Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-14
PALACES IN A PARK.
Lively Discussion Over the Site ofthe
Carnegie Library.
PROTESTS FROM TIE SOUTHSlDE.
Against Selecting the Schenley Park En-
trance Location.
ME-. HEATING GOES HOME TO DINNER

street entrance to Schenley Park raised a
breeze yesterday in the Library Committee
of Councils. Mr.. Bigham talked freely and
took exceptions to the general conduct of the
Carnegie Library affairs. Mr.. Heating tried
to stay the storm. but finding his efforts un-
availing, went to dinner with what appetite
he could muster.
At yesterdays meeting q resolution from
the Library Commission requesting the use
of a portion of the Forbes street entrance of
Schenley Park as site for the library,
art. museum and music hall buildings, was
presented 10 the committee.
An ordinance, locating only the museum
and art gallery at this point, was before the
committee. and Mr.. Bigham moved that it
be afirmatively recommended to Councils.
Mr.. Heating offered an amendment adding
the music hall and library to the buildings
to be located on this site. He said: 81
think it is unseemly at this time to cavil
about what buildings the commission shall
locate in certain portions of the city. Coun-
ellis can settle this question when the COM
mission decides upon the location of the
different buildings"
Must Respect the Peoples Wishes.
Mr.. Bingham thought that this was the
time to settle the whole matter, and, warm
ing up, said: "The Library Commission
must understand that the wishes of the
people are to be considered. don't think
much of Mr.. Carnegie's selection OF COM
missioners. He says his gift is intended for
the people of all classes and conditions and
for all sections of the city. In my humble
opinion he has selected commission of
men composed of one class of society and
from one section of the city. Twill except
Mr.. Hudson and the Councilmanic Library
Committee, which represents the various
sections of the city, and, TO a certain extent,
the various social classes. They desire to get
the grandest and most beautiful buildings
at Oakland, near where they live.
''They want the art gallery and the mus
cum, which 1 am willing they should have,
but they also want the grand music hall and
the main library building. To be useful to
the masses the main library building and
the music hall should be located in the
most convenient place that can be secured.
In my judgment, ii they are located out
there instead of beng placed where the
poor can 60 for recreation without price. the
buildings will be used by the wealthy East
Enders for entertainments such as are given
in our club houses to-day. While don't
mean to say the poorer people will be taken
by the neck and thrown out, the social at
mosphere Of these buildings will be such
that it Will prevent the full and free use of
the common gift intended by Mr.. Carnegie.
Councils should decidedly indicate what
buildings should go to the park entrance.
Silenced but Not Convinced.
Mr.. Keating-After that speech 1 don't
think it is necessary to say anything.
Mr. Holliday-There is no use beating
about the bush. 1 indorse Mr.. Bigham's
views. The commission, wants to put the
main library building at the Park. Mr..
Frew admitted as much to me at the last
meeting of the commission.
Mr.. Keating-What is meant by main"
building?
Mr.. Holliday-I have not asked Mr.. Car
negie what was meant by the main"
building, but know that such thing is
intended, as Mr.. Carnegie has often spoken
about site for main building, which is to
he larger and finer than the branch libra
ries.
Mr.. Keating-I do not understand why
such plan is proposed. Each library
should have a hall in connection with it,
but the library should not be sacrificed to
the hall, as had been done in ALE
gheny, where everything has been
cut out to make handsome building
without regard to its usefulness MY idea
is that each branch library is to have hall
capable of seating 900 persons, while the
main building, such as proposed for the
park entrance, will include the music hall,
art gallery, museum and library. With
such an arrangement, the plans will be
simplifed, the cost lessened, and there will
be more to show for the money expended.
live In the East End in a rented house,
and have no attractions to keep me there,
for I don't own foot of ground in the East
End. and have no selfish motive in my de-
sire for what consider the proper location
of these buildings.
Must Be Settled by Councils.
Mr.. Lambie-I am satisfied that Councils
will have to settle the site question, but
believe that Councils will be governed more
or less by the recommendations of this com-
mittee, and for that reason prefer that the
resolution be left out am opposed to To-
eating the main building in the East End.
Mr.. Ford-I will support the amendment
if the word "branch" is inserted before
"library." Nrf-f- -- =
This started discussion on the matter of
branch Libraries. Mr.. Ford had originally
but seeing opposition, changed it 20
"branch." Messrs. Bisham and Holiday
declared themselves strongly against the
reference library being located at Oakland.
Down town, accessible to everybody, was
the place for it.
Mr.. Heating agreed with them and said
that in his opinion the largest and best
equipped library building, and the most ex-
pensive and best books should be down town.
There was no question about that in his
mind. ''I did think otherwise at the be-
ginning" he said, "butlik everyone else
/ change my mind occasionally, and in this
case, l think, have changed wisely. And 1
wish to say publicly, right here, that until
the plans for all these buildings are made
and settled aud the cost is considered, am
not welded to any particular feature Of the
library or any other buildings. No more
am in relation to the sites, except as have
already stated"
Mr.. Holiday proposed that the Library
Commission be notified TO submit the plans
for all the library and other buildings
simultaneously to Councils so that that body
could act upon them inteiiigently.
Chairman Lambie was highly pleased
with this idea, and said: 81 think il would
be wise for US to postpone action on this
matter Of sites entirely until the commission
has prepared plans OF the buildings it in
tends to erect. Then Councils could Judge
the necessities better and all the work could
be carried forward at once.
The Finest Park in the World.
Mr. Heating thought nothing should be
thrown in the way. of beautifying the
Schenley Park entrance. He believed that
this would become one of the most beautiful
parks and have the finest entrance in the
world.
Mr.. Holiday suggested that the commu-
nicrtion from the.Lihrary Commission be re-