The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-02-07
The LIBRARY SITE.
Trustees Hold an Option
on Gov. Abbett's Old
Home on Van Worst
Park.
NEGOTIATIONS NEARLY CLOSED
Minor Details Only to Be Arranged
Description Of the
Property.

AS the News" exclusively made pub
nc last night, the Free Library trustees,
u was rumored. had purchased site
Iof 9 new Public Library building That
site is the northeast corner of Montgom-
cry street and Jersey avenue, the house
formerly occupied by the late Governor
Abbett and the house adjoining, known
as the "Gopsilp' house.
Ihe property measures so feet on Mont
gomery street and 14O feet on Jersey ave-
nue. The 40-foot lot facing or Jersey ave-
nue. forms an L with those facing on
Van Worst Park. Altogether the property
makes one of the best sites which could
have been selected
The trustees have, it is said. secured
a cast iron option on the property which
belongs to Mr.. Charles Murray, of New
YORK, and this is the result of negotia-
tlons begun six months ago. Mr.. Murray
Ii Is said asked $4,000 for the houses and
lot, but the trustees have brought that
price down % per cent less than that
figure
= "A News" reporter called on some of
dne li.e, trustees this morning, but they were
Tpu1apicaliy Teonard & &reflcent, For instance, Dr.
tremely obliging to newspaper men in
noebina me matter t OF nswsgiving, had little or
y.
nor OK deny the accuracy of the rumor. =
NoW,. my dear SIR he said with a
smile. you are giving me news when
have bought the property you mention.
II they had done SO 1 suppose + would
have known something. about it. II IS
a site. and have considered several, but
noth1ng final has been reached, and 1
d1,bto dop,t think it would be wise. for the
site we have. concluded to buy. At the the
right time when everything is concluded
we VIII make report to the public
{. superintendent Haskell. of the High
Scnooi another trustee. sald that mat
Isrs We're not in such shape that he
tated DR.. Gordon in bidding the reporter
be patient for a few days.
WI Mr.. ste Stephen L Harvey. also trustee,
about the purchase. He Would would not et say say
what sites had been considered
News man found out that the pur- lr-
chase has been completed and the price
hitch in the terms Of the deed, as to to- the e
purposes to which it will be applied
This hitch will be. removed today and the
psea pSsr 1oTmag a,gsvered to the legal ad
successfully carried out and there man ape pe
the trustees will at once begin to to- make ak,
arrangements to transfer the books and
furniture i'm the present building to- the
new home If the city will look upon
the library question In. generous light
as the trustees sincerely hope they will
money may be forthcoming which win
which Jersey City may be proud.
For the present the trustees WILL it is
said, build an extension on the vacant
lot on jersey avenue. The main door of
the, library would be Sn Jersey avenue
and the doors on Van Worst Park would
either be closed up or used as private
entrances. The partitions in the house
Will be torn down and on the first floor
this will give a. large reading ROOM the
ceiling Of which will be supported by
heavy columns.
Some public spirited citizens discuss-
ing the. purchase Of the property are in
favor of introducing bill into the Legis-
lature giving authority to the city to is
sue bonds for the purpose of giving the
trustees sufficient money TO build a Pub
lie Library. 1t is estimated that $780, 900
would erect noble structure and the
by the possession of such building
II would be in favor of holding a pub
lie meeting said one of the citizens al
luded to-. TO test the general sentiment
towards building handsome library for
our city. | am sure there are plenty of
towards such an object
The official bond of DR.. L. J. Gordon
as treasurer of the Free Public Library
IN $3.50 was accepted as to suff1ciency
last night by the Finance Commissioners
ex-senator William Brinkerhoff and Mr.
The Board also ordered $29, ,4O5O7 paid
to the trustees. The money is that por-
tion of the tax levy set aside yearly for
the maintenance of the library.