New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-03
GREAT LIBRARIES COMBINE.
Continued from, first paSr.

lam : To1, Iohn sloan. William F. Havemeyer.
Daniel Huntington. stephen Baker Georse l..
Rives H. V. r. Kennedy. William Alien i,u.le'
and / Henry Uarper l. Ferris Lockwood IS SUI
perintendent and Wherefore Eames IS hpi"'i'"
ONLY MINOR DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY
A number of these trustees were seen yes'er-
day and seemed to express a general WILLINGNESS
to accede TO the plan of consolidation as pre-
scented by their Joint committee. The trustees
however are dislncned to discuss the detalIS III
the plan. and in fact, regret that the Hat'e i''
been made public until the plan hao "0'"'
been accepted and was in working ORDER i".'
admit that there were some minor dlihcui'ies III
the way OF carrying the plan through ana 'na'
some objections might be raised to some OF It's
conditions: but. the other hand, they thhh
that the immense advantages that are 10 De de-
rived would overbalance these difficulties ana
objections In the minds of the different trustees
In fact in all the sessions Of the joint committee
spirit of concession was manifested, and de-
sire to bring about the consolidation was heartily
EXPRESSED on all occasions The question seeneu
10 be how they could do the greatest amount OF
good with the endowment funds ana powers
placed IN their hands. and the plan 81 union
seemed to offer the best solution to the problem
one idea however. was dominant in the IN
terviews with the trustees. and that was Ii the
plan was adopted tho new board oi twenty on
members must have absolute" power IN 49,
detail OF the management or thr new uuH
y
II Is believed that at the next meeting "I NV
several boards of trustees the plan VIII pe &C
ccpted The Tiden Trust Fund. estahilSh'u ny
the will OF Samuel j. Tilden, at the tim" OF thc
settlement Of the contest the Will was
81 500 600 but since that time 1t has increased
to about S2,0o0,o0o. Several plans nave p,,n lux
qeeted by TN, trustees of the fund for the us
nosition Of this money. one Of them was 10
have the present city Hall moved To hrFhh'
Park and have tho library established tneir,
The present plan. however is far NOR" prac-
ticablo and advantageous and VIII u" Il Iii
better agency in carrying out the desires 81
Samuel j Tilden
HISTORY or THE ASToR LIBRARY.
In case the Lenox Library site is decided upon
for the new library building. II Is probable that
the present building and land on which IN"
Aston Library is situated viii b. sold. me
building Is "A massive brick structure In La
fayette Place near Astor Place ana mas "
frontage Of about 200 feet and runs back l~
foot II can accommodate about 3o1.wo vol
umos I'll" library. although free one ~
merely reference library, no on" hcinE per
mitted to take the books ont OF IN" hulIdlhB
several Departments Of this library are the most
complete OF their Kind In the countrN ms -
especially true Of the historical literary ana
natural science departments. Tho library AIS"
contains many valuable Greek ana Latln manu-
scripts and among it's most priced treasures
is fun report II the Sanitary Commission for
the eighteen years Of its existence
The Astor Library was founded 3y pr"vif N
IN the will II John Jacob Aston. who died 10 l'N.
leaving 100000 for this purpose. Wi,h this money
the land bought AMI most oi ne present
buildings weT put up. William y. Ast'r' as son
added s550OOH and this increased b, william
II Astors son. John Jacob Astor. Tn" library
has ais, received a numh"r u gtis IN ln"hry anu
books mostly from members - n" Astor family,
So that its total endowment to-day T. valued 81
s. 1881 s. 90
The Lenox Library was incorporated IN $50
and IS built on portion = ~" old Len X iiIh.
The ground on which u stands vas given ~
James I>.nox. who also paid for tn" e'usiru'' l'n
and furnishing Z tho substantial gram" htI-
80 -
q 900 900 He also added $4,000 as permanent
endowment. Mos; II n" books paintings. cora
mics ct. were given by Mr.. l"noN H. on
eiauilV increased the collection during MS ne
and when ne died Il was found nat D" ha3 i'f
an additional endowment Many - th" it. ~
Iands-"r. Turner. Ruys!a"i M"is,adL Cams
borough. Poalc. stuart ana N"Fn.i'f ""T' "'''
given by him
THE T1DEN TRUST ~ THE rNIoN.
\ member II the committee on behalf u ia"
Tnion Trust gave th!s version Z DE consolation
schem-.
The executors q thc TIcn Tru.' hay~ ben ,. ~.
pr1ach-l by rcprc-'ntati..s ~ '.l'mu,' ,,..rs.
pur,1s.s These oy.riu,rs were maj" when u i'-
cam" known mat me Tii"n IIu-i aAH i ,'n' , i
rom {fuutrl ~ s. eoVD TIE question va care.
fully wcsh~l but ii va. '".'lg' ot' ,r & de-
sign a. Mr. T.teu .'nienI.atr"l. "hi'n w. -"
Establishment OF free library ana re"'n$ room
Tn. plan proposed by Columbia, College embraced
q
AID The balance ~ the TilI"n money vas - %"
applied TO the library. Tn who'" woH'A h'Vc p,",
w"niH nav Den $500 t t'.S h,i,Ing rh. library
part!Gu,ar C0lamD' Co-,S. G i1Iv ami the man.
ayers u ,hc Trust Fund dl not enter into IN"
sracme fnr,y o5 iG.e ,ns .bcy thought hey
had no right 80 max present 90 columbia '"ll'sr
or 70 any o:her person or corporation Of the .uni
in their keeping
MIR THDEN'S WISH To BE FULFILLED.
As early "a last MAY the trustees Of the Td"1
Trust and the Astor Library put heir heads tog th'r
10 sec what could De done All were agreed that ms
was an opportunity for hcnenting the city "hi'h
should not be neglected. Later the Leno% Library
trustees came in and the conference resulted IN thi
a{Io'itfn.ht Oh yo". ,n,t ,,l,h the resources
than had already been accomplished. Nor c"nh
s,i,,i,nus hi,t II ali could He Induced TO unite the
resources including money. books plants ana o,ht
heretofore existed IN this city. The Tiden Trust
nus the Intention O; Mr Tilien would be realized
not b" successful u fcttercd by restrictions. ne
government o. such a consolidated noiy mus De
IT, tbe an pnbc purp"scs which rom time to dine
might appear TO be- th" most uscrul. The l"noX
hn "I"I 9s %ss n2"' and cc 70 it was not at ali
times free tn As'or Library fen behind ne pub
II was not open after dark. IT. doors were closed
on sunday no book c9uI ~ 'ah,m tE"s s,Gr,nf
10 prevent carrying our sch"m" such A. Ir. q J.
cen mad In Wow. Therefore, the Nrst ihng 10 1c
settled I'm any consolidation was that thor" should
be- a union ana combination q all he funds anu
property Of the constituent bodies without r'S'fl'-
ton. condition Limitation.
THE NAME or THE NEW INSTITUTION.
The next point was the constitution OF board Of
direction or government. 10 which the policy Tor
the future should hc committed. ana when should
regulate and determine all details. The join; com
mtice reported I'm favor of such a union ana that
the name Of the new library be the Ncw-York Pub
lie Library and AsiOr Lcnox and Tildcn Foun'a-
ton. II was further agreed tina; there should De "A
Board Dlrectors.t to consist irs or twelve incmDefS
and Later when the requisite legislation has been
obtained, Of twenty-onc members. The present on
s3idation Library act allows only twelve members
ot, the no trl Each Of the three constituent cor
pora,ions will have the same number Of rcprcsen-