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


the cause appear a mere pretense, a
lambs fleece covering wolf. Condi-
tons are favorable this year for the
success of our party if it thus array
itself for the contest. 1t rests with
the Democrats in each county to say
if this shall be done. Theirs is the
responsibility. If they neglect it they
must not complain Of the consequences.
AN ADVANTAGEOUS PROPOSITION.
The action taken yesterday by the
public library board on the PROPOSE
ton presented to it to erect a library
building on the market house prop
erty seems to put the matter in shape
decidedly advantageous to the public,
If the gentlemen behind the measure
accept the change ma de in the terms
which they submitted. The details of
the original plan, which can now be
stated publicly for the first time
with honor, provided for a building
134 feet in length of front on st. Peter
street, and 60 feet deep en- Seventh
street. OF this a portion of the first
floor was intended to be reserved for
business uses. In consideration of
erecting upon this a structure for IL
brary purposes. estimated to cost $780,
O00, the promoters asked for a ninety
nine-year lease on the balance of the
market house property. The members
of the library board are of the opinion
that the proposition, modified as they
suggested, deserves, abstractly consid-
cred, the commentator which we have
already bestowed upon it, If the city
can obtain, in exchange for a mere
ground lease Of a portion of a prop
erty which it cannot now sell or lease
on reasonable terms, a public library
building suited to our needs, it would
be a good bargain. In addition to this
is the considera ton Of a handsome
and valuable business structure to be
erected on the Wabasha street portion
of the property, contributing to the
public revenue about $4,000 a year in
taxes on the Improvement and the
leasehold of the land.
From every point Of view this is most
desirable, provided only that the con-
sideration offered by these parties is
made adequate and satisfactory. It
will be so if the recommendations of
the library board are accepted. By a
resolution adopted at yesterdays meet
ing, this proposition was referred back
to it's originators, with the suggestion
that it be modified in three particulars.
In the first place, the entire building
is to be devoted to library purposes.
No citizen would think for a moment
OF permitting any portion of it to be
appropriated for business uses In the
second place, it has asked that the
building be completely equipped for
occupancy, with heating and light
ing plant and all necessary fixtures. to-
gether with heat and power. This is a
most important consideration. 1t would
remove from the city the necessity
Of expanding many thousand dollars in
fitting up a new structure, and en-
able the slender resources of the pub
lie library to be devoted to the purposes
to which they are now applied. In
addition to that, the supply of heat
and power which can be readily OBJ
tanned from the adjoining structure
that is to be erected for business uses.
is equivalent to the payment of a
rental Of some thousand dollars per
year. The third requirement is that
the dimensions of the building shall be
changed to rs feet frontage on Sew
enth street. This would give a floor
space which, on any reasonable calcu-
lation, would be adequate for library
needs for fifty years to come, and prob
ably for twice that length of time. The
tendency is, in all large cities, toward
the establishment of branch libraries
after the central institution has reached
a certain size.
II these notifications are complied
with, the public library board was
unanimous in its approval, and in. it's
opinion that the proposition could be
accepted with great advantage to the
city No matter of so great Importance
or promising so large public benefit
has come before the people for some
time. Adding to the amount of in
creased tax receipts the saving of the
charge which the market house build
Ing now is upon the city, and the cash
equivalent of heat and power furnished
to the library, the plan amounts act
ually to the leasing of the whole prep
erty at very respectable figure on its
full cash value, even without consid
ering the new building that is to be
presented to the public. We believe
that the plan in it's present shape
merits public approval, and trust that
1t will be so accepted by those who
originated it, and meet with the favor
Of the common council.
1T DID NOT WORK.
One of the novelties introduced into
our tariff laws by Mr. MoKinIav woo