The morning call., 1894-02-02
1T COSTS MONEY.
Moving a Library is Very
Expensive.
Inc Mercantile Library Trustees
Decide to Remain on Van Ness
Avenue for the Present.

The board Of trustees of the Mercantile
Library Association determined at meeting
yesterday 10 Beep The library where it is on
Van Ness avenue.
No time was lost in reaching an understand
Ing on the proposition of moving. a committee
consisting OF Directors BIgelow, Diamagt and
Durbrow, appointed recently 10 consider the
opposition OF life members 10 moving TO the Par
rott building. made a long repor.. Every men,
Der agreed regarding facts, on which joint re-
port was submitted, but they had Individual
views and opinions, however. and consequently
thtee separate reports were presented with the
Joint reports on facts.
Alfred H. Durorow was the only member in
favor of removal. Among other things his re-
port stated as follows:
The cost Of removal, reftting and furnishing
Will not exceed 5000.
The expenses OF the library for the past year.
including interest on mortgage, was 5 3 935 O5 ;
receipts from dues $5603 35; rents. $33o9 65-
mus confronted with yearly shortage which
requires at least 1000 yearll memberships at So
10 make good, the question arises whether this
can be better accomplished by remaining In our
present quarters or removing 10 more central
Assuming that the income from rents of the
assoclatlon building would Offset the rental of the
proposed new quarters, l estimate that member
snlp 6t from 1000 TO 5000 would be necessary TO
pay expenses
favor and recommand the removal, being of
opinion that this association is justified In ing
the venture and assuming reasonable amount OF
riSA In lace OF the deficit OF the past TWO years.
proVai of many of subscribers and has ais
been requested by quite number of the lite and
honorary members compris ng some of the lead
ing business men OF this city. thus assuring the er
cooperation with US sharing with US the
reSponsib lity of the act
In arriving at this conclusion in favor OF re-
inoYai DO not in any degree ignore the possible
rlsk and expenditure involved. The situation,
however, In my opInit u calls for such a step as
thereby presenting mode and the best mode to
bultd up again the Mercantile Library and restore
IL TO It's usefulness in this community that il
Detler tnihll the purposes of its organization
ana having had a membership of 5000 under
less favorable conditions of population and oca
tion We may reasonably look forward TO a proper
tlohate increase by this movement.
am in favor OF rei aiming the library property
on Van Ness avenue, believing il practicable TO do
so in the interests of the library. and having in
case OF removal eight mouths time to consider the
disposition TO be made.
Director Bigrlow believed the expense was
100 great 10 be contracted aud that IL would
not be possible TO get 5000 new members.
men he doubted II the change would result in
- lmnrOvement.
Director Diamant stated he considered ex-
pense OF iemoyal and subsequent expenditures
beVond the liolafy's ability TO meet aud he
reared that many tenants might leave the H..
Dfary building II the library itself were moved.
1he new proposed quarters could be secured
at monthly rental of $500 for the first floor
or $500 fOr the top floor.
HE majority report against moving was ap-
proved and accepted and Furthermore tie
board decided not 10 entertain any proposition
OF moving