Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-05
A LETTER TO LAMBIE.
Andrew Carnegie Writes to the COun-
ciIs Committee Chairman,
SAYINGTHE LIBRARYWILL BE A GO
He Has Been Very Busy, But Will Be
Here After the Holidays
NO TINE WILL BE LOST IN TIE MATTER

Andrew Carnegie has written letter in
relation to the proposed library to be built
bv him, to John s. Lambie, chairman of
the Councilmanic Committee appointed
several weeks since to confer with Mr..
Carnegie, and it was received yesterday. A
meeting of the committee was held on Fri
day last, and Mr.. Lambie was instructed to
write to Mr.. Carnegie and inform him that
the committee awaited his pleasure. The
Mr.. Lambie's communication. While that
gentleman is not at liberty as yet to make
the letter public, he last night told DIS
PATCH reporter the substance Of its con-
tents.
A VERY BUSY MAN.
Mr.. Carnegie says that his srduous duties
in connection with the entertainment of the
Pan-American Congress and other business
have prevented him from coming to Pitts
burg. He will be here, however, he says.
soon after the holidays, and will then meet
the councilmanic committee. He assures
Mr.. Lambie that there will then be no de-
lay in pushing the matter through. Mr..
Lambie yesterday notified his fellow COM
mitteemen of the receipt of the letter, in
forming them of the substance of its con-
tents as given above. He thought there
would be no necessity for another meeting
of the committee before the conference with
the generous benefactor OF Pittsburg and it,
surrounding towns.
The DISPATCH reporter asked Mr.. lam
bic if the committee would have any sug-
gestion to make as to site-scope, etc.
IT WAS MR.. cARNEGIE's AFFAIR.
"No," he replied, thev will not 1t
would, in my opinion, be an extremely in
delicate thing for anyone to make any sug-
gestions whatever to Mr.. Carnegie. It is
his donation and he should be left alone to
decide all questions appertaining to- the
gift,
'Of courseif he should ask for suggestions
the committee might have some to make,
they would be pleased to do anything possi-
BILE to aid Mr.. Carnegie il he requires any
assistance. But think that he has shown
himself to be gentleman thoroughly COM
petent to make plans himself and carry
them out. We have hereaDouts many evil
dences of his ability. hope that no one
will have the indelicacy to offer any sug-
gestlons in regard to the proposed library
unless they are solicited.
In MI. Oarue2le we nave VeAy great
benefactor, and the people of Pittsburg
should show their appreciation by not
hampering him in any way with unsolicited
suggestions as to what shape the benefaction
should take"
HAS HAD FAITH IN IT.
Mr.. Lambie further said that he never
had had any doubt that the library would
be built even when the question as to the
power of the city to use public money for its
maintenance and support was under dis
cussion, and it became necessary to apply to
the Legislature for authority to make such
appropriations. Since that question was
settled by the action of the Legislature he
had been more than ever confident that the
library would be built. He was asked:
"Will the prospective saleof the Library
Hall building have any effect, one way or
another, upon Mr.. Carnegie's offer ?"
81 don't think it will, as the two cases are
in no sense connected. / do not see how the
sale of the Library Hall property could
affect the other proposition, either to aceel-
crate its disqualification or in any other
way"