St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-02-16

ever in the capacious generality
of chamber of commerce COM
mittee. There is large and
growing public sentiment in
| favor of an auditorium, and. un-
doubtedly, in favor of a apdbfic library
| in keeping with the wealth and DoDula-
| tiOn of st. Paul. To-day we have posi-
lively none. The auditorium we miss
+, at intervals: the absence of library is
a constant sense of loss. The few who
| break through the Gordon of red tape
surrounding the present apology
almost regret the incidental exer-
ton, while it is a fact that
the inquiring stranger is answered
in effect that st. Paul has no library
at all. The magnificent building
at Minneapolis only accentuates the
sentiment in st. Paul; but it is safe to
say that no library will be erected here
| unless by private donations. General
as is the sentiment favoring building,
the sentiment is equally, or more gen.
eral that the times are conservative, and
that for time, at least, there should be
absolutely no issue of bonds for
any purpose short of one created
by a public calamity. At the last ses-
sion of the legislature law was enacted
providing for an appropriation OF $4,000
for public library purposes whenever
the site was ready, but some of the
mostardent supporters of that law are
now strongly opposed to the issue of
bonds authorized until there shall be
change IN the financial situation. The
solid men of st. Paul are determined
that during this present period of gen.
eral depression the credit of the city
shall be kept to the top limit, and that
no bonds shall issue but for the most
extraordinary purpose.
This being the situation, so far as
public funds are concerned, attention
turns naturally to those well-known in
dividuals whose private means might
furnish the city with suitable buildings.
There are half dozen men in st. Paul
who might leave behind them in a pub
lie library and auditorium building
such v monument as would cause the
next generation to rise up and call their
names blessed. There are several men,
any one Of whom might easily and
readily remove all financial diff
Guilty in the way-if he would.
But there seems to be no Far
we'll, no Carnegie, no CorcOran in st.
Paul. Mr.. Hill makes generous offer
of $4,000, but it is handicapped by
provision that the library shall first be
built d. c. Shepherd has an offer of
So, 900, but it., too, Is conditional upon
other donations. Mr.. Drake, Gov. RAM
sey and others offer $1,000 each, but
there is always battling if in the way.
These offers, however, show that among
the wealthy men of st. Paul there is a
disposition to
GIVE FINANCIAL AID
to the library project, aud what remains
to be done is to make the conditions har-
moniZe; to do this, a committee is now
at work. A site is Indispensable and
costly, but it is not improbable that
stable piece of ground may yet be do
mated by some philanthropist before the
arrival Of the single tax epoch. 1t was
thought an agreement might be reached
by which the postoffice corner might be
obtained when the city had donated
the old city hall property to
the government; but it tran
spires that the government gets
all and gives none, which abandons
hope in that direction. If site were
donated, the conditional cash prOffers
are in such shape that building would
result in short while.
1t is the idea of the committee that a
suitable library building should be con-
structed by degrees. They favor a COM
modious and desirable building. so con-
structed and arranged that it could
be properly added to and adorned
from time to time; they would
construct it Of rough stone and add the
carving when circumstances would
warrant. The idea of combining libra
ry, art gallery and school of design In
one structure is the prevailing one, and
will doubtless obtain whenever plan
shall be formulated.
The auditorium scheme is dragging
along, apparently without beginning or
T. end. The general sentiment is that