New-York tribune., 1897-08-02

In recent article referring to the NewIork
Public Library. and to the conditions which the
trustees have established for the competitions
by means of which plan for the new building
on the reservoir site is to h. procured. we
expressed regret that they did not ask for
A larger sum If money from the city. They
obtained through the Legislature and the action
of TIE municipal authorities the generous ap
preparation of s.. 100000 in addition 10 tie ad
mirable site in Fifth-ave but of this amount
only $l.7OO000 Is considered available for ihc
building proper II seems doubtful if this al
lowancc will prove sufficient for the purpose
all the necessities Of the case and the legitimate
expectations of the public being considered
There is reason 10 believe. indeed. that the
library authorities feel considerable solicitudt
on this score The building must cover a grca'
SPACE and lirepr00f construction is an imperA
tive requirement. but ii is also OF the utmost
importance that the building should he of The
highest architectural quality. THAT the fund
now at tie disposal Of the trustees is rs large
aS tncy need is less likely to be proved than
diSWov,d.
There is little doubt that the trustees would
have asked for Il larger gift from the city #
they had felt cAlrcly sure of their position.
/ They could not foresce bow their application
would be received. whether public opinion would
heartily sustain il, and what the attitude of the
Legislature would be- In reality. popular senti-
Ineni in this case fairly represented by the
newspaper press. was unanimously on their
side and there was no difficulty in causing the
LEGISLATURE 70 take IN equally favorable view
of their proposal But when this prevalent dis
position became Known ii was not deemed ad
y.sablc TO prefer larger claim. II was still
feared that opposition might be aroused
that legislative complications might ensue, and
tina, the affair nigh; thus bc postponed to 4
period Of adverse politica! conditions. The
: library authorities. that is 10 say, did not quite
dare to take a course which might result IN
/ putting them and their great undertaking at The
mercy Of Tammany administration. Rather
! than incur that risk they chose to complete the
/ transaction in the form in which they had be-
gun it. even though they felt the need Of a
larger building fund \ more striking example
of the disrust in which Tammany is held hy
sagacious and pubc-spirited citizens without
regard TO party. and Of the injury which The
mere possibility Of its regaining power may i'll
nict. has not recently been brought to notice
AS we said n former article. we do not
know that the library trustees now consider i
absolutely too late to base any calculations upon
the probability of their being able IT, obtain 4
larger allowance from the city Considering III.
time tha; must necessarily elapse before til.
final choice of plan for the building can h,
made. we should not suppose iha. the soclIrin.
of an additional appropriation was ou o. th,
question. There is good reason 10 beliey. tina
Tammany will he routed IN the coming ee"
ton and that a municipal administration capa
bic of treating this important affair in wisely
liberal manner will b. installed. II possible
we hope the trustees will refrain from carrying