Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-25
THE GIFT ACCEPTED,
Councils Take Action on Mr..
Carnegie'S Grand Offer.
NOW FOR THE LOCATION.
Mr.. Robertson Says the Building
Will be a Poem in Stone.
SPECIAL TAXES TO MEET DEBTS
NOW FOR THE LOCATION.
SPECIAL TAXES TO MEET DEBTS

sionaI long sessions, the principal subject
being the scceptation of the munihcent gilt
of Mr.. Andrew Carnegie Of free library
TO the CITY. The bodies of Council both in
dorsed the resolutions accepting the library
gift, the only question raised-and that by
one member of Common Councll-belng
whether the donation was prompted by gen.
erosity or gratitude, two of the noblest SEN
timents which aetuate the human mind.
In the Common branch, Mr.. Magee, from
the Finance Committee, presented an ordl-
nance fixing the salary Of the clerk OF
market at 81, 500 per year; passed. Also, a
renort from the Controller stating that since
june "a last, he has bought on account of
the sinking funds S5s, 100 of city bonds,
making the amount bought during the fiscal
wear of 1889 S13,70O 25. Mr.. Magee also
presented resolution transferring S419 50
from the contingent fund to the salaries
fund; passed. Mr.. Bigham, from the Com
mittee on Public Works. presented, with an
adverse report, the ordinance for sewer on
Forbes avenue from Boquet to Atwood
street; indefinitely postponed. Mr.. Magee
called up the ordinance regulating the Occu-
in Select Council February "a, which was
adopted finally. On motion of Mr- Carna-
han. Common Council took recess thatthe
members might hear the speeches on the
Carnegie Library ordinance in the Select
branch.
THE GIFT ACCEPTED.
On re-assembling the Carnegie Library
matter vas taken up, and the communlca-
tion from Mr.. Carnegie was received and
filed. The Select Council resolution, &C
cepting the gift and thanking the donor.
was passed. Mr. Carnahan made an ad-
dress in which he said he spoke, not because
he considered that the ordinance needed
support. but because he thought it fit that
the ordinance should not be allowed to pass
without individual expressions of graft
tude from members of Councils. Few
people comprehend the magnitude of
the great gift and its blessings
MI. Carnegie had said in the speakers presence
that he attributed his success and that OF his
companions-and all of them have been sue
cessful men-to the knowledge they gained IN
the old Anderson library in Allegheny. The
sneaker spoke of the good the Carnegie libra
ries would do to Pittsburg, the chances they
will open up to the people in the town who can
Mr. Waegoner briefly stated the benefits
that have followed Mr.. Carnegie's act in estab-
fishing reading rooms at the Union Mills. The
rooms are of easy access, and are constantly
used to advantage BY the men for whom they
were established.
Mr. Ferguson said the gift was the greatest of
its kind ever made. He was proud of it and
prouder because Mr.. Carnegie was son OF his
native country. He concluded his remarks
with Long live Andrew Carnegie"
MORE THAN DOLLARS AND CENTS.
Mr.. Msgee. in his remarks, said be looked on
the board that will manage the libraries as al
most of as much Importance as the gift itself.
, Ii would be position much sought after, and
the men who held it would be known. not in
Pittsburg alone, but through the United States.
Mr. Carnegie had given Pittsburg something
more than 81 600 OOO He had given an induce
.nent to young men to press forward in the
right path; had created great honor for them
to strive for. He did not believe that too much
could be said in commentator of Mr.. Carnegie
for his gifts
MIR Duncan SAID Mr.. Carnegie was living
example to the rising generation; an argument
TO induce every man to acquire an education
that will stand out in the library buildings like
q monument and do as much good TO the CON-
munity as the library ITSELF
The Chair read communication from Cen
troller Morrow in regard to the special taxes
that are levied to meet debts that existed at
the time of the consolidation The Old City
debt is nearly extinguished and the Controller
recommends that the tax for this purpose be
reduced to fOur-tenths and mill for this year
and then dropped. The Mt, Washington bor-
ough debt has SO decreased that the rate can be
reduced one-half, or to three-tenths of mill.
The East Birmingham borough debt is also re-
duced but as that district owes the city consid-
cradle, he recommends that while the tax be
anceville borough debt. which is for money
loaned by the city, falls due in 1898. The
present rate of taxation will not more than pay
il that time but as the tax is great burden
the Controller recommends that the loan be ex.
tended and tax of l mill be levied until it is
finally paid The communication was sent to
the Finance Committee. A communication
from the Controller asking that the contingent
fund for 1890 be fixed at $4,000 to meet de-
ficiences WAS also referred to the Finance CON-
mittee.
WHAT SELECT COUNCIL DID.
In the Select branch, on the call of the wards
the following papers we're presented and prop
erly referred: Petition for water pipe on Craig
and Forbes street; providing rules and regula-
tons for the government of cabs cab owners
and employees within the city. The Corpora
tion Committee presented an ordinance relat-
ing to the use Of the streets by railway COM
panies and providing for the public conVen-
ience and safety, which was passed.
In the consideration of the ordinance accept
ing Mr.. Andrew Carnegie's gift of free
library, Mr.. Heating said something more
than a mere recording of the vote was de-
manded. This was only the second time In the
history of the city when such an ordinance had
been before its Councils Mr.. Carnegie
found il necessary to quadruple his original
offer. If the rapid growth Of the city
continued. Mr.. Keating said. 1t would be nee
essary ere long, for some other Carnegie to rise
up and repeat his magnificent donation. There
had arisen in the person of Mr.. Carnegie,
an apostle who would teach the wealthy by his
grand example how to expend their wealth for
the benefit Of their fellow men. By no one
will his great gift be more appreciated than by
the workingmen and women. P1ttsburg had
long been known to the world as a beehive of
industry and daily toll. The wOrkingmen had
no place to spend their few spare hours from
toll, no place TO improve their minds. though
there were thousands who yearned for oppOr-
tunity. The gift of Andrew Carnegie would
change all this and it would result in the clty's
being known, not as beehive OF toll but as
beehive of knowledge and intelligence.
90, IT Is A RED-LETTER YEAR.
Mr.. Lambie thought this had been a red-let-
ter year for Pittsburg. The magnanimous gift
of several hundred broad acres for a public
park by the noble Mrs. Schenley was followed
within three months by Andrew Carnegie's
muniicent offer. Public libraries were an evi-
dence Of civilization. Looking over the history
of the world that fact was emphasized, public
libraries were undoubtedly the surest evidence
Of civilization. In 1855 Great Britain passed an
act enabling cities Of the kingdom to establish
free libraries. known as the Free Library Act.
Now many Of the large cities of England and
Scotland and Ireland are provided with lib
raries. and the good resulting from them was
lncalculable. A public library was necessary
for civilization. The day of belief in the rule
of the three Rs, reading riting and rIthmetic,
was long since passed, but unfortunately all
over this broad land there were hundreds of
Thousands TO whom books, the source Of learn
ing enlightenment and the medium by which
tire thoughts of the great minds of the past are
preserved were not available. There are many
men in the mills and workshops who have had
nc opportunity to educate and elevate them
galvpg they will rrept with ioV the fran
h5rar,.