Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-10-31
TO MOVE LIBRARY.

Clt1ZenS OF Gr1nnell Interested In
Proposition to Remove Their PUB
lie Library to building on Side
street-Trustees Divided as to Adj
visibility of the Move.
Special to Tines Republican.
Grinnell, Oct. s1.-The citizens of this
town are greatly interested just now in
the proposal to remove their free libra
ry to the new Spaulding building, in or
der to take advantage of an offer of
made in the columns of the T.-R. Some
of the trustees had hoped to avoid a
newspaper discussion of the proposed
change, but their wishes have already
been overruled. as the matter is now
common talk on the streets of this city.
Mr.. II. w. Spaulding has erected
large brick building on Main street. 1t
lis in an "out of the way place and one
might say, entirely without the BUSH
ness part of the town proper, so it is
very necessary to the promoter of the
Ienterprise to do something to make the
public direct their steps toward that
( Z
|leased for the postoffice at nominal
rental, about enough to cover the heat
light insurance and taxes. One room
has been leased to Bailey & Rinefort
for hardware and groceries, and Will
Bayer has leased the third room for a
restaurant. This leaves the upper floor
unoccupied. An attempt has been
lmade to get the *. of P. and Masonic
lodges to remove from Broad street,
i but this failed. The library at present
Occupies very comfortable and accessi-
BILE rooms in the Morse block, on the
second floor, at rental of s144 Mr..
4 Morse proposes to reduce the rental,
not that he wants the library in his
building, but to prevent it's removal to
an unfrequented and undesirable loca-
ton. The library workers have beer
looking for some big-hearted rich mar
who will build and dedicate to the city
, a library building. Failing in this, they
, hoped to secure a suitable room on the
ground floor, but as the city gives then
: only 1-mill tax they have not ye
seen their way clear to do this. Mr.
Spaulding was a patron of the librar,
when it was in distress. as was Mr.
Morse and every property owner ant
merchant on Broad street, and thei
support of the enterprise then wa
WHOLLY disinterested and unselfish.
The sentiment among the trustees oil
: the proposed change is about event.
: divided. They all want to do the hes
q for the library: they have no axes I
y grind, and while they do not want t
e offend anybody they do not care to len
z themselves to a real estate speculation
: Those opposed to the change of loca
Y Ition believe that it is a step backward
Il and that it means falling off in at
: tendance 1t means a saving of abou
7 800 a year, and if Mr.. Spauding'
= proposition could be looked upon as
Il gift it would be appreciated. But ther
y are those who believe that the librar
. will be far greater benefit to MI
e Spauling than the rent is to the city
!, and they decline, as officials. to len
- themselves to any such scheme. Tn
:. library is now a prominent institution
- 1t is doing a far greater work than an
y church in the city of Grinnell. and
- the city council would levy the 2-mi
= tax permitted by law. or If some phi
:, - anthropist would donate the money ft
:, a suitable site and building. the tro,
:. bles of the library trustees would l
:. over. They firmly believe that there
- such a man in Grinnell. If he is her
a now is a splendid time for him to NAL
O. himself known.