St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-02
THE LIBRARY PROJECT.

The G l o b desires to ask once more
a careful and unprejudiced considera-
ton, by the thoughtful business men of
this community, of the plan that has
been presented for acquiring a public
library building in exchange for the
use Of the remaining portion of the
market house property. This is the
first opportunity that has appeared in
ten years Of filling what Is confessed
by all to be one of the most pressing
needs of st. Paul We feel sure that
not for another ten years will any
means be in sight by which such a
building can be obtained We all know
that 1t is useless to talk about pro-
viding funds by taxation. Neither the
power nor the wish exists to add $780,
900 to our tax levy for erecting a IL
brary building. Neither the council nor
the public would consent to the issue
of the $4,000 Of bonds already au-
thoriZed for the purchase Of a site. By
common consent it has been under
stood that the market house property
should be disposed of, and the pro-
ceeds used for library purposes. That
property has been in the market since
1894. No purchaser has appeared will
ing to give price that would even
secure the erection of a library build
mated in the near future.
Is it or is it not wise, in view Of all
these circumstances, to accept the prop
csition which is about to be laid be-
fore the city council? The GIL o e
does not appear as an advocate or an
opponent of that proposition, because
the promoters have not as yet stated
their terms definitely. What we do
wish to do is to secure dispassionate
consideration Of the matter, without
the introduction Of arguments such as
of our citizens, that seem to us to be
based upon the assumption that we
are going to have another real estate
boom very soon. Such is the idea pre-
sented in one quarter that the prop
erty might De divided into lots and
leased on long time so as to produce
big revenue to the city. This is i'm
practicable On the face of it. The prom
erty cannot be divided and leased
without tearing down a part of the
market house structure and leaving
the NJ icIH
is no reason to think that all such lots
could be leased. The best measure of
the feasibility of this is in the fact
that, after the city council had author
lied lease of the whole property for
two years, they could get nobody to
take it. There is now pending a pro-
posal to lease it for three years. and
it is said that if this goes through
Inc lessee Will obtain the use of it for
that period for a nominal sum. At the
END OF the three years, it is not difficult
to foresee what would happen. A re-
newal of that lease could be obtained
from the council; and for an indef-
mite time the old market house with
some interior readjustment would be
appropriated for private purposes. with
out advantage to the city and with
Out increase to our income.
Other thoughtful citizens, having the
public interest close at heart, saw that
1t would be better to sell the prom
erty outright and devote the proceeds
to the reduction of the city debt. But
as we have said. the property cannot
be sold outright. For nearly two years
It has been in the market and no pur-
chaser has appeared This arrange.
ment, moreover, leaves the public H.
brary stored indefinitely in the CITY
hall attic, to the great detriment to
this city and the disbursement of
people who would like to make their
homes in st. Paul. Why, says another.
do not the prom ,ters Of this scheme
buy the entire market house property
and let the city use the funds for a
library building? In the first place
that involves cash transaction which
they are not willing to undertake. That
at least. is their business; and IL they
do not wish to make such an offer
we cannot blame them, seeing that no