Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-14
MAY BE A NECESSITY
To Place the Library at the Park for
Want of q Downtown Site.
Mr.. HUDSON GIVES HIS VIEWS
On the Inadvisability of Spending o Large
Sum of Money on Location.
COMMITTEE MEETS THIS AFTERNOON

was prevented yesterday on account oil some
members of the committee having to attend
the session of Councils.
The question of site for the central
building will be one of the most important
ones to be acted upon. James f. Hudson,
who has been known to favor downtown
location, said in this connection yesterday:
ST want to say that I am as strongly
as ever convinced that a site within
easy walking distance of the center of COM
munication should be the first consideration,
if it can be secured. But 1 have always
admitted that when thorough investigation
has proved that a downtown location cannot
be secured at cost that will not absolutely
cripple the building fund necessity of going
farther out would have to be conceded.
Looking for Downtown s. Site.
'The supporters Of the downtown idea
cannot take the attitude tnat the entire en-
terprise shall stop because the site cannot be
found down town. After considerable effort
to develop the possibility of a downtown
site 1 am beginning to reach the point OF
confessing that am unable to present one
within the necessary limits of cost, that l
can take my stand in favor OF or opposed to
the park site."
What are your ideas on the limits of
reasonable cost7''
They are rather indefinite, butIcertain
Limitations are quite evident We could,
of course, spend the entire 81, 900, 900 in
purchasing site on Fifth avenue. between
Smithfeld and Market the size of the ALLIE
gheny site, but that would leave us with
no mondy foribuildings Even $500, 900 for
site within easy walking distance of the
business center would necessltate reduc-
ton of the building appropriation. Suppose
that the estimate for local libraries was re-
duced to 5000, 900 and that for main build
ings TO $500 900. With the general agree
ment that the art galleries and museum
must 60 where they will have room for ex-
tension, this would result in having two
main buildings, with fund that
would make one or both of them in
ferior in size and accommodations
to the Allegheny building. have thought
that $780, 900 or $3.50, 900 for a downtown
site of commanding advantages, or $3.50, 900
to 5000 900 for one that might be made to
do, could stand upon the principle that
the investment of such sum would pay in
the increased usefulness of the buildings.
But in view of the fact that no site of either
sort has yet been found, the supporters of
the downtown idea are in lack OF ground to
stand on"
Result Of q Rigid Search.
"Have efforts been made to find site Of
that sort?"
That is Just what was coming to. The
complaint was made in one of the city pa
pers the other day that the park site was
urged without any adequate investigation
of the possibility of getting downtown
site. was under that impression myself
until recently. But l have been max
that not only most of the
sites which 1 looked into had
been previously Investigated by the Chair
man of the Executive Committee, but that
many others, which would not regard as
practicable, were investigated by bis author.
ity. The result OF his work will doubtless
be given in his report. The result of my
efforts is that with an earnest desire to find
a downtown location, and after careful pri-
vate inquiry into the possibilities of obtain
ing several, have not found one that can
take my stand on. There is one which l
have always thought would be an ideal loca-
tion, but it would cost at least S400, 1000. Of
all the others there seems to be no possi-
bility of buying the ground needed at a
price that would not be greater than it is
worth for the purposes"
"Well, is not the question practically
settled, anyhow, in favor of the park en-
trance?"
~ do not think it is quite fair to say
that, although the tendency OF events is
strongly in that direction. But if those who
think with me, that central location is all
important, do not succeed in establishing
the TACT that a downtown site can be OBJ
foil of hof fba
meeting of the board, it will be settled.
The question is still open One of my OBJ
jects in expressing my own views in this
way is to say to those who wish to see the
main library located downtown, that, If
they know of any practicable sites, now is
the time to bring them forward.
Only Wants an Opportunity.
'If anyone can tell where a site that
meets the requirements can be had, and can
show how it can be got, can promise that
it will be fairly. reported to the Board of
Trustees. think if there is such a site,
the property in the vicinity who
would be benefited by the building of the
library there, ought to secure the necessary
options and buy them in in the next few
days. If something of that sort is not done
before the final action, the board will be re-
stricted to the choice between the Bedford
basin and the park entrance. With that
alternative there is not much doubt as to the
result"
"Well, this looks as if you were pretty
nearly ready to accept the park site, doesn't
it?" asked the interviewer.
"Not exactly that, but something like it.
am just as strong as ever in my preference
for dOwtown location, if it caR be had. If
anyone can show how good site of that
sort can be got, I am on that side. But
when I come to the point of being unable to
find such site myself, and if before the
final settlement Of the question no one else
can produce one, 1 propose to acknowledge
the fact and accept the situation with as
good grace as possible.
Importance of the District Libraries.
''There is one direction" concluded Mr..
Hudson, "in which those who are urgent
about bringing the library advantages close
to the people can find compensation, If the
downtown location is defeated. That is in
the enlargement and scope of the local
Ii Ebraries. I do not think that the public
generally comprehends the Importance of
thisN feature. The understanding, though
not definitely made, is that there shall be
really Ncreditable libraries in the various
quarterS of the city; but the plan may go
beyond fhat. As between the downtown
site and THE park site there will be saving
in the cost of ground and in the economy of
the main buildings together, as
compared with division of them, of not
less than S300s 1000 and perhaps S4Oo, 900.
This would permit the construction
of the music allAwhich only has standing
in the project, if khe fund will cover it. 1t
will also be fair to \urre that a portion OF
this saving be devote to enlarging the ac-
and Increasing the import
ance of the local librh hries in quarters where
the population will Justify it. The Brad
dock building can be\ taken as favorable