Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-24
SITES NOW WANTED
For the District Libraries to Be Built
by Andrew Carnegie.
A CHANCE FOR PUBLIC SPIRIT.
James B. Scott Talks of the Progress Made
With the Designs.
WHEN THE FOUNDATION MUST BE LAID
A CHANCE FOR PUBLIC SPIRIT.
WHEN THE FOUNDATION MUST BE LAID

James B. Scott, the well-known Pitts
burg Scotch-American, following the nature
of his countrymen, has built two castles,
but unlike those in bonny Scotland, they
are only in the air. He hopes to see them
on substantial basis, however, and yester-
day unfolded his plans.
fI want to see the foundation of the Car
negie Library laid before this time next
year and left to settle during the winter"
he said. referring to his favorite subject.
cit will take quick work, but Pittsburg is
quick place and / think it can be done.
People may think the commission is slow
in selecting plan from the 102 offered us,
but if they only knew the difficulties they
would give us their sympathy. The pro-
cess is one of elimination of designs not
suitable, and we have been getting on so
rapidly that there are not more than Is or
19 left for us to consider.
Failing of Many of the Architects.
cit is strange how many architects failed
to conceive what was wanted. Some of
them have fine outside structures, but
nothing at all inside. They did not seem to
understand, as We distinctly stated, that
there is only 500, 900 to complete the work,
inside and out, and SO a number have left
nothing at all for seating, light, fixtures
and similar things. Others attempted to
impose on the committee by rat
ing the different parts of the
work at figures away below what it would
cost. They make fine displays and some of
them might take premiums if cash was un-
limited, but it isn't, and therefore whenever
81 %1,o4 %o1- II,
500, 900 for construction, we simply mark it
out of class and go to work on another.
81 hoped that We would have been
through by the first of the wear, but that
was only hope which will not be realized
then or at any particular time that I would
be willing to venture a guess. think:
however, that the foundation will be laid
within year, and that it will be allowed
to settle during the cold months
More Donations Are in Order
another hope that have is that the
sites for the six district libraries will be
donated by Pittsburg people We have
$500, 900 for district libraries, and if we could
spend $50, 600 on each, just think what beau
tiful and convenient libraries could be
built. A half hundred thousand is big
lot of money, and with six libraries built
al that expense, besides the main library,
Pittsburg would become second Athens,
and could challenge Boston to test of ed
ucational advancement
81 think the people in the districts
where the sub-libraries are to be located
ought to club together and raise the money
to buy sites. By so doing they
would get better libraries, and at
the same time the would have
the pleasure of saving, Z helped do it. The
district libraries will be started Just in time
20 be completed when the main library is,
and in the meantime public spirited men
who want to get ahead of their neighbors
,an walk up and give US a site. 1t will be
lone, too," added Mr.. Scott, with smile,
and the concluding statement: 'T know
Pittsburg"