Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-13
SITE FOR THE LIBRARY
Commissioner Wight Before the Senate
District Committee.
Bill Prepared Authorizing Use of the
Avenue Reservation.

The Senate committee on the District Of
Columbia held meeting this morning.
Commissioner Wight appeared before the
committee and presented a bill authorizing
the use of the reservation at the southwest
corner of 18th street and Pennsylvania ave-
nue. as a :ite for the public library, provid-
ing that such use be made Of the reserva-
ton in question. He pointed out the many
desirable features attending this reserva-
ton as sit for a municipal library build
ing, and suggested that it was originally A
gift to the government, and had been de-
voted in equity to municipal uses. After
Mr.. Wight had stated his views on this
proposition Mr.. Mcmillan, chairman of the
committee, said he thought a better site
could be secured; that the crossing Of Penn
sylvania avenue in order to reach the
library building would be q serious disad-
vantage to it He favored a plan of having
site further up town secured by the peo-
pie of the District.
Mr.. German said he had understood that
the question of using the site proposed Tor
any purpose of a building had been dis
posed of two years ago. when site for a
municipal building had been selected. He
said. too, that the reservation was the
best place available Pennsylvania ave-
nue. from which to view inaugural pa
rades.
The matter will probably be more fully
discussed by the committee at some other
time.
An Extremely Available Site.
There are very many senators and repre-
sentatives who think the proposed site is
extremely available one. They say it
should be borne in mind that the library
should be available for people in all parts
of the city, and point to the fact that 9th
and + streets is the center of popularity,
and that the proposed location is only
arpS frpTo nf
population.
Also, that it is accessible to the people of
Capitol Hill, South Washington and the
northern part of the city, as well as the
northwest, and is within a square of every
street railroad system in the city. The Ii
brary, they say, will exert its greatest in
fuence as a circulating library, for which
reason the ease with which it may be
reached from all parts of the city is most
important. while those who wish to use the
reading rooms will be able to reach the
building with the least possible loss of time
from all sections.
An Admirable Location.
1t is also pointed out that from an aes-
thetic point of view the site at 9TH street
and Pennsylvania avenue is particularly
desirable, as it will allow the construction
of handsome building as well as to pro-
vide an abundance of light and air from
all sides. 1t will also, they say, do much to
iihploEe LII OF pennsylvania
avenue, the great boulevard of the city,
where all great parades find the best OPP
portunity for display.
IF there are any disadvantages for a
site at Ith street and Pennsylvania ave
nue. a friend of this proposition asked
where can a location be secured that has
not score of disadvantages for every one
that can be suggested against this selec-
tion?"
Bill Introduced in the House
Mr. Curtis of Iowa introduced in the
house this afternoon the bill prepared by
the Commissioners donating a site for the
proposed new library building to be built
by Mr.. Andrew Carnegie.
The bill was referred to the committee on
public buildings and grounds