Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-26
The Bin Selecting Mount Vernon
Square Discussed.
OCCUPATION OF PARKS OPPOSED
Mr.. Vest Deprecates Managing
Over Locations.
LAID BY WITHOUT ACTION

me Dii TO proNlue q site on MI. y ernon
Square for the public library building to be
built by Mr.. Andrew Carnegie was called
up in the Senate this afternoon by Mr.. Nc
MILAN, and caused quite a debate, in which
a number of senators took part.
Mr.. German was the first to speak on the
bill, and he opposed the project of using
Mount Vernon Square a site for the IL
brary building.
Opposed to Taking ReseryntiOn.
This bill, coming, as it does from the
committee on the District of Columbia, for
the construction of this library building.
through the handsome donation by Mr.. Ar
drew Carnegie" said Mr.. German, lis one
that appeals to every senator and to every
American At the same time. l think it is
most unfortunate that the building shall
be constructed upon one of the reservations
in the city of Washington. We have but
seven of these splendid reservations in the
heart of the city. places of resort for people
who are unable to get into the country and
spots of beauty for tire whole town
i myself regret exceedingly that another
shall be utilized for a building for any
purpose. l think the wealthy people and
the taxpayers of the city of Washington
ought to have met this case in a very diff
ferent spirit and provided, either by sub
scription or by taxation, for the purchase
of an eligible lot in some central section
squares at the corners of It'll and 9th streets
in the northwest. 1t has been only, a few
years and within my time that the gov
eminent used it as market place, and
the market house was torn down by order
of the local government, on account Of
which we have since paid a large amount
of claims for damages incurred because
of the destruction.
There it is today spot OF beauty, re-
sort, and to have any public building, no
matter how laudable. placed upon it
think is a great misfortune. l think we
ought to have accepted the donation of Mr.
Carnegie with the condition that The city
itself should acquire site near that place.
| think geographically It is the proper one
but l do enter my protest against the ap-
preparation of that beautiful square for
Il building of any description
Not an Original Reservation.
Mr.. McAlilan-'I should like to state tina
it is true there is large piece of ground
lying between 18th and 9th streets, but ii is
not olte of TIE original reservations, the
senator has mentioned. There was an in
tersection of number of streets there, and
Il was used us a common for long time,
on which there was an old market building
Afterward when Gov. Shepherd came in he
destroyed the old market, and it left the
ground there at the Intersection OF New
York avenue, X street and Mdssa chusetts
aVenJc. All those streets run right into it.
The street cars run on both sides of it, and
there is plenty of space left there to erect
this beautiful library building and not in
tcrfere at all with the square.
The committee thought this matter over
very carefully, and the people of the Dis
trict of Columbia unite almost to a man in
recommending this site to Congress. The
committee thought 1t was the very best
place we could put it. 1 hope the bill will
be passed
MIR. HasvIey Opposed.
Mr. EJau dc
ago that j would rot vote for the erection
of any building whatever upon any reser-
walton in this city. If we continue the
poaching upon these priceless reserva tions
posterity will curse us, and in some cases
hope viii tear the buildings DOWN. This
proposition here is o put Up a building that
will obstruct the view up and down three
of the finest streets in the city. The very
noble view on Massachusetts avenue and
another on New York avenue, and the other
on the broad, fine X street.
There is no necessity for il. It saves a
little money but that same excise would
justify us in filling up Judiciary SQUARE
and II is an outrage to have any buildings
upon ii. by and by we will fill up the mall
perhaps, ana then We come ever here
on the beautiful reservation east of the Cap
itGl and put some public buildings there
We can get room. Mr.. Carnegie has made a
Very generous gift, and if we are half as
generous We can very easily purchase a
proper, convenient site right around that
square, but l object to cutting into three
Of the finest streets in the city
Would Ornament the Square.
Mr.. Ga!linger-"I was very strongly in
favor of placing this building on the south
side of Pennsylvania avenue, and for my
self could not discover any real objections
TO putting it where the Commissioners pro
Posed-on the vacant lot on the avenue
running from 18th to 9th streets But after
that matter had been discussed in the news
papers and had been given careful consider
alton by the people OF Washington there
seemed to be "A unanimity of opinion that
the proper place was on Mt. Vernon Square
at the intersection of Ith street, New York
avenue and K street, which crosses at that
point
Il have examined that square with a
good deal of care and | am honestly OF
opinion that instead of doing any detri-
mcnt to that reservation a beautiful Ii
brary building there will be an ornament
and will greatly increase its attractiveness
1t is a very considerable reservation, and
1t is not at the present time beautiful
reservation in any sense Of the term. Or
the contrary, it looks to me like a very
ragged and unattracttVe piece of ground
If this magnificent library building is
placed there, there will be an abundance OF
room all around it, and the reservation will
he practically continued, with the addition
of an ornamental building upon it that viii
add to its attractiveness and do it nc
earthly harm, as view the situation
MIR. Galiinger Urges the Bill.
Now, l have taken occasion in the Sen.
ate once or twice before TO say we never
undertake to erect a public building in Tho
city of Washington that there il not ,suci
a variety of opinion on the part of the
people, the press and Congress, that We
ind it almost an Impossible thing to agree
upon any site In this instance have beer
greatly gratif1ed to find there has beer
this harmony of opinion and that the citi
Zens, the press and largely the committee.
| of Congress have come to the conclusion
| that this is the proper place to put the
building, and / had congratulated myself
| that for once were going to get through
contest about erecting a public building
in Washington without the differing view:
and the acrimony that have heretofore de
veloped in cases of this kind. l trust thai
| the bill will be passed precisely as it came
| from the committee on the District of Co
lumbia.'
obstructing the View.
Mr. Hawley-"Does not the senator admjt
| that this building Will completely cut of
| the view up and down those three graz
srreets?"
Mr. Gallir ger-"I have not made any
measurem ants to determine that for nv.