The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-21
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
SETTLEMENT OF THE BOARD OF
TRADES CLAIM.
One Thousand Dollars Finally Agreed
Upon-Trustees Have Extensive
Plans In View.

For the Pioneer Library asSociation,s
excellent collection of over 10000 vol
umes of standard works, representing
an investment of nearly SIS, OOO the city
will pay $1,400. In other words, the mu-
nicipality will take the magnificent nu-
cieus for the public library and free
reading, by merely obligating itself to
pay the Pioneer associations liabili-
ties, which are $500 for the librarians
salary, and $1,000 in settlement of the
Board of Trade corporations claim for
81 months back rent of the rooms &C
cupied by the donors library. The only
other condition imposed is that the city
will abide by the stipulation insisted
upon by the Masonic grand lodge to
perpetually maintain and improve the
library as public institution If any
default be made in the proviso. the
city is to forfeit the books to the Utah
grand lodge of Masons, which owns the
control in the Pioneer association.
FORMALITIES PREPARED FOR.
All that remains to complete the
transfer and to install the new city IL
brary in the joint building is the for
mality of signing the agreement and
the providing of suitable quarters b.T
the city council At next Mondays
meeting of the city library trustees the
agreement between them, on behalf OF
the municipality, and the representa-
tives of the Pioneer association. will be
formally executed; and. in the mean
time, it is hoped the city administra-
ton will assign the entire northwest
section of the first or second floor Of
the city and county building for the
library and reading room quarters.
II the desired quarters be provided
they will be Immediately put in shape
| for the reception of the books and FIX
lures about to be acquired by the city
on such favorable terms. After reserv-
ing sufficient to cover the preliminary
expense and next years current ex-
pense, the balance of the tax fund
available by the trustees will be de-
voted to the purchase of new books A
list of such books as are most needed
Is now in course of preparation, and
Will soon be passed upon preliminary to
| making purchases on the most advan-
tageous terms at eastern book clearing
sales by experienced buyers.
SITE WANTED FOR A BUILDING.
The trustees have in mind a plan of
obtaining a permanent building before
many years lapse. At this evenings
session of the city council a petition
will be presented for a conditional grant
of the old city hall corner as a site
upon which to erect the proposed libra
ry building, the condition to be that the
ground shall be used only for the pur-
pose intended. If the grant be made as
/ hoped for. the trustees will be enabled
! to direct the attention of public bene-
! factors and citizens, nonresident and
: local, who have made their fortunes in
Utah mines and otherwise, that Salt
Lake City is ready to receive requests
for a fund for public library and Ii
Z IL
petuated the generous deeds and hon
ored names of the donors.
CONSENTED TO PAY $1,000 BACK
RENT.
At the joint meeting yesterday
of the Pioneer and Masonic
committees with the city trus-
/ tees committee and the formers
rent creditor representative, it was
agreed to accept the ultimatum of the
Board of Trade directors to settle the
rent debt for $1,000, although $4,000 was
the legal claim. Mr.. Rood, who ap-
peared for the Board of Trade building
directors, reported that he had con-
ferred with six of the eight members Of
the board, exclusive of himself, and all
were of the opinion that their action in
/ declining to accept the proposed COM
( promise figure of $3.50 and insisting up
on $1,000 in the settlement of the rental
was equitable, just and magnanimOus.
The six directors referred to were Geo.
A. Lowe, John E. Dolly, r. c. Cham
bers, NJ. H. Walker, w. S. Mccormick
and Geo. NJ. Scott.
The city trustees committee finally
/ yielded, and Judge Bennett was di-
rected to draw the articles of agreement
| covering the stipulations agreed to
/ through the recent proceedings pertain
/ ing to the transfer of the library to the
city.