Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-03
MR.. CARNEGIE'S OPINIONS.
He Favors Either the Reservoir or the
East End Site, and Makes Suggestions
for Branch Buildings-His Letter to the

He Favors Either the Reservoir or the
East End Site, and Makes Suggestions
for Branch BuiIdings-His Letter to the
Trades Assembly.
The following letter was received in this
city yesterday:
NEW YORK, April l, 1890.
To Charles F. warde, ESQ.,, Secretary Trades
Assembly of Western Pennsylvania, Box 562
Pittsburg, Pa:
MY DEAR SIR-Thanks for the copy OF reso-
lutions passed by the Trades Assembly of
Western Pennsylvania upon the subject Of the
location OF the library. 1t is highly gratifying
to me that the workingmen should evince SO
deep an interest in this question; for it is for
the masses of the people that the library is
chiefly intended-for the many not for the
few.
The question of sites is in the hands of q Of
your best citizens-no fewer than 9 of these
being direct representatives of the people. as
members OF City Councils-and am sure that
they can be governed in their action by no
standard so good as that expressed in one Of
your resolutions, VIZ. THAT the proposed
library should be placed in locality where it
VIII confer the greatest good to the greatest
number" believe that this is exactly what
the commission will seek to insure.
spent day last week examining the pratt
Central" and branch libraries of Baltimore.
branches placed in proper localities, the result
your Assembly seeks will be successfully at
tanned. The benefits OF the library will be
brought home TO your very DOORS 1t occurred
to me that we might improve upon the Balti-
more branch libraries by building second
stories upon ours, and fitting them up for meet
lngs OF the clubs ami associations connected
with the localities. With branch libraries pro-
vided for each district, the commission may
feel that more latitude can be taken in choosing
the site for the main building. have thought
great deal upon the matter, but up to this
time must confess that Ihave come to no clear
preference. Eacn site appears to me to have
advantages and disadvantages. The great long
hills beginning at the Union depot divide the
population of Pittsburg for along distance, and
IL can unite again only at the end of these hills.
We have much the same problem in New York
just now. Central Park divides the population,
and it can unite only after the park is passed.
People are at loss to know where to locate
public halls, theaters. etc., so that you see the
problem is one that cannot be wisely solved
without thorough discussion and comparison of
sites.
One point, however seems clear-I speak
upo2 it subject to corrsction-and that is. that
the principal building must go either on the
site before the population divides. or
on the East End after the population uniteS IN
the valley. was much impressed with the ad-
vantages of the reservoir site, but there are two
objections to that First, the approaches from
the railway station up are miserable. Second,
the smoke from the locomotives which rises in
dense volumes would darken the library and
gallery. Both of these objections might per-
haps be removed. 1 was informed that
an ordinance exists which prohibits
the railroad company from burning coal
within the city limits. All these ques-
tlons you see, require careful considera-
ton at the hands of the commission, and trust |
that the workingmen will share the implicit
confidence which have. that it will reach the |
best possible decision under the circumstances
Personally, l shall be happy whether the |
main building goes to the reservoir site or to the
East End, provided a sufficiently large space |
can be obtained there. This, however, is not |
all important The vital point with me is that |
whether in Birmingham, Temperanceville or |
or elsewhere, a free public IL |
brary shall be planted in the midst thereof. |
With renewed thanks, 1 remain very truly |
yours. ANDREW CARNEGIE,