St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-05-27
A PUCLIC LIBRARY.
Immediate Action Urged in an
Important Matter.


To the Editor of the Globe.
1t is being whispered around by few
would-be friends of a public library
building that wealthy citizen has
made provision for such an institution
in his will. This is gratifying; but as
the citizen may (and we hope Will live
fifteen or twenty years longer, it is
hardly an excuse for postponing initia-
tory action by the city. Rather, such
action will tend to encourage some mu-
nificent capitalist to come forward and
endow public library in his life time.
AS rule such endOwmentS are made
while the benefactor is living. Such
was the case among many others in
respect of the famous music hall
and the fountain in Cincinnati,
Cooper Institute, New York, Vanderbilt
university, Nashville; Perkins blind
asylum and Smith university, Boston:
Lawrence scientific school, Cambridge:
Thayer scientific school at Dartmouth
college; Carleton, Manchester and Pills
bury colleges in our own state, and to
crown all those noble gifts of George
Peabody during his life-S1, 100000 for
dwellings for the poor in London, $780,
600 for library in his native town of
Danvers, S1,000,000 to the city of Balti-
more, and 100000 for education in
the South.
A few timid people think too large a
sum is being asked for public library
building. But we are not going to
build for merely to-day. If we start
now, it will be several years before
building will be ready. There must be
ample ground for site in central. but
quiet location. There has been ten
dency to Scrimp in on public buildings.
The postotfice is only twenty years old,
yet we are asking congress for over
100000 for new one. The High school
building is not eight Years old vet
is being enlarged. The union depot. no
older, is outgrown. 1t is the SAME with
the general railroad offices. The city
of Boston is arranging to build its sec
ond public library at a cost of over
S1,000,0OO. Let us be saving where we
must, but not niggard in regard to
public library. In the course of three
treasury 100000 for liquor licenses,
and yet some people would scrimp on
the public library as if it were to be
something for a third-rate town. If
100000 is too much for site and $780,
600 too much for spacious and fine
fire-proof building that the city may be
proud ola building containing a lect-
ure room [as Senator G. X. Davis recon-
mended year ago in his communica-
ton to the GLOBE) and thoroughly fur
niShed. If that amount is found to be
too much then the surplus can. under
the law, be used for the purchase of
books. Let there be unanimity of &C
ton in this matter. CITIZEN.
APUBLIC LIBRARY BUILDING.
To the Editor of the Globe.
A vote is expected to be taken by the
chamber of commerce Monday morning
on the report of its committee Oh pub
lie library building. The action of the
chamber will be simply an expression
of opinion, and even if favorable will be
only one step. To secure building re-
QuireS that the members Of the legisla-
ture from st. Paul next winter obtain
an act authorizing the issue of bonds;
then that the city council consent to
negotiate such bonds; and, finally. that
the board of directors of the public IL
brary deem it eypedient to purchase
site and erect building. The board of
directors consists of Messrs. Maurice
Auerbach, ii. l.. Carver. o. o. Cullen,
ID. A. Monfort, J. ID. O'Bricn, J. p.
Pond, Alexander Ramsey, H. 7. Unham
and Is. +. Wright, and strong reason
for Initiating measures now is that the
public would have confidence that they
would proceed liz disintercsted and
competent manner. The term of office
of three of these directors expires every
year, and their places are filled by the
mayor or acting mayor. Commencing
now, we can BE sure the work will be
faithfully done. e. C. A.