Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-16
Andrew Carnegie Has Been Asked
# for $4,000.
HIS FIRST REPLY is A QUESTION.
Wants to Know If Ottumyva Will Guar
antee nm Annual Appropriation
Of $4,000 for NIainlainance
OF Institution.
Ffom Mondays daily.


derstand that he is considering in a
very favorable light, the mat
ter Of making donation of
$4,000 to Ottumwa, with which
TO erect public library build
Ing. He has not said that he will do
this, but in recent communication
has asked if Ottumwa will be willing
to spend $4,000 annually for the main
tainance OF such an institution, should
he see fit to make the donation and
thus give Ottumwa what she has long
4 desired. The communication was re-
sceived BY R. H. Moore from Mr.. Carne-
gie,s private secretary yesterday, in
reply to an inquiry from Mr.. Moore
concerning this matter. Mr.. Moore,
after consulting the various city au-
fhorities and number of gentlemen
Il interested in the movement, replied
that Ott6mwa would be in position
and willing to give this assurance.
The secretary's Letter.
The following is a copy of the letter
received by Mr.. Moore:
y. a. Moore, Esq, Ottumwa, Iowa:
Dear Sir:Mr. Carnegie has just
SO many towns willing to spend $4,000
q year upon a free public library and
rive a site, that his hands are pretty
full just now, but he would like to
know whether Ostumwa is prepared
TO do that.
Very truly yours,
flames Bertram,
Private Secretary"
The city of Ottumwa is at present
fnspossession of lot on Main street be-
IN y
which was decided to it by the late p.
g. BallingaH with the stipulations that
a public library should be erected
thereon whenever the city saw fit and
became able to do.
The question of library building
was agitated some time ago but had
evidently fallen thru. No bet
3 ter impetus to the movement should be
required than the one set forth in Mr..
Carneg letter, and the people of OF
tumwa should, and it is believed will
endeavorS to bring about the full real
Il izatiOn of what such an improvement
as q $50, 900 library building will mean
TO this city.
The appropriate parking and grad
ing OF the vacant lot and ground adj
Joining the library lots would make
y one of the most beautiful sites in the
city. There is practically no question
but what this could all be brought
about if Mr.. Carnegie's donation is
\ fort booming. The lot east of the Ii
& brary park is at present owned by the
Anheuser-Busch Brewing Co., but as
h q gentleman prominent in the move
menu said this morning: The An
heuser-B Busch company is one that is
not blind to the interests of Ottumwa
as . city" and he gave it as his opin.
ion, that while that company had pur-
chased the ground in question, he
thought that by proper proceedings,
s It could be secured for park purposes
in case the city is favored by Mr.. Car
Y negie's donation, as it now appears ii
will be.
The entire matter is yet in embryo
y but its development will, it is believed,
to- the welfare and best interests OF
Ottnmwa.
Tourist Club Interested.
The Tourist club of this city has al
70 had this matter under consideration
for some time, and has furnished +. w.
Simmons data which he will present
to Senator Gear, whom it is be
lieyed will intercede in behalf OF
Ottumwa. Mr.. Moore's actions were
taken without any knowledge of the
1 intentions of the club, and il is a sin.
gular coincident that both should have
been working for the same purpose
Senator Gear and Mr.. Carnegie are per.
sonal friends, and the claims of Ottum.
wa could not be presented in any bet
ter manner than by Senator Gear. The
Il encouragement which Mr.. Moore has
received from his communication, has
& .poven an additional incentive to those
{who are interested in the matter te
i; proceed with renewed hopes.