Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-17

Site No Site.
The Star is anxious to take advantage
for Washington of Mr. Carnegie's library
donation. 1t views as exaggerated or en-
tireIy imaginary nine-tenths of the objec-
tons urged against the proposed Pennsyl-
vania avenue site. but it has advocated
that particular location solely because it
seemed TO be the only spot quickly and
easily available, whose selection would
avoid the exposure of the city to the
chances OF an injury to its welfare out
weighing the benefits to be derived from
Mr.. Carnegie's gift.
Some of those who have been stirring up
opposition to the Commissioners practical
suggestion have triumphantly proposed as
an acceptable alternative the use as a Ii
brary site of one of the beautiful parks
In the northwest section, Mt. Vernon
square being suggested some curious
and iaeXplicabIe theory as a superior loca
ton in centrality and accessibility. The
sentiment in Congress. especially in the
Senate is immovably opposed to the breach
of trust involved in diverting the city's
parks from public as such. and cover
ing them with bricks and mortar. This
sentiment of course dominates every
thoughtful WaShingtOnian. Once assent to
the theory that these public spaces may
properly be utilized in this way. and never
will another public building site be pur-
chased in Washington. The reservations
will be cut up and parcelIed out, the city's
lungs. as these breathing places have been
called. will be choked. and the capitals
characteristic beauty as city of parks
will be lost forever. An attractive and
health-giving feature. which other large
American cities, shortsighted In the begin
ming. are now paying millions to create,
and which Washington enjoys, will be
foolishly and wantonly surrendered
The proposition of a combined municipal
and court building on judiciary Square in
wolves the use of the present court house
site and the vacant paved space in front of
and partly surrounded by the present struc-
ture- 1t involves no fresh park spoliatior.
The so-calIed reservation at 7th street and
Pennsylvania avenue is as repeatedly stat
ed, no public park at all. We are invited
TO run away from this site and to butt our
heads against the stone wall of opposition
TO the proposed disastrous policy of break
ing down the barriers which protect our
parks.
Other directors speak cheerfully of the
prospect of securing an appropriation from
Congress for the purchase of a site I'm
doubLedly Congress ought to respond with
aiacrity and enthusiasm to Mr.. Carnegfe's
offer There are some cold, hard facts to
be considered, however. in weighing the
probabilities.
The bill providing a site is in charge of
the House committee on public buildings.
There are building projects from all over
the United States before that committee
holding ore another at an exasperating
standstilL Such enterprises in which MEM
bers of the committee and of the House
are directly and personally interested con-
stitute a blockade VIII the committee be
conscientious and magnanimous and self
sacrificing. and let library appropriation
slip through the crush? Let us hope 50.
1t was with great difficulty that recogni-
ton Vas secured from the House of the
Pubic Library as a branch of the municipal
government, "a supplement of the public
educational system housed and sustained
ike high school or manual training school
on the half and half basis under the or
ganic act II was with difficulty that the
provision of law was secured which as
signed 10 the library distinct and adequate
accommodations in the new rnunicipaI
building. the bill for the construction of
which has passed the Senate 1t was with
difficulty that the modest maintenance nco-
vision Tor the library was secured and con-
uhued' and very slightly increased. The
~Ne-4 '-44SC4t4S uOptS IEdI II Will he fuuni
easy, under the inspiration of Mr.. Car
negles HberAlity, to get a large appropria-
lion IN the face OF conditions which have in
the past rendered it difficult to secure a
very small appropriation.
The request for a large appropriation will
cause the library project to run again the
gauntlet OF suggestions of a violation in
respect to ii Of the organic act, and the
destruction OF the status which the library
mas already acquired as part Of the nu-
ncipal organization like the public schools
ms status assures the lihrary's sound and
Wholesome if only gradual development.
and should not be unnecessarily endan-
sered- On this point d word TO the wise *
sufficient
MI tarnegie's requircman mt was that Con-
sieSs should provids the library site It
should not and viii not surrender a park. It
should but IN all probability will not. mako
al adequate appropriation on the only iust
anu acceptable basis. The PENNSYLVANIA
avenue site IS 10 be had for the taking. A
circulating library there, though accom-
panied possibly by some drawbacks. would
Dc an accessible. conspicuous attractive
and highly useful institution
The Star would gladly have its oninio,
that This Is a case of Hobson's choice COM
pletely Overthrown by the cours. of eve,,s
us View Is not, however, without some
reasonable foundation in the teachings of
experience and observation. The Star de-
slres mat the parks of the capital shall be
preserved: that the organic act shall he
maintained in respect to the public library
as IN all other municipal items, and that
MI 'arneSles offer shall be utilized and
idie available. and not be lost in a CON
etvsSiohaI blockade or in the frantic rivalry
sell
Another good friend Of the District bas
Just been reelected to the Ssp,ta tn,