New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-24
TILDEN LIBRARY PLANS.
JOHN BIGELOW REVIEWS THE POsSlBllI-
TIES.
HE THINKS THE CITY SHOULD PUT UP
BCILDING-ApvANTAGES OF THE
BRYANT PARK STE.

HE THINKS THE CITY SHOULD PUT UP
BUILDING-ApvANTAGEs OF THE
BRYANT PARK STE.
John Blgelow one Of the members OF the Ihdeh
Trust contributes an article to the september serb
ners' on "Thc Tliden Trust Library; what Shan ~
BE - which is most timely and interesting. From al
vance sheets, the following summary Is made MI
geow regards the setting aside OF Samuel J. IlldenS
will az "a most humating reflection, either upon
the statesmen who made our testamcntary laws Ut
upon the court which interpreted them lie says:
Though the law has nasranty shorn the trust OF us
lust proportons pincciy endowment for library has
saved and the immediate and pressing question now
Is this endowment be used 70 tho pcsc ao'
In this question every Ncw-Yorker, at least has vital
interest press OF Nev-York manifest duty' LOT
IL is only through the press that the best judgment Of her
citizens be evolved end the public authorities properly
encouraged and sustained In giving that Judgment NJ ana
adequate expression Had the portion OF his estate "hich
Mr. Tden destined for the Tldcn Trust come into the
hand, Of IL would have been their ou'y Us
we understand 10 70 have been their purpose, TO open
library at once or least without unnecessary delay 70
the estaor's former residence No ID Grauercy Park
structure which could made 10 accommodate some Two
hundred thousand volumes ard which would have he I'M
portant advantage OF being accessible both nom Nineteenth
and Twentieth sts Though this property would not 'ur
nsh for any considerable time such accommodation as 'o
Tiden Trust Library would require even Win i'S GU"
tailed resources u would have enaoco the trus'cc9
commence onetotIons within months or year at the
latest, with collection exceeding both In number ana
value the collectops which hrst we'comci 'he Pu'"
anv Of tho other great libraries OF the world
In view q their reduced this policy Is l'S'
likely 70 commend Itself 70 tho trustees In the hrsl
place. they do not the ,iramery PIX properly
which Mr.. Tden intended them to nave IN 'oo
second place. should the trustees become the purchases
Of tho Gramorcy Park House. would they b. justihei
IN sinking 20 largo proportion OF their reduced capital
In non.incomc producing property. bv appopratnR 70
such purposel They connot count with any certainty
a. prcscnt upon Income OF much over $4,000 year
All Of that will be needed to equip and operate such
reference library belts city ready moro popuIous
than London fy Years ago and likely 10 be as popnious
fifty years hence LONDON iteNf VIII then De- "e'o
any public spirited citizen % address TO the Mayor anu
commonaity OF the city Of New.York proposition to
the income Of two or thrcc millions OF doars
for the equipment and operating OF FREQ library within
borders the single condition that they wouIa pro-
Md. for 1t suitable repository, 1t Is dhcuit 70 conceive
any hestins about the acceptance OF IT, 10 cioe
with such n proposton ct once would seem 70 be
matter u course neither inviting nor admitting OF depa'o'
such would 10 be precisely the opportunity no"
presented the municipality Of the most popuous ana
wcathIss, city OF American continent This ofpor
,rpi,v too prcscos. ITSELF at most proptous moment
In the quarter cry which has r'nl In appro-
patcncss fcr such purpose, the city has park now
cumbcrcd with raservor which Is UNDERSTOOD to h''e
substantially survived It's usefulness Ihis park e'hoS
all tho land between Fifth and Sixth arcs. and te'
tween Fortcth and Fory--cond sts and is now known
,s bryant Park The appropriation OF parts OF THIS park
has already been seriously discussed
After speaking Of the objections made some years
ago agnnst taking BRYANT Park for free library, ana
later for q CITY Hail. Mr. Bgelow says:
Only OF the objections that either OF these projects
had % contend with would DO even apparently alphcaho
% the conservation portion OF Bryant Park to the uses
Of library and that Ia tho wise reluctance OF the people
n ,uv reduction Of the breathing spaces OF the city,
reluctance with which we are in entire 'ymMmy. H.
however ample library accommodations FOR the Iiioen
Trust Library be provided in tho Bryan; Park iof al
roto
the present park accommodations but actually Increasing
them a. wo presently show that they can be-th'
oh"ctioa viii Disappear.
lie presents plans for crciform building which
would cover less ground than is now occupied by inc
reservoir the alcovcs OF which alone would contain
1 600 600 books. The plan presented Is ono which
Mr. TIlden regarded as the best he had ever seen
IL provides large storage rooms, nne reading rooms
an exhibition bail and lecture rooms, all grouped about
A great rotunda. Mr. Dlgelow contl4ues:
In pe.cuting this plan for library. we have Intended
70 show the extreme o,a,be capacity Of the plot uader
e.ouo, Z, might be ~ iuced the length OF stem
ana ANS 10 half the PROJECTED dlmcnsion~ preserving oil
course It's proper proportions ana t'u' give inc ey
sarou,c accommodations for many years As h'ie''eu
cane be required The structure coud
he extended In accordance with the pan IKE the T"lacc
o. The Tuneries which commenced by catherine tie
Mrdic in 1864 and only completed during the Ielsh Oh
Napoleon
I'm discussing the possibility OF leaving Bryant Park
out Of consideration he says:
Tho duty and interests 81 the city. however 70 pro-
vide shelter for the Tildcn Library remain Unchanged
should M however, for tho reasons named or LOT any
other decline 70 pro,;d. such shelter the following after
natives open t. the Trustees;
Is to consolidate with one or more OF the larger
Libraries already established In New.iork
I'D they nay the best use they can OF the
means n, their disposal 20 establish an independent
library. In such ca-c they would be HK'y-"c '".""
IL would be wi.o I'm thcm-;o a-ndon the idea 81 forming
general library but concentrate their resources Win
the view Of Supplying compet" collections oil DOCKS Oh
limited Tango OF subjects and IN the selection OF those
subjects 70 cndcaNot far a. possible inc most
messing needs Of the metropolis by srrPemchtms We
more serious dcicences OF other libraries Ihr''
denclcncies are suppocd D. mos: felt present In the
depai tmcnt, VI ply steal science.
After speaking Of possible alliance with the sci
etlc s,oc!aons OF the city. Mr.. Egclow concludes:
should the competent authorities decline 10 avail them
,cycs OF thl. opportunity 10 make Ncwlork the intel
crua as IL is the commercial centre OF tho country ~
refusing 10 provide shelter for the great library Win
whch the trustees the III den Trust prpar"l 10
cndow H. decision IN many, II not In ol respects IT,
be dcplor the Tdcn Trust could least, by taking
these under its protection. Give all impulse
70 science In which would help her citizens TO
FORGET OF judicial spoatlon Of which she has been
the victim