de1n-
its rct utility. attt1 fully justified the
tasurably liberal appropriations hitherto
>ted fur its use. 1t is II recognized Necessity to
X stuoenr> and to the growing class al tuen
i'd women of literary tastes who ns,w largely
'ail themselves Of Its resources and utilize its
terafy treasures 1t is a boon and benefit for
/ cIAsscs. to the extent that they employ intel
gently and protirAblr the great collection oT
,oks fss,m which they nluy Cs,t'ast. Will. Chi
lg1. which is developing and multiplying in So
ANY Ways the qualities and characteristics
hieh gn 10 make up tho greatness and grandeur
metropolitan city, Cdnnot but feel grow
X pride and an nl,dinR c0ncern in the welfare
I'd dignity Of an institution THAT would rebound
signaly TO its honor, and which Is 50 we'll Cal
3tatrd tn educate and improve its people. AS
-eI In the question which will engage the atten-
On Of your Special Committee an tho Future !
lbraFy building" have the honor to remain
auts very respectfully
WILLIAM J. OsA1AS, President. !
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