St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-23

Clarence Johnston, the designer of the
proposed library building, and Pierce
Butler, the representative of the parties
offering the proposition, were also pres
ent
Ihe plans and specifications of the
new building Were laid before the board
and carefully inspected. Mr.. Butler ex-
planned the details. In brief they were
as follows:
The plans and specifications as sub
mltted to the board called for a brown
stone building of fire-proof construc-
ton, with frontage of 1874 feet on ST.
Peter street and 60 feet on Seventh. The
pullalng would cost according to the
specifications, about $150,0OO In re-
turn for the gift of such
building to the city, the city would be
asked to grant the promoters of this
enterprise ninety-nine-year lease of
all the remaining property. The dimen-
s1ons of the entire market house prop
erty are $50 feet on Wabasha and St.
Peter streets by 800 feet on Seventh
street.
After Mr. Butler had dwelt upon the
details and described the interior of
the proposed building and the uses to
which each story would be put he ex-
plained to the library board that the
plans submitted must not be considered
as final and cut and dried. The main
idea involved was that of exchanging
new building for a lease.
Considerable discussion took place
| among the members of the board All
of the members favored the general
plan, with certain notifications There
was unanimous opposition to the oc-
cupation of the library building by any
concern or enterprise other than the
jN7,o1. how i
that it should be devoted exclusively
and wholly to the purposes of a public
library. 1t was also thought that the
proposed frontage of sixty feet on Sew
enth street was too small, and it was
voted that the plans be modified SO as
to provide for building 75 by 134 feet
A difference of opinion manifested
itself as to the advisability of the city's
granting y-nine-year lease of the
remaindero Of the property, but the board
finally decided that this part of the
proposed transaction did not concern
the library board, but was rather a
matter for the common council to con-
slider. Referring to the lease Mr.. But
Ter pointed out that the revenue from
the taxation Of the leasehold of the
land, as we'll as that of the business
building to be erected on it, would ag-
gregate about $4,000 year for the city.
The board also suggested another
important modification OF the Spec1nca-
tions whereby the parties erecting the
new building would supply a complete
equipment, including a heating and light
ing plant and appliances, fixtures,
shelving for books, elevators, heat and
power.
At the close of the discussion, Messrs.
Butler and Johnston retired from the
room and the board thereupon drafted
and adopted the following resolutions,
tc
Resolved, That the library board, having
certain parties to erect free of cost to the
city, a public library building on the west
ern end of the market house property, refer
the same back to the promoters with the
suggestion that they present it to this board
after having amended it in the following par
tieulars:
1. The entire building shall be devoted to
library purposes. and no portion of it reserved
for business uses.
shall be completely equipped for occupancy
with heating and lighting plant, and appli-
ances, pictures, shelving for books, elevators,
heat and power.
g. The plans shall be modified as to pro-
vide for building rs by 134 feet
Resolved That with these amendments the
board is of the opinion that such a PROPOSE
ton offers advantages to the city which
should have careful and favorable conSidera-
ton by this board and the other city au-
thorities.
The notifications in the plans asked
for by the library board, call for a
building and equipment that would
cost considerably more than $150,000.