New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-21
LIMESTONE OR MARBLE?
THE QUESTION OF MATERIAL FOR THE
NEW LIBRARY.

| IF A LARGER APPROPRIATION is OBTAINED MAR
DIE Will. BE UsED-rHE HISTORICAL soCr-
ETY. HAS NO INTENTION OF BUYING
THE LENox LIBRARY BUILDING.
1t is not expected By the trustees of the New
York Public Library that there will be anything
further to be made public In reference 10 the plan
| decided on for the building until some time
next month. Before the end Of the year II Is the
intention to present the finished plans to the Board
| Of Estimate and Apporionment. Some changes
will have to he made In the design accepted, but
| they OF minor Importance. 1t Is essential.
| however. that everything shall be perfected. for
| after the adoption OF the design by the Board OF
Estimate changes II deemed necessary, can only
| be made with difficulty.
The question Of the material 10 be used In the
| outer walls of the building has not yet been de-
| cded and may not be for number OF months
| This matter is now under consideration. In the
circular stating the terms OF competition the Trus-
tees Committee suggested the use Of Indiana lime
stone but on recurring to the subject had this to
say:
| THE trustees are not committed to the use OF
| Indiana limestone, and competitors are therefore
| requested 10 state fully their Views as to the
choice Of materials and their relative cost. The
trustees arc advised that the majority of Librarians
regard brick as the best material from practical
| point of view and the competitors are invited to
say whether In their judgment it can be so used as
to secure for this building tho dignity and the
monumental character that Is desired"
There is no expectation that brick will be used
for tn. exterior Of the library building. as it is
generally recognized that It would not be In keep
ing with an edifce so conspicuous and 50 con-
| spcuousiy placed the new library will be. More
over If either brick granite were TO be used
| different treatment OF the outside OF the building
would be necessary on the part OF the architects.
But IL Indiana limestone or marble is the material
| no changes IN the architects work Will be re-
quired In all probability the choice will lie be-
tween these two. and the decision of the question
will depend on the amount of money which the
| trustees finally have at their disposal
\ FURTHER APPROPRIATION MAY BE
SOUGHT
n they are required to erect the building within
| the limits OF the appropriation made last winter,
limestone will doubtless be agreed on. II has been
! suggested however. that In view Of the importance
| OF the library structure and the position the buiid-
Ing Is to occupy. little objection would probably he
| raised TO a proposal for an additional appropriation
to the extent OF 10000. That would, 1t is be-
ueved enable the trustees to decide In favor or mar
bic. clearly the best material for an edhce OF so
| dIgn.fed and monumental character. whether
| the Legislature will be asked 10 pass supple
| men,ary hill IL yet to be determined.
II Is also question how such a proposal would
be regarded by the municipal administration which
| J.
usually Inclined 10 look with favor on appropriations
when there IS no chance FOR OF that persuasion
10 get a slice OF them and the officials may not be
any TOO willing 10 provide money for the public IL
brary in accordance with the arrangements already
| made.
The trustees. however. will go ahead with the re-
| movaI OF the old reservoir and the laying OF the
foundations OF the building as the contracts
| are made and allow the question OF marble or lime
stone TO lie for settlement until the right time
| comes II may make little difference II II Is not
settled before next May or June. since the prelir-
| mary work will be the same no matter which ma
terial Is finally employed. II Is expected that after
the contracts are made and work on the building
is actually begun it can be completed within three
yfWSE l,n the appropriation now available it will be
stone walls but this basis there will be no funds
,Gp"re or or for Re be-
The total n4 Of ss 5ss has been ss
aside for the building itself The remainder will
be used for heating, Lighting yentilatins turnitnre
with the engineers estimates. for the removal OF
| the reservoir.
A FORMER PLAN TO USE THE RESERVOIR
| SITE.
| I, may not he generally known that the present,
Is not the first plan for erecting library building
| on the reservoir site When William Waldorf As
tor was in the Senate in 1880 and 1881 he took much
interest In the removal OF the reservoir which even
then had come 10 he regarded as useless and on his
| urgency bill for its removal was passed The
| ever through the opposition OF hre-nsurance men:
who beeysd TIA, the city would ,1 be s II
case of large Are downtown II i had succeeded
!, was the intention OF me New-fork Historical
Society 10 apply for permission to erect building
on In ," conneeton with the erection Of the public H.
brary in that place the suggestion has been made
the Sudns OF The asno1 t lib mgn ss
| cicty VIII has
for lts books. pictures and other COLLECTIONS than II
ciety has no intention, however. OF acting the
suggestion since Tor the last three years or 80 t.
4 re- site ons o D central % from Sew
south OF Manhattan Square. The dimensions OF the
plot are ' by ls3 feet, and i cost tie close TO $4,000
cialy suitable for the socety's future growth and
when the historical society will be In posi-
ton to erect building there Is problsmatical
and tho return OF prosperity has no, set Justified
the appointment Of special committee. as was
tnd io e the rsoon of the ne bubble
library. tho trustees OF that institution will have
Tenox Library buildings, and it is the Intention to
sell them There would certainly, he no economy
that this will be done It Is believed that FOR these
| properties nearly or quite s. 100000 ought be
raIlzcd which would add largely to the resources
OF me library me NOPE OF the the trustees ,h INA
| an annual appropriation OF at least equal
| amount will be made by the Board OF Estimate.
| WILL. SMALL LIBRARIES RE ABSORBED7
| Whether IN the course OF time the public IL
| brarv will absorb existing free circulating IT,
| brariNs s n matter for future consideration. The
| present disposition OF the public library trustees
is to walt for overtures To he made by the officers
| Of other institutions which are largely dependent
| on private benencence although certain appropra-
| lion, are made for their maintenance from public
funds. with great public library in the field
| having branches In all parts OF the city and doing
| on n large scale the work done n small
scale by other libraries. IL is believed that there
| will be decline In III" interest I'm the smaller
| libraries the part OF those Instrumental I'm
maintaining them. and At The same time II is prob.
| able that the city authorities will prefer TO ma Ike
one large appropriation for library purposes rather
| than divide the money into several parcels. These
.aI,li 10 lrxa. -.