The San Francisco call., 1899-09-25
PLANS FOR THE
FORMATION Of A
GREAT LIBRARY
Union of Mechanics
and Mercantile.
A MUCH-TALKED-0F SCHEME
PROBABLY PERMANENT CLOS
ING OF THE FAIR.
It Has Not Been Prof1table-Propo
sition to Sell the Real Estate
and Reorganize the Insti-
tuition.

There will be a peerless library In San
Francisco before a year is out If the
plans now being talked of among the
members of the Mechanics Institute and
the Mercantile Library be carried to a
satisfactory conclusion. A union of the
two Institutions is sought by many Of the
members of both, and the idea is gaining
in favor the more ii comes under discus
sion. 1t takes prominence too from the
fact that the Mechanics Library is in a
state of transition, and 1t will not be long
before there is a definite change in its
financial policy. For years 1t has been
looked upon by a great portion Of its
membership a money making institu-
ton, but it has come to be believed that
10 keep abreast of the times the institu-
ton must devote more to the library
itself and less to the holding of property
and the giving of fairs, and so it may be
that the exposition now in progress at the
old pavilion will be the last the people of
this city can attend in long time.
The plan of uniting the two Libraries has
been spoken of among the members for
some months, but there has been no def
mite action taken by any one in authority.
1t has become too important subject to
be passed without notice, however, and
already the idea of calling a conference
between the officers of the two libraries is
taking shape. 1t is expected this meeting
will take place soon after the closing Of
the fair, and the advocates OF the scheme
are sure the conference can end in but
one way-a union of the two and the
formation of the biggest and finest sub
scription library in the United States.
For months past the finances of the
Mercantile Library have been in a most
unquiet condition. There is a mortgage
of $4,000 on the property on the corner of
Golden Gate and Van Ness avenues, and
1t takes all the income from the dues and
the rental of the building to pay the in
terest on this and to keep the institution
going 1t has NOT been progressing in any
way and a corporation of that KIND can
not remain stationary. The library must
be maintained up TO date, and the prop
erty kept in repair, and the income OF the
institution is hardly sufficient TO do all
this Something must be done, and the
members have been looking around for
some way out of the difficulty. Various
means have been resorted to, but they
nave either failed or have been laid aside,
and now the last step is being urged.
Either the Mercantile must consolidate
with the Mechanics, or it cannot hope TO
run much longer on the basis that al
present exists.
There has never been any doubt of the
excellence Of the Mercantile Library. 1t
has close TO sixty thousand volumes, in
Guiding a reference library that could
hardly be equaled. 1t would be real ad-
clifton to the Mechanics Institute for 1t
has upon its shelves thousands of volumes
not 10 be 1OEnd IN the Mechanics Library
nor anywhere else. 1t would be Shame
to scatter the collection, and there is no
one here whose literary tastes and whose
pOcket-DOOk are so thoroughly in accord
as to enable him to purchase the library
in its entirety. AS a consequence, the
idea of consOudation is looked upon with
the greatest favor by the members of the
Mechanics and particularly by those
VINO are members OF both institutions.
There are some hundreds OF these. and
OF the plan. There is need of change in
the downtown institution as well as in
the other and the union with the Mer-
cantile is looked upon as good start to-
ward greater prosperity.
Inc aOOuuIOu OF tne fair is another
matter receiving the attention of the dis
cursIve. for lie exposition has not been
paying much in late years and this season
IL looks as If there would be a heavy
deficit to face at the close Of the eXnIol-
ton. The exposition has not been able to
pay without the methods Of the expert
enced shOwmen, anu the officers of the in
stitute declare they are not showmen
and If the exposition cannot be made to
pay otherwise it is better TO stop the an
nUal enterprise.
There Is more in contemplation than
this however for with the closing for
good of the fair the property must be
sold, and as soon as the Larkin-street
property is disposed OF the institute will
make other changes that have been
discussed Tor SOME Lme. 1t is proposed
10 move from the present location on
Post street and establish the library on
some downtown corner, selling the Old
place and if possible the property on
Folsom and Sixteenth streets.
There has Always been opposition to the
selling of any Of the property of the in
stituuon, ana to prevent any such course
a resolution was passed q year or so ago
'fOrbidding the sale of any real property
by the board of directors. Conditions
have changed since then, however, and it
would not now be a difficult matter to Sc
cure the consent of a majority of the
members for such a sale. and if the fairs
are stopped a sale of the property must
follow.
1t is figured that from the sale of the
Post street realty and the Larkin street
property enough could be realized to pur-
chase a new site in some favorable loca-
ton, erect a suitable building and leave
on hand a capital of nearly s400 900 with
which to run the library This might be
made to yield an income of 1000 a year
a sum sufficient, with the other sources of
income, TO keep the institution in COM
parative plenty.
Should the consolidation scheme go
through the result would be a library of
over 10000 volumes, and one of almost
inestimable value. The merging of the
two memberships would make a strong
following, and the influence of the insti-
tuition would be more than doubled in
stead Of as now, being divided.
The matter will be decided one way or
the other soon after the fair closes AS
yet the heads of the two institutions will
not discuss the subject officially, but lnere
is no active opposition to the plan, and
there is every indication that ii will be
carried to a successful conclusion