Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-11
TAKEN WITH THANKS.
Councils Cannot Look a MilliOn-Dol-
lar Gift Horse in the Mouth,
AN ORDINANCE AT ONCE ADOPTED.
A Unanimous Resolution Of Thanks Passes
the Select Branch.
COMMON COUNCIL WITHOUT A QUORUM


The most absorbing topic before Select
Council yesterday was the receipt of the
letters from Andrew Carnegiet to the Library
Committee and Councils donating 81, ,0OO, 900
to the city for the purpose of founding
free library. They were read as follows, but
embodied in a resolution, the purport Of
which is given below:
PITTsBURG. February c, 1890.
To the Mavor and Councils of Pittsburg:
GENTLEMEN-Some years ago L had the
pleasure of offering to expend upon a free
library for the city of Pittsburg the sum of
S2jO0 0O1. The finances of the city were not then
in condition to permit of its acceptance. Hav-
ing expended more than that sum In our sister
city of Allegheny. subsequently Intimated
that 1 was prepared to expend not less than
$4,000 for Pittsburg Such, however, has
been the recent growth of the CITY, such are its
prospects for the future, that careful consid-
Grafton has led me to the conclusion that in
order TO provide such libraries as Pittsburg
should have will require even larger sum.
NEEDS OF THE BUILDING.
think that Pittsburg requires a central
building containing reference and circu-
lating library, also suitable accommodations
would soon provide; that there should also be
added rooms for the meetings of the various
learned societies of the city. The experience
of New York, Baltimore and other large cities
has proved that a central library should be
supp Tented by branch libraries. The Free
Circul-s:.C Library of New York has now four
of these; the city of Baltimore has five. They
are not extensive structures, but each contains
a small supply of the books most IN demand
=. A1l f..
tion with the Central Library. Such branches,
J think, should be established in the various
districts of the city probably one In Birming-
ham, another in Temperancev1lle, another In
East Liberty. fourth in Bawrenceville. per-
haps a fifth in the older part of the city. All
OF these should be thoroughly hreproOf, monu-
mental in character and creditable 10 the city.
To provide these buildings with suitable
books etc offer to expend not less than ST.
OOO 900. propose that their location, erection
and management shall be intruSted to Board
of Trustees, composed ex-officio OF the Mayor,
the Presidents of Select and Common Councils,
thePresidento of the Central Board of Education.
and library committee of five appointed by
theCounclls, ,such as you have done me the honor
TO appoint to confer with me: to these should /
add the names OF u well known citizens of
Allegheny county, who should have power as a
body to provide for the reelection of its men,
bers at Stated times, and also to NIL vacancies in
their number.
The libraries TO be formally handed over to
the city upon their completion, free of lien, in
trust for the purposes specified. The city to
agree to receive and support the same at its
own proper cost under the management of the
trustees, as above provided.
ONE OF THE REQUISITES.
The city of Baltimore pays 5000 per annum
for the support of its public libraries estab-
lished by Mr.. Enoch Pratt, who gave 81 900
for the purpose. but believe $40, 600 per annum
would be sufficient to maintain those of Pitts
burg, and not less than this sum per annum 1
require the city of Pittsburg to agree to place
at the disposal of the Library Trustees to be
expended upon them.
am clearly of the opinion that it is only by
the city maintaining the public libraries as it
maintains its public schools that every citizen
can be made to feel that he is joint proprietor
of them. and that the Public Library is for the
public as a whole and not for any portion there
of, and am equally clear that unless a COM
munity is willing to maintain public libraries at
the public cost that very little good can be OBJ
penditure therefor, but for the best interests
of the city, make il a condition that theS shall
be properly maintained by the city.
Very respectfully, ~
The resolution introducing the letter to
Councils and accepting the offer was pre-
sented by Mr. Lambie, and provided as fol-
lows:
THE ORDINANCE PASSED.
Section l-Be it Ordained and enacted by the
City of Pittsburg. in Select and Common
Councils assembled, and it is hereby or
dained and enacted by the authority
of the same, That the generous gift
Of a free library offered BY Andrew Carnegie
ESQ, TO the City of Pittsburg, is hereby ac-
cepted, in accordance with the letter of said
Andrew Carnegie. Esq, dated Pittsburg,
February g. 1890 and which letter forms part of
the preamble to this ordinance. and the officers
81.
thorized and empowered to act in conjunction,
and cooperate with the commission therein
named. when the same shall have been ap-
pointed by the said Andrew Carnegie. ESQ.
Section 2-That Immediately uDon the pass
age of this ordinance and thereafter, at the |
first meeting in April of each year, The Pres-
dents of Councils shall appoints standing COM
mittee of five persons. two of whom shall be |
members of Select Council and three of whom
shall he members of Common Council, who |
shall be known as the Library Committee, who |
are authorized and empowered to act as men,
bers of the Board Of Trustees in conjunction |
with the other officials and with the persons
named by said Andrew Carnegie, and their sue
cessOrs.
Section 9-That any ordinance or part of or
dinance conflicting with the provisions of this
ordinance be and the same are hereby repealed |
so far as the same affects this ordinance.
The resolution was unanimously adopted, |
and the ordinance was referred TO the Lii
brary Committee, consisting of Messrs. r.
b. OaTna0dus A. 4. hedll08, .. ID. Snar-
non, Kirk Q. Bigham and John S. Lambie,
whom it is understood to be Mr.. Carnegie's
wish to have retained in that capacity.
NAMES OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
The Library Commissioners named bv Mr..
Carnegie are the same who have been al
ready so well known in that capacity They
are James B. Scott, Rev. w. ]. Holland,
b. c. Frick, George A. Macbeth, Reuben |
Miller, J. F. Hudson, David McCargo,
William n. Frew, H. K. Porter, E. NJ |
FurgesOn, Robert Pitcairn and John B. !
jackson.
The following petitions and ordinances |
were presented and referred: Petition for |
grading and paving York alley; petition for |
overpaid taxes to W. E. Justin; |
petition for water-pipe on Whitney and |
Gilmore streets and Mckee place; ordi- |
nance changing the name of Conrad street |
to Pacific avenue; petitions from Henry and |
Philip Held, c. Schiegel and Henry Colwes |
for damages by the grading of Atwood |
street and from 1. n. Fornes for damages |
by the grading of Boquet street.
There being no quorum present there was |
no business transacted in Common Council |