Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-08
SELECTION OF A SITE
The Library Location Dis
cussed by Citizens.
LAND ON DUQUESNE WAY,
Owned by the City, is Proposed by
Col. Thomas P. Roberts.
OTHER IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS.

everybody was highly elated with the mill
ionaire's generosity. There is little doubt
expressed that councils will fail to accept
the gift. In fact, the feeling is such that
woe betide the municipal legislator who
should vote against accepting the gift be-
cause the donator asks the city to support it.
At present the subject which attracts most
interest is the location of the central build
ing. Many people agree that site In the
old city should be selected, though there Is
q strong movement on foot IN Oakland to
have the main library built there. What
this movement may amount to remains to
be seen, but already a generous rivalry for
place is springing up. The Oakland peo-
pie claim that the city is building in that
direction, and the time may come some day
when the business center of Pittsburg may
be moved out there.
CENTRAL LOCATION.
For this reason they advocate taking time
by the forelock and placing the building
where it will be centrally located. 1t is un-
derstood, coming from near friend OF Mr..
Carnegie, that the millionaire prefers to
have the main building erected beyond
Grant street, in the direction of the East
End.
-
terday by DISPATCH reporters, and invari-
ably the question of location seemed to be
uppermost in their minds. 1t may be said
that even Mr. Carnegie doesn't know where
the library will be placed. and in fact no.
body else does When Colonel I. P. Rob
erts was seen yesterday and asked for his
opinion, the genial Colonel replied:
-''Since Mr. Carnegie's magnificent present
of public library to this city, with quar-
ters in the same building for the proposed
academy of sciences, is now an assured fact,
awaiting only an acceptance by this city, it
may be we'll to speak of where such build
ing should be located. 1t is, as matter of
course, presumable that the city will accept
the easy terms imposed by Mr.. Carnegie,
and that the building will go up. 1t occurs
to me that the primary considerations to be
taken into account in determining upon the
choice of sites for such a building, which
promises to be almost nightly, the meeting
place of readers, members of scientific socie-
ties, etc., and daily, at all hours, the rem
devious of patrons of the library, should be
first:
POINTS TO BE CONSIDERED.
Accessibility from all parts of the city
to the benefit of the greatest number; and
second, a location where ample room on all
sides of the structure can be had for the ad-
mission of light and for proper ventilation.
Third-A location where the architectural
features of the building Will show to the
greatest advantage; fourth. where the cost
of securing a site will not unreasonably tax
the capital fund donated for the purpose.
81 will say nothing here as to the loca-
tions of the subordinate libraries and read
ing rooms suggested by Mr.. Carnegie, ex-
cepting to remark that I think Mr..
Carnegie is fsr-seeing and wise in
proposing such a system. Those who
think ffee Libraries are not going to
be extensively patronized by our people
need only visit any large city where such
institutions are maintained. Our present
Mercantile Library affords no criterion,
am well convinced, in estimating what free
library may be worth. No persons fall in
love with libraries until they have some idea
of the contents of the books, and but few
people will pay anything for knowledge in
advance of real desire for it, and an igno-
rant man can, therefore, have no conception
of his wants until his appetite for knowl-
edge has been sharpened by a taste. Mr..
Carnegie, no doubt, understands this ques-
tion fully, and has provided admirably for
the qualification of the coming wants.
APLAN LONG CONSIDERED.
lover a year ago suggested in the col
umns of THE DISPATCH that the Pittsburg
Carnegie Library building be located on
Duquesne way, between the Sixth street
bridge and Fifth street. This is a central
point. In the first place it is near the
terminus of the cable roads leading to East
Liberty and Lawrenceville and the lines
leading to the West End or Temperanceville
district, and although Mr. Carnegie has
provided literally for Allegheny, still for
certain purposes it would be well to consider
the 12O, 900 people of Allegheny in the loca-
tion of the building. There is a space on
the wharf there available between the
streets named of almost exactly two acres of
ground. Where else can such an area be
obtained without consuming the bulk of
the 81, 900, 600 donated by Mr.. Carnegie for
q site alone? On such an area the archi-
tectural features of the building can be
displayed to the greatest possible ad-
vantage.
"This property belongs to the city, and the
cost of the necessary wall along the river
front, and filling itup to the desired height,
will be a very Insignificant sum, as COM
pared to securing any site which may be
proposed elsewhere in the business part of
the city. The Duquesne way site is worthy
OF the serious attention of the committee
which may be called upon to determine the
location OF the proposed building
OTHER PRACTICAL IDEAS.
''Miss McCrum, of the Pittsburg Library,
was interviewed with regard to the future
Carnegie structure. Miss McCrum is a
practical librarian, and any statement of
hers with regard to the arrangement, pur-
chase, or location of books necessarily car
ries weight. Miss McCrum suggested as the
best possible site for the library the part of
Dusuesne way between the new natatorium
and the Exposition building. mo hurry
ought to be made in getting the books to-
gether," she continued. 1.-The object OF the
people in charge of the purchase ought not
to be so much the spending of the money al
lotted to them as the careful selection of
books. A good reference library, and few
valuable standard works, ought first to be
got together.
"a mistake that library authorities fire.
quently fall into, is to get hold of a csta-
Iogue and buy Unfortunately all, or
nearly all the books advertised. One good
thing in connection with the Pittsburg
Library is that the management will have
time to watch the mistakes of their prede-
cessOrs in Allegheny and avoid like pitfalls.
MUCH TO BE REGRETTED.
"By the way, what pity there is such a
dispute going on in Allegheny over the
library. 1t looks very badly, does 1t not?
A gentleman was remarking yesterday that
it would be good idea if all the gentle
men who are fighting for the right to man.
age the books were compelled to submit lists
OF 80 or 100 suitable books. 1 think that
ought to silence some of them"
Mr.. William Martin had not paid much
to the library question. SIT is
good way off yet" he remarked, "and it
will be time enough to talk OF IT when it
really exists. don't imagine that laboring
men will ever patronize it very much. For
any Of them that do technical works would
be required. The site or outward appear
ance Of the building does not make any diff
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