Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-22
IT'S EIGHT YEARS OLD
And but Very Little is Known of An
drew. Carnegie'S Library Gift.
PITTSBURG WAS ASKED TO WAIT
But Chairman Frew Does Not Think That
Any String Was Tied to
A GIFT THAT THE PEOPLE ALL WANT

W. n. Frew, ESQ.,, Chairman Of the
Councilmanic committee appointed nearly
two years ago to attend to public library
matters, was asked yesterday what had be-
come of the Carnegie library project in
Pittsburg. He replied that there had been
no further progress made since the city had
put itself in position to receive the gift and
take care OF it, see that it was properly
groomed, etc. Mr.. Frew stated that Mr.
Carnegie had been informed that the coast
was clear, and nothing further could be done
by anyone but himself He, Mr.. Frew, re-
garded any further approaches in Mr.. Car
time, he didn't think there was any string
tied to the gift, and thought the reason then
assigned by Mr.. Carnegie still, in all prob
ability, held. That was that he wished to
see the outcome Of the project in Allegheny.
Mr.. Frew supposed that Mr.. Carnegie
had sufficient reasons for silence, and he
certainly knew of no way to get deliver
ance on the subject.
ABOUT EIGHT YEARS OLD.
On November 25, 1881, Andrew Carnegie
wrote to Mayor Lyon making an offer of
$3.50, 900 for free library on condition that
the city provide for its proper use and main-
tenance not less than S15, 900 annually. Mr..
Carnegie called attention to the fact that
Cincinnati gives $4,000 year for a like
purpose. He also stipulated that the Sc
lection of the site, maintenance, manage
ment of the proposed library and all dis
bursements connected Herewith be en-
trusted to a commission of ten we'll known
known citizens of Allegheny county TO be
named by the donor, the Mayor, Presidents
of Select and Common Councils, Chairman
of the Central Board OF Education and
Superintendent Of City Schools to be ex-
officio members of the commission. Mr..
Carnegie enumerated the advantages to be
derived by free library, and ended by ex-
pressing the hope that he be allowed to
show some sense Of the deep debt of graft
tude he owed to Pittsburg and its people.
On November 20, 1886, almost five years
after the offer, an ordinance was signed by
Major A. Fulton providing for a library
under the donors conditions.
Legislative sanction being deemed neces-
sary, on the 23d day of May, 1887, Governor
Beaver approved the following act:
CITY CLERKS EXPLANATION.
That it shall be competent for any incor.
porated city within this Commonwealth to
take and hold any grant or donation of money,
books and manuscripts. or property, real and
personal for the purpose of establishing free
library within the limits of such corporation
and to make provision, by annual appropria-
tion for the maintenance of such free library.
City Clerk Sheppard states that subse-
quently Mr.. Carnegie said in an interview
with Mr.. Frew that he, Carnegie would
make the donation $500, 900 if necessary, but
that at the time in question the Allegheny
library had made considerable draft on
his resources and asked for time. Since
then it has not received special attention.
A committee has been appointed from year
to year to attend 10 the matter until this
wear, when the matter has been allowed to
lapse