The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1882-03-04
A Princely Offer .
A Great Free Library.

Mr.. Enoch Pratt, wealthy citizen
of Baltimore, has made the following
offer to the authorities of that city:
BALTIMORE.-Tot the Honorable the
Mayor and City Council of Baltimore:
I have for some years contemplated
establishing free circulating library
for the benefit of our whole city, and,
in pursuance of this plan, I have
entered into contract to erect fire.
proof building on my Mulberry street
lot capable of holding 200, 900 volumes,
my. purpose being to have branches
connected with it in the four quarters
of the city under the same manage
ment. The excavation for the founda-
ton has been commenced, and the
building will be well advanced this
year and completed in the summer of
1888. 1t will cost, when ready for
occupancy. about two hundred and
twenty thousand dollars ($225, 0OO),
and upon its completion I propose to
deed it to the city. The title to all the
books and property is to be vested in
the city, and I will pay to your honor
able body upon its completion the adj
ditional sum of eight hundred and
thirty-three thousand three hundred
and thirty-three and third dollars
1888, $3.50, making one million fifty
eight thousand three hundred thirty
three and one-third dollars, provided
the city will grant and create an annu-
ity of fifty thousand dollars ESQ, 0OO)
per annum forever, payable quarterly,
to the board of trustees for the support
and maintenance of the library and its
branches.
propose that board of nine trus-
tees be incorporated for the manage
ment of 1.-THE Pratt Free Library of
the City of Baltimore" the board to
be selected by myself from our best
citizens, and all vacancies which shall
occur shall be filled by the Board.
The articles of incorporation will con-
tain a provision that no trustee or
officer shall be appointed or removed
on religious or political grounds. The
trustees are to receive from the city
the quarterly payments, and to expend
it at their discretion for the purposes
of the library.
1t is believed that this annual sum
will afford sufficient fund for the
purchase of books for establishing the
branches, and for the general manage
ment.
The trustees will be required to make
an annual report to the Mayor and
City Council of the proceedings and Of
the condition of the library, and the
report will contain q full account OF
the money received and expended.
This plan is suggested not without
due consideration of the power of the
city to carry it out. The city is ex-
pressly authorized by its charter to
accept trusts " for any general corpora
ton purpose "or for the general
purposes of education;" and although
it's power of creating debts is limited
by the Constitution of the State, yet,
as the property of the Library is to
belong to the city, and as it will re.
ceive sum of money to be disposed of
as it pleases, with the engagement only
to pay an annual sum for the support
of its own institution, it is believed
that such a transaction will not in.
volve the creation of a debt within
the meaning of the constitutional pro-
hibition.
/ suggest that if the money to be paid
by me as above stated were added to
the sinking fund and the interest care
fully funded it would in no very long
time pay off the debt of the city; but
this is intended only as suggestion,
and the disposal of the money is left to
your honorable body.
If, however, your honorable body
should, on mature consideration, be of
the opinion that the annual payments
as proposed would involve the creation
of debt, authority for that may be
obtained by complying with the pro-
visions of the Constitution; that is,
the debt may be created by the city,
provided it be authorized by en- act of
the General Assembly of Maryland
and by an ordinance of the Mayor and
City Council Of Baltimore, submitted
to the legal voters of the city of Balti-
more, at such time and place as may
be fixed by said ordinance, and ap-
proved by a majority of the votes cast
at such time and place. l cannot but
think that such an auth GRITTY from the
General Assembly and from the Mayor
and City Council of Baltimore and
from majority of the legal voters of
the city would be cheerfully given.
The plan proposed for the support
and management of the library is the
result of long and careful consideration
and, / am satisfied, is well adapted to
promote the great object in view, the