Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-10
GETTING UNDER WAY.
The Carnegie Free Library Commis-
sion Decides on an Immedi-
ate Plan of Action.
ARGUED THE QUEsTIOMsECRETLY,
And,Accepted the offer of the Park En-
trance, Where the Central Build
ing Will Be Located.
cHIEF,BIGELow WILL HAVE A HAND
In Assisting the Building Cennteeto Select an Advan.
tsgrOus Site at schenley Park


has definite plan of action mapped out,
and proposes to work it out just as rapidly
as possible. Previous to the passage of the
ordinance by Councils granting the use OF
the Schenley Park entrance, the members OF
the commission were not perfectly clear on
the question of how they should 90 about
putting Mr.. Carnegie's gift into use. Some
idea of plans and cost of buildings was nec-
essary before any headwsy could be made.
but these plans depended on the question OF
sites, which, in turn, could not be counted
on until Councils took action. The COM
mission was impatient to get to work, but
knew not where to make start.
After Councils granted the desired per-
mission 4 meeting was at once called by
Chairman James B. Scott, for o'clock yes
terday afternoon in the Office of Carnegie,
Phipps s. Co., Fifth avenue. There were
present at this meeting Messrs. Scott, Hud-
son, Pitcairn, Macbeth, Ferguson, Frick,
Ford, Magee, Lambie, Heating, Gourley,
Shannon and Frew. Mr.. Carnegie was
present part of the time.
No Outsiders Allowed in the Room.
The meeting was a secret one, nobody but
the above-naned gentlemen being admitted.
Chairman Scott offered as an e1plaua-
ton of this that some of the re-
marks would doubtless be of a
desultory character which the public
need not know. For himself, he would
have been perfectly satisfied to have an
open meeting, but some of the other gentle
men claimed to have been misrepresented
in Councils, and desired now the oppor-
tunity of speaking their minds in compare
tive privacy After the meeting opened
there was some discussion on the advisa-
bility of throwing off the cloak of secrecy,
but the Councilmanic members gained their
point and the doors remained closed.
The meeting lasted over an hour, and at
its conclusion the following resolutions were
given out as embracing all the action taken:
Resolved, That the thanks of this board be
extended to the Councils of the city of Pitts
burg for their generous action in passing ordi-
nance No. 244, authorizing the Board of Trus-
tees of the Carnegie Library to erect on the l9
acres in the Fourteenth ward, recently pur-
chased from Mrs. Schenley, such buildings, in
pursuance of their trust, as, in the Judgment Of
said board may seem proper.
Resolved That the building committee of
this board he directed to prepare preliminary
plans and give the estimated cost of the build
Ings to be erected thereon, and, in connection
with the Chief of the Department of Public
Works. select locations and report to this
board at the earliest possible moment.
THE resolutions explain themselves"
said Chairman Scott, after the meeting.
'fThe object of to-day's meeting was to de-
eide how to begin operations. The action
of the building committee following the
ideas expressed in the resolutions will be
the first step of the commission toward COM
pleting the work for which il was created.
At Least Four Years to Wait.
'In considering to-day just what course
it was best to pursue we came to the con-
clusion that nothing could he done until we
know something of the cost of the buildings to
be erected. The chief matter of consideration
lust now is the main library, which have
calculated rs taking four years to complete The
district libraries will lot be of such magnitude
and it will probably take not more than a year
to complete tben Nevertheless, it will not do
to disregard them altogether, just now, and an
approximate estimate of their cost and some
idea of their plan will be necessary in the con-
sderation OF the central structure.
I'VE have not considered it good policy to
prepare for the immediate erection of the dis
trlct buildings, since they would then be COM
pleted at least three years before the central
building. The city will not make any appro-
priatiuns for the maintenance Of the libraries
until they are all completed and ready for use
Thus the dislrict libraries would have TO stand
idle several years awaiting the finishing of the
central building.
ment of Public Works has been asked in the
getting up of the committees report for this
reason: The city has kindly offered us the
acres of 1t and we only want enough of i: to
put the buildings Chief Bigelow has his
ideas about the park, and we feel it only just
that he should have some expression of his
views as to what part of the entrance ground
the library should be located upon.
Going to Work Immediately.
"The Building Committee will get to work
immediately on its plans and specifications and
the commission will hold another meeting to
consider the report just as soon as it is ready.
cannot say when this will be. but it will be
very soon. While there is need for exces-
Sive haste in the matter, we all feel that an
early start will be best OF course, have my
own views on what the report OF the committee
will be. but there are other members who may
differ, and it would not be well to anticipate
:he action"
What about the legality of the city's title to
the park property" was asked.
THAT matter" replied Mr. Scott, was not
mentioned in this meeting. We are not both
erIng ourselves about it in the least"
The Building Committee consists of James
B. Scott. Chairman; A. F. Heating. w. A.
Nagee. Z. NJ Ferguson and one other member
not vet appointed. They will proba bly, go out
to Schenley Park to-day to look over the
ground
Andrew Carnegie was present during por-
tion of the meeting yesterday. While natur-
ally much interested in the progress of library
matters. he is not taking any active part in the
deliberations OF the Commission. 10 DIS
PATCH reporter he said:
Mr.. Carnegie Has Nothing to Suggest.
Il was present at the opening of the meeting
but took no part in it, and did not remain long
have nothing to suggest as to its action and
no opinion to express The commission has
will be perfectly delighted with any action the
commission may take"
The result of yesterdays meeting leaves no
doubt that the central buildings, including a
library, music hall, art gallery and museum
will be located on the IS acres of ground at the
Schenley Park entrance. While some of the
CouncIlmanic members of the commission
have previously expressed themselves
rather unfavorable TO this plan the
greater number have several times made
known their leaning toward the Schenley Park
site. 1t is also generally understood that An
drew Carnegie is very well satisfied to have the
debating to the members of the commission
what they shall do, his wishes will undoubtedly
have considerable weight in shaping the plan
of action. The somewhat vexing question of
the central site settled, the commission
will have plain sailing in future work. especial
ly as the district Libraries will not require
much consideration for over year