New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-30
RESERVOIR AND LIBRARY.

Nuch satisfaction will be derived from ueh'
o.o, Collis's formal notification to Mayor Strong
that his Department will have no use LUZ u,
Forty-secondst. reservoir after tnis "eeA' "'"
that consequently the proper authorizes VIII
then be at liberty to begin the prelinllhai! MoiA
of adapting the site to the purposes oi Tie '."
York Public Library. In the hrst place. ,i'is
announcement affords welcome ASSURANCE 'n"'
Fifth-ave after protracted anu s'ie'
period Of disruption. Is about 10 oecoihe ,"0
ougbfare again and be restored 10 'he pcop'e !"
,roa,,v imnroved condition, which 1t may pos
sibly be permitted to preserve LOT ihan! 'eai'
"a come The work now near compeuoh n"'
caused an immense amount OF loss anu u''coi,'
fort and difficult as It certainly was, scarceiy
ANYBODY doubts that 1t might nave peeh rs we"
done in a much shorter time However, Ne"
Workers are remarkably amable people, anu
they will probably consent to forgive ana Iorset
when once they have recovered the free use VI
an indispensable street
Tho communication from the Public Works
Department is interesting also as reHlhuef
TINT the time Is not far distant when really
great library suitably housed will exist mere
for the common enjoyment and 0enent. Inc
reservoir has long been familiar ahdHiarh'
and one need not be very old to remember wien
II was an object Of pride to residents anu vi
interest to visitors. 1t possessed enormous utii
,tv. and though never beautiful from any poih'
~ view. at least until the japanese Ivy TOOK
no,.esSon Of its Flfth-ave front, It mas the
merit Of being far less ugly than 1t might nave
haen Indeed, Il has that charm when lnheres
IN honest workmanship, standing four-square
70 all the winds that blow and producing con-
v,ction Of stability which will doubtless De fuiiy
verified when the process OF tearing 1t down De-
gins. But II anybody who, living IN an age OF
transformations, loves things that are relatively
old ia saddened by the thought or Its destruc-
t,on. he will doubtless be consoled as he ought
70 he. by the knowledge that noble ed'fice
containing an invaluable treasure Is TO take ifs
place
Wa consider that expectation to be justihed
| nv wha, has been said on high authority ABOUT
| the design for the library building when was
| succe,sful after a strenuous competition. ana
by the many proofs Of wisdom which the rus
| tees have already given. The task OF uniting
tho three principal libraries Of the city on
single foundation required the exercise or skill
and prudence at every stage Of the negotiations
ma Iegal proceedings. and It Is fair 10 assume
tina, those qualities will not be lacking at any
| time hereafter. 1t Is known that the trustees
have regretted that circumstances did not seem
n warrant them in asking a larger grant OF
money from the city. OF the sum Of s2,5oOooc
which thew obtained Il Is considered that about
{, 700 600 will be available for building pur'
poses. and II Is reasonably doubted II tna'
amount will enable Them, in putting up
structure so large. TO use the finest material toi
It's exterior II they are convinced that more
money Is needed TO make the library as oeau
| tful az such a fabric ought TO be. we hope ina
| ,hey will not hesitate 10 ask for II. com
paratively trivial saving In expenditure would
be poor economy II II should result IN lasting
disappointment The building ought to be wor
thy OF its contents, a source OF delight 10 me
eye and OF cultivation TO the mind.