New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-29
THE LIBRIEY STE.


Tho limo has come 10 considrr seriously the
problem Of selecting III" best SIT" i'r ~" new
pr,lic Library. Until now IA" several boards
Of trustees have had NOR" pressing questions
:, sn,,i. and have wisely l"f this "n" open
En-, all The obstacles 80 I'm organic uhi"h "' W.
Asior. Lonox AMI Tildcn trusts having now b''n
removed. and IN" necessary lc@isltt'h Z" 'liIy
on; the compact procured. the trustees are Tree
10 take ND the matter 81 location. 81 course ~
individuals thcy have already given u Hu'h
Thought. and they have informally di''d~>'l u
to some. extent among themselves, hui 'h'N nave
done nothing to cmblrrass ihoS" upon WHOM 'l'
dirty Of a final choice will d"yolvr Numerous
suggest ions are appearing In The H"WNpHl'''>'
Il. we are clad 10 see; for such expressions II
opinion coming ~ they naturally 90 from per
SONS taking 4 sincere interest in Tbs great ana
admirable enterprise. are sur" {" '"I'Hhn'r III
one way or another (" a sound conclusion.
NJ the present moment INC pr'NaiHhG IN
prcsslon undoubtedly * that The reservoir ~
tending from For,icth 10 Forty second ~. oil
Iitih-avc occupies IN" best 81" Tor Er'i'
library. and we have been lei 10 believe th''
this is the Judgment toward which majority
Of the trustees ar" icnding. Some of them have
already expressed Il preference" for This >i" AMI
their arguments are persuasive" II should ID"
understood AZ once That such opposition rs hes
bncu manifested 10 this choc" r. chiefly due Il"
= misapprohcnsion 1t has not been proposed
hv anvbo,lv whose opinion is likely 10 he iniu
entail that Bryant Park shall br invaded ON
thc contrary the reservoir covers more space"
Than the library builling would need Ia occupy.
and us erection there would clear c"nSid-
cradle amount Of ground fronting Fifthav". and
thc cross streets. If, therefore, the city should
rive the reservoir site 10 the library. Il three
fold advantage would be gained 4 large saving
I'm cypcnsc would he effected, useless ana I'M
slightly structure would be replaced by bcaui-
ful one and the park area would be Increased
undnr suit1blr restrictions If II shall be fully
dotcrmncd that this is the best site, shall
| heartily approve lis dedication 10 the purpose.
| Whether or not il is the best site remains 10
| he decided and Il hasty decision should not he
| made. II would be unfortunate If Il general
! rcposscSsi0n. based on careless consideration
of the numerous elements in the problem. should
III. permitted 10 have the weight Of u sober
| Judgment The reservoir site has some obvious
advantages II is and always will be peculiarly
| accessible from all parts of the city Moreover.
and thiS is n very important fact. not only Is II
capable Of being easily reached but the tide OF
travel flows all around IT, and Il multitude of
! persons would use Il library established there
sjmpIy because it would b" in their way. Pos
| siblv il may be said that this would be Il dlsad-
vantage. but we cannot think that free library
| ought 10 exist solely for the benefit Of those
! who are willing 10 90 out of their WAY 10 find
/ IT, II should inculcatc desire and habit rs
| well rs crafty II prcdilcciion and facilitate a
! purpose The reservoir is certainly not n geo
graphical centre. but that is not a pertinent
! considerations II Is not n cpntrc of population,
and will become less and less 50 indefinitely.
| But the choice Of a site is necessarily affected
Ivy various facts peculiar 10 New York, and
especially by the existence Of Central Park. A
location much above Fifty-ninh-Si. on either
side Of the lark is open To objection on account
OF It's rcmoicncss from the other side This is
| the principal argument against the otherwise
excellent site already owned and occupied 10y
the LpnoX Library Below Fifty ninihst lines
Of transportation converge, and one side Of the
| city Is not cut off from the other The present
site Of Columbia College. about 10 be- vacated
has been strongly recommended. and has some
plain merits: but Its acquisition would be ex
rcmely costly. and the necessity for such an
outlay has no; yet been proved Moreover. |,
Is somewhat restricted, and, owing 10 the rail