St. Paul daily globe., 1888-05-22
CAN WE'LL AFFORD 1T.
A Committee of the Chamber of
Commerce Heard From on the
Public Library Question.

Commerce Heard From on the
Public Library Question.
AT the meeting of the chamber of
commerce yesterday morning the public
library question, much discussed of late,
was again brought to the attention of
this body by the presentation, through
Gen. Andrews, of report of the
majority Of the committee to which the
matter was referred some time since.
The salient points of the report, which
was tabled until the next meeting, are
here given.
In considering such matter due re-
gard should be paid, first. to the queS-
ton whether the city can afford the eX-
penditure. If it can, then the prevail
ing opinion doubtless would be as was
suggested in the report of the COM
mittee on taxes, that the money be
raised by the issue of bonds rather
than tax levy for successive years.
Our taxes must on no account become
so high as to drive away capital. In re-
gard to the city debt there is no statute
limit to the amount that may be in
Cured. But by common consent it is
not allowed to exceed 5 per centum of
the taxable valuation. Kept within that
limit the credit of the city is of the
highest grade, and money can be bor-
roWed at from to 5 per cent interest.
1t is estimated that the city debt on the
lst OF January next will be S6,000,G00.
II the taxable valuation for this year
reaches, as it is expected, S135, 100000,
then an increase of the bonded in
debtedneSs to the amount of $3.50, 900
may be incurred next year without eX-
ceedlng the per cent limit, Then,
how much of this S750,000 would be re-
qulred to be expended next year for a
public library building, assuming that
that the directors of the public library
fOr it would be in their discretion)
chose to eXpend any amount? Probably
not over 100000. That amount ought
to be sufficient
TO BUY AN AMPLE SITE
in central, yet quiet part of the city;
and the money required, say $4,000, for
erecting suitable tire-prOOf building,
would probably not be required till the
following year QS9G), at which time the
taxable valuation would admit of fur
ther Indebtedness, without exceeding
the per cent limit. Thus distributed
through the years 1889 and 1890, the nee
essary expenditure for public library
building will not cut such all important
figure in increasing the debt as to make
1t particularly Objectionable on that
ground. May it not be taken for granted
that for a few years to come the city
debt will keep up to the 5 per cent limit?
The vote on the Broadway bridge shows
that it will, and if that be so, then it is
question whether share of it shall go.
for library building or for some object
that may be less useful. In this con-
nection it is proper to refer to fact that
has most favorable bearing OH the city
finances. The revenue from the water
works last year was $500, 600, which rep
reSents safe 4 per cent capital of
s, 100000. The total Indebtedness of
the city at the close of this year will be
s6,0C0,G00, of which amout S2,000,000 rep
resent bonds for the city water works.
But these water works, with the real es-
tate and franchises belonging thereto.
would probably be sold for sum that
would
PAY OFF THE WHOLE CITY DEBT.
All admit that the present public libra
ry is not adequate to the needs of the
city, and it will never become so until
it is provided with suitable quarters.
Eight years ago we saw valuable state
library at the capitol destroyed by fire.
People will not donate valuable books to
a library when they are liable to burn
up the very next day. And not until
good fire-proof building shall be pro-
vided will we have a public library
worthy of our city. At the close of this
year, and including the two last years.
the owners of real estate in this city will
have paid
OVER FOUR MILLION DOLLARS
into the city treasury in assessments for
local improvements, including street
rr ofo
most of this was voluntary taxation from
which the city as whole reapS the prin-
cipal benefit. In view of such sacrifice,is
1t quite becoming for the city at large to
refuse the comparatively small expendi-
ture needed for public library build
iEg and which will conduce to the bene-
fit of the whole city? st. Paul is the
capital of state as pOpulouS as New
York was when, single-handed, she
built the Erie canal. st. Paul is the
capital of state whose permanent
school fund proceeds of lands donated
by the United States) now amounts to
over $1,000, 900, and which will ultimate
ly amount to $4,000, 900. Such city is
under more
OBLIGATIONS TO BE PUBLIC-SPIRITED
st. Paul is now entering on the fiftieth
anniversary of her settlement, and the
culiarly favorable.
Ii further argument were required, it
may be found in the fact that our sister
city, Minneapolis, has just completed a
fine library building at cost of S175,-
600, the site alone being worth Separ-
ate amount of 100000. In such an en-
terprise we cannot afford to be behind
our neighbor. A majority of your COM
mittee therefore recommend the adop-
tion of the following resolution:
Resolved, That it is -expedient that
steps be taken to secure from the next
legislature authority for the city of st.
Paul to issue bonds as follows, namely:
One hundred thousand dollars for the
purchase of site for public library
building, and $3.50, ZOO, to be issued not
sooner than 1890, for the erection of
public library building.
A letter from Hon. Edmund Rice in
regard to the appropriation for improve
mentS at Fort Smelling was read, and
another from Hon. Thomas Wilson in
regard to the resolution offered by Gen.
Sanborn. The communication from the
board of trade of Providence, r. l., in
regard to the enlargement of the accom-
modationS for the appraiSement of goods
at the port of New York was referred to
the mercantile committee. The COM
mittee appointed to prepare resolutions
in memory of the late Commodore Kitt-
son was not prepared to report and was
given further time.
GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS.
Co. G Passes a Satisfactory Inspec-
ton and Gives an Exhibition
Drill.
The inspection of Company c, n. G.
S. NJ, by Inspector Gen. Brandt at the
armory last night, was all that could be
desired. Inspection is always dry and
uninteresting proceeding at best. When
Gen. Brandt had ceased his scrutiny