The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-24

Through the generosity Of a grandnlece OF
Mr. Tilden the trustees OF the Tilden trust
have come into the possession OF property
likely to realize from two to two and u quar-
ter millions Of dollars. 1t is with this sum.
not n penny Of which comes directly through
Mr.. Tilden's will. that the trustees Of the Til
den trust propose. SO far as it will allow. to
carry out Mr.. Tilden's wishes to endow In tho
city a great public library.
The only redeeming feature OF the decision
Mr.. Biglow says Is that it delivers the
trustees from restrictions limiting the appli-
cation Of tho fund to the foundation Of " q free
library in tho city Of New York. Under the
existing arrangement they have more latitude.
and are not obliged. as he intended them to
do. to open a library at once in his former res
idence at Is Gramercy Park. which. while it
can accommodate 2OO. 900 volumes and is ac-
cessible from Nineteenth and Twentieth
streets. is not freproof. and In other ways Is
not fitted to be the depository OF a large col
lection OF books. not to spenk OF its lack Of
sufficient room to meet the increasing
needs OF q great library. These. ut any
rate. are the reasons which deter the
trustees. who are Joint owners with the heirs
Of the building. from taking steps to gain pos
session Of tho half they do not own. Rather
than employ q necessarily large part of their
fund in providing what would prove but a tenn
porary shelter for tho proposed library. the
trustees propose to take advantage OF the OPP
portunity offered by the approaching sales Of
the many valuable libraries now awaiting
cash purchasers to lay the foundation OF the
library itself.
Once a suitable library building is obtained.
Mr.. Bigelow thinks TINT. like the British Mu-
seum. which in 1923 received from George ".
the collection OF his father. whose cost was
aattmafad at rSCD con pot m enaok ~ pnmar-
GUS. in some respects. such as for rarity. &C..
moro valuable additions from private individ-
unls. the Tilden library would become the
beneficiary Of all philosophical citizens.
For the repository to contain the books to be
bought by the Tilden fun and to invite the
contributions Of benefactors Of their fellow
men. the trustees look to the Mayor and Com-
monalty OF tho city which is to be benefited by
tho library. The site for that reposi-
including the ground now occupied by
the old reservoir. and consequently
including the entire block bounded
by Fifth and Sixth avenues and Fortieth and
Forty-second streets. This site was proposed
for tho library before MI. Tilden's death. and q
bill was introduced In tho Legislature. with
tho acQuiescence OF the municipal authorities.
to devote @ portion Of the park to a free
library. to be equipped and operated at tho
clty's expense: but Mr.. Tilden. having other
S S,sSs n 4: to soo the PpEIoD0s ssa b sSs sfII iai, sjts 70
R% asai P %1fsi as'f IN Bryant ". I? PAX sief isli e n.y. T..
town. The objection that the erection Of a
! nssasd i't Grssshin so Disee ss 81: b! Fl W.. shi Il! :
TT;1IIai .a not apply nro to the structure, rsa, wb TIE
would at,SSr rather thSsst Increase SseDt than restrict the prss-
ent park accommodation. A plan OF q struc-
t possd II tot shH i4i sef ts sdo E f5Hss 10Y xh tSa N Nc 3 1ssii
TTiiiRaE sny vs 81 Wi Y Ss. sgSSm,t Yea az moyt su ~ SE;
F Fnls &c is1sH Ssst %pass Tsts s salsstisa t KIT could SilSr 81
longer toward Sixth ayenne,, while the arms
e %Ha,a toward s1sTaf Fo Ghe second ss@aa1 street rSst'et Ths s Width.
n tho clear. et tbs main structure from north
to to s sSose'a sp d f &c F.s ssst to west is planned to
val: fsI the stHski99s Of books. v rise one orr
WISE Sppropriated. These staoEs OF shelves
t ~ tic long isw ss FHHs E iop bot r. s sSes' f HTsnfs eet %
i:$ & a Il: s g, , ,:ss'S AZ I e s . SS;s?: sS SS y ~ Z = "a; s n
! FSss; f ;sst s sssa ae sRss t asse sta wso lah be sa rsept
gallery for communication from alcOvo
to slcoys on each story; The stacks OF the
Or ten. feet shorter than tho stacks on the
lower floor, thus aifording opportunities for
securing to the library at all times the great
eat abundance OF air and light. These several
stacks would form q series OF nlcoveS eight
feet wide, with a small table in each. admira-
bly, calculated to combine. with every facility
Of access to books a secIusion and eSemption
In New York now seeks in vain. whether In
private or public resorts. The stack rooms to
the right and left would be 90 by 1Us feet.
while the stack room toward the west. or
Sixth avenue. would be 80 by 1875 feet.
At the intersection Of tho arms with tho
ninety feet In diameter. In the centre Of which
the librarian on. duty would have his desks.
catalogues. and biblioRrarhical conveniences
around him. and from which he could cover
with his eye all the .~thoroughfnres Of the IL
brSry. Tubes or other modern contrivances
for the rapid delivery Of books from tho gal
would concentrate at this station.
-Four passages leading out OF the four cor.
ners OF this rOtunda conduct to four octagonal
pavilions. each forty-aye feet in diameter.
having on their lower floors spacious yesti-
bules through which, the rotunda could DO
reached from four directions. In the upper
ofthese could he used for adult males. one Tor
females. a third for children. and the fourth
for whatever use It shall ultim ately prove to
be most needed. These payilions, are each
lighted upon seven OF their eight sides. and SO
located as to bring thom into convenient prox-
SscmPlet,ly sheltered from the noise and bus
At the foot Of tho main or lower stem Of tho
cross are two projecting heinlcyclos designed