New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-21
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY SITE.
ONE LIKELY TO BE SELECTED on THE
EAST SIDE LANDS.
BOTANICAL GARDEN PRODUCTIVITY
azA Is WANTED THE MII.LINK

WHAT THE LAW OF 1859 PROVIDES FoR-THE
BOTANICAL GARDEN PRODUCTIVITY A
PLAZA is WANTED AT THE wILLINK
ENTRANCE TO THE PARK.
While definite decision has not yet been reached
1t is practically certain that site for the Brooklyn
Public Library will be set apart on the East Side
park lands. The matter appears TO rest with the
Mayor and the Park Commissioner, and IL does
not necessary 10 ask for any additional legls-
lation. The Public Library Association Is anxious
10 have site assigned at once for the building that
will be erected some time In the future for there Is
expectation that the 10000 which the city is
authorized to eXpend for a library building will be
provided soon. number of sites were suggested
by the association in different parts OF the city, In
Guiding the small park in the rear OF the City Hail.
which was purchased by the city several years ago
with the expectation that 1t would in the future
furnish the site for a municipal building.
II the library site the East Side lands Is set
aside It will be done under the Law OF 1889. under
which the Brooklyn Institute secured the site on
which the museum building has been erected
That law refers In the first section to the East side
lands and the reservoir surrounded by them on
three sides and in the second section provides as
follows: THE Mayor and Park Commissioners OF
the city of Brooklyn are hereby authorized to
designate and set apart such parts Of the land men
toned in the first section OF this act as are not re-
quired for the maintenance and enlargement Oh the
said reservoir and they may deem proper. for
building sites for museums Of arts and sciences and
libraries and may lease such sites at nominal
rental and terms not to exceed 100 years to any
rporation or corporations now existing or that
may hereafter be created for educational purposes.
on such conditions may be explained In said
leases"
This TO the non-legal mind authorizes Mayor
Wurster and Park Commissioner Dettmer. without
any prelimnares to proceed with the formal work
eft huf In rem
all doubt Corporation Counsel Burr has been asked
for a legal opinion the subject The proposed
site fronts on Flatbush-ave. and Is on the south
side Of the reservoir. II library building is
erected there II will be sufficiently remote from the
museum not to impair the architectural effect of
that massive pile a II will be when completed.
WHAT MAYOR wURsTER SAYS.
Speaking of the library scheme. Mayor Wurster
said yesterday: 81 believe that 1t is the proper
thing TO erect a good building for this purpose
when the right time comes, but II Is useless to
think that a library In one building. no matter
where II may be situated. will supply the wants OF
the people. People wanting TO get books from a
library Of this character cannot anord to pay 10
cents carfare every time they want book. Wher-
ever the central building is put up It will be
gary 10 have large number Of branches or stations
I'm all parts of the city. where people leave
their orders and get the books they want the next
day That is my idea of the way to run an institu-
ton Of that kind. What the Library Association
wants now Is 10 have site assigned for build
ing and then with the sum OF $4,000 which II Is
PROPOSED to give them by the bill already sent to
Albany. they will be able to put the books they
have in a small building somewhere. and the
nucleus OF a public library Will be established at
the time consolidation takes place. The sto pro-
posed for them is we'll situated. far as tho new
museum is concerned. and understand that the
Brooklyn Institute authorities are now in sym
pathy with the library movement. although they
think It possible that one wing OF their great build
ing may be used for library purposes"
The remainder OF the east side lands II Is pro-
posed to devote to a botanical garden the idea OF
which was conceived when Frank Squier was Park
Commissioner. A bill has lately been presented to
the LEGISLATURE providing for the establishment Of