Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-16
Sentiment in Favor of the Avenue
Reservation.
THE WORLDS FINEST BOULEVARD
Letter From a Citizen That Voices
the Majority View.
WHAT CLERGYMEN SAY

Public sentiment undoubtedly favors the
reservation at the corner of It'll street and
Pennsylvania avenue northwest as the
site for the Washington City Free Public
Library building to be erected through the
magnificent generosity of Mr.. Andrew Car
negie, the millionaire philanthropist.
The opposition that has sprung into ex-
istence from certain quarters has been pro-
ductive of good because it has served
through antagonism to bring out over
Whelming expression in favor of the
avenue site A fair example of sentiment
upon this question is the following letter:
To the Editor of The Evening STAR:
1 was exceedingly surprised to notice any
antagonism to the site of the proposed
library. There should be no difference of
opinion at all; although some objections
may exist to the location proposed they
should be promptly waived and the gener-
Gus donation of Mr. Carnegie accepted as
great public benefit. He did not restrict
his gift to any particular locality and GER
tainly there can be no objection to tender
of any other site that is available.
Finest in the World.
For years it has been urged that the
south side of Pennsylvania avenue be i'm
proved. This boulevard is the finest in the
"oi III. ne CITY post Office was placed
there as a step in the right direction. Mr.
Carnegie's action has made it possible to
add another attraction, and 1t is earnestly
hoped that others will follow. Hundreds of
thousands of dollars have been expended
en- the river front and the sewer system
with view of removing any objection that
could be made as to the liability of this
particular locality to danger from overflow
Of the river. In another paper it is describ-
ed as "a low-lying spot, always damp, the
home of weeping willows, suggestive chief
ly of mildew and decay In its argument
for the location of the post Office these
facts were not set forth, although they APP
piled with equal force. Also to the use of
the power-house site for public purposes.
The principal class of readers who will
patronize the library will be most generally
accommodated at the corner of It'll street
and Pennsylvania avenue. Nearly every
line of street cars in the city either runs by
or Will transfer to this point. While a few
parties may antagonie this locality, we ven
ture to say that nine out of every ten per-
sons Will favor it II should be born in mind
that the general scheme of the public IL
brary cOntemplates the erection of branches
in different sections of the city: that it is
a circulating library. The argument that
the location is on the south side of Pennsyl-
Vania avenue has no force at all, as the
building will not be visited by nearly as
many people as the new city post office.
Some Obstructionists.
For years past when any great pub
lie enterprise has been suggested in
Volving new location certain parties in
Washington who have done very little in
public way spring to the front and en-
dcavor &c find reasons why some change
should be made. VIII the crop of GROWERS
never die off? New Washington has showed
a great many of them aside and we hope
that they will all disappear and in their
Place Will come united army who will
join together when any great measure is
projected the growth and
of the nations capital I commend the trus-
tees of the public library. Let Mr.. Car
nesie's money be used to make a start and
then others will come forward who will
make donations to erect smaller buildings
more convenient to the outlying sections
of the city.
Another city has lost the benefit of a
most generous offer made by Mr.. Carnegie
because of petty personal quarrels over the
location of the library. Shall Washington
do likewise? PROGRESS
January 16, 1899.
What Clergymen Think.
Quite number of the leading clergymen
of the city mentioned yesterday in their
discourses the great benefit conferred upon
the nations capital by the gift of Mr.. Car
negie to found public library.
Rev. DR.. Hamlin of the Church of the
Covenant said:
1t has certainly gratified all who reside
at or are interested in the nations capital
TO learn during the past week of the public
spirited generosity of Mr.. Carnegie, who
has given so large gift for the establish
ment of a free circulating library. He has
set an example for the imitation of
wealthy men who desire to use their for
tunes as medium for adding to the intel
hgence and happiness of the people long
after they have been conquered by time
Rev. DR.. Alexander of the West Street
Church said:
A recent writer has advanced the opn-
ION that the solution of our great social
problems is to be found in what he calls a
spirit Of fraternism. A spirit which sees in
every man brother ard which when II
finds that brother less highly favored than
itself will find some way of reaching him
and helping him, taking the despair out of
life by making him know that others are
interested in him. This spirit may be vari-
ously shown We have all been delighted
during the past week to learn of Mr. Car
negies generous offer to do for our city
what he has done for many other places
In this offer we believe we discern the
manifestation of the spirit of fraternism
which is most cornmendable Would that
we had more of 1t among the men who are
so able to do for their less highly favored
fellows