The times., 1899-01-20

The western half of Mount Vernon
Square, facing Ninth Street above X Street,
is designated as the site for the Public
Library building, for the erection of which
Mr.. Andrew Carnegie will provide the
funds, as a gift to the city, in bill which
will be laid before the Senate District
Committee today by Chairman Mcmillan
and reported to the Senate as soon there
after as possible The provision setting
aside that portion of Mount Vernon Square
as the site is an amendment TO the bill
proposed by the District Commissioners,
which designated the lot in front CT the
Centre Market house as the site.
This action on the bill was taken yester-
day afternoon after a conference had with
Senator Mcmillan by President Noyes and
Vice President Warner, of the board of
Public Library trustees at the Capitol.
These gentlemen had ascertained that the
District Commissioners and others con-
cerned were not particularly desirous OF
having the Centre Market space site adopt
ed, but were only anxious that some suit
able site be selected as soon as possible.
In view of this, it was thought that the
Mount Vernon Square site was the most
desirable yet suggested.
Senator Mcmillan himself visited Mount
Vernon Square yesterday afternoon and
was satisfied from his inspection that it
would be suitable in every way. AS he eX-
planned to Times reporter yesterday, the
ground is high, the location is in the cen
tire of residence section. close to a num-
ber of schools and easily accessible by
three lines of street railways, the Metro
politan, the Capital Traction and the Co
lumba companies Senator Mcmillan
said, too. that there appeared TO be little
or no objection to the square as Il library
l.. a. let. Hoo ~t,n
building en- the space in front OF the Cen
tire Market met with serious objection.
The amended bill extends the me with
in which the construction of the building
must be commenced from six TO twelve
months, and provides for a commission to
select plans and to choose an otttcer to
erect the building. The District Commis
sioners, il is understood, Will be repre-
sented on the commission, and il is very
likely that Mr.. Bernard r. Green. super
intendent of the Congressional Library,
and prominently identified with the con-
struction of that building will b. selected
to supervise the erection of the new one.
The remaining provisions OF the bill
designating the exact location and gong
into other details, will be made public to-
day. after il has been acted upon by the
committee. At the same time it will be
considered by the House Committee on
Public Buildings and Grounds. where it s
expected to meet with favorable action.
Messrs Noyes and Warner yesterday had
a conference also with Subcommittee of
the House Committee, consisting Of Rep
reSentatives Mercer. Hicks and Bankhead.
Senator Mcmillan stated yesterday that
he did not anticipate the slightest onpos!-
ton to the bill, either in committees Of
the Senate or House. The ground Sc
lected he said was originally intended as
a market house site for the city. and never
having been used for that purpose, was
converted into park. Its use for the pur-
pose of public library site would BE- ben
efcial in every way to that particular To-
cality. as well as to the city. The proba-
bilities were, he thought, that the bi |
would pass both houses Of Congress very
soon.
In reference 10 the newly selected site.
Commissioner Wight yesterday recon-
mended to his associates the adoption OF
the following:
That the Board Of District Commissioners state,
as its position in this matter that they more
desirous oi securing Tor the citizens of the Dis
trict the erection and Of the library. than
they are that il should he placed at any particii-
lar point They are. therefore, entirely willing 10
accept any site that may la agreed upon hy a
majority of the citizens. and that Will be salts
factory 10 Congress.
Both Commissioner Ross and Engineer
! Commissioner Beach also expressed them
selves as desrous of having a site Sc
| lected 10 meet the wishes of the people
I of the District, who should best know what
suited their own convenience Neither
/ had any objection to offer TO the Mount
| Vernon site, but thought. the contrary,
! that it would be an excellent one.