St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-26
LIGHT ON LIBRARY PROJECTS

LIGHT ON LIBRARY PROJECTS.
The agitation that has been set on
foot with reference to securing a new
library building for st. Paul is bear
ing fruit in many directions. 1t has
brought out thus far an expression of
opinion in favor of disposing of the
market house property and using the
proceeds for library purposes which, as
far as it has gone, is practically unan-
imous. While the aggregate vote is not
large, as compared with the adult pop
ulation Of st. Paul, it is a significant
slider that this vote was called for
only three or four days ago, and that
it has been given voluntarily. Nor
is that all. In point of fact, this vote,
whether 1000 or 10000 ballots are cast,
is practically decisive when we re-
member that it is practically unaui-
nous. If there existed In this COM
munity any feeling. to any extent
worth mentioning, that this PROPOSE
ton should not be carried into effect,
the people who hold that opinion would
be represented proportionately in the
vote. If man is opposed to the
scheme of utilizing the market house
property, and thinks it injudicious and
detrimental to the interests of ST. Paul,
he would certainly take the trouble
to sign a coupon to that effect and
send it in. Those who want a library
building are willing to do this in great
numbers. Those who do not want it
cannot hold that conviction very ten
aciously, or they would express it at
no greater cost than the trouble Of
signing their names. We think it may
be taken as established beyond con-
troversy that the people of ST. Paul
are essentially unit in favor of trans
ferring the city's interest in the mar
ket house property to a public library
building and site. What the details
of that transaction shall be may be
left to the future to determine.
Moreover, there are other interesting
facts coming to light in regard to this
there are good and substantial rea-
sons for the energy and industry dis
played in forcing through one branch
of the council the preposterous and out
rageous proposition to make present
Of the use of the property for three
years to al individual practically I'M
known to our people. 1t is asserted,
not without appearance of reason, that
certain powerful interests are at work
DESTROYS of obtaining possession Of
the Seventh street front of the mar
ket house for business purposes. A
lease of this for three years for the
sum necessary to make the proposed
changes in the property would be a
business snap. The sum generally
stated as required to be expended for
this purpose is $4,000. But that is
pure guess-work. Probably much
smaller amount would answer all the
purposes of the lessees. They would
then have sole possession of the entire
property, and the rentals which they
ance would reimburse them for the
total expenditures. They would thus
secure from the city for nothing the
use for three years of the most valu-
able site for business purposes in ST.
Paul. If they could not get a renewal
of their lease at the expiration of
that time, then they would have lost
something Of their dexterity or their
political pull.
The exposition of this scheme will
we feel certain, give to it it's death
blow. Whether we go ahead to pro-
cure a public library building or not
in the way that seems now fairly open
to us, we do not believe that the people
Of st. Paul will tolerate or permit an
arrangement that proposes not only to
furnish free quarters for business con-
Germs to compete with those already es
tablished on property that pays rent