New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-10
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

The bill removing the limitation on the
amount of money which this city may expend
on the Public Library Building having passed
the Senate already, favorably reported to
| the Assembly yesterday. and we hope that no
further disposition TO delay its progress will be
manifested. AS Mr.. Rives, speaking for the
library trustees Thursday said the bill does
not commit the city in any way, but simply
RENTS the question of cost to the city authori-
ties, TO whom it properly belongs. This attempt
TO remove financial restriction which threat
ened to become embarrassing did not originate
! in desire on the part of political organization
or of self1shly inclined individuals to get in
creased patronage or distinction out of an ex-
penditure of public funds. 1t signifies. on the
contrary, wise solicitude for the permanent
interests Of the Public Library, and therefore
for the welfare of the community, on the part
of those who are responsible for the care and
development Of one of the city's most important
institutions.
The library trustees. when they agreed upon
the bill authorizing the city to spend So, 5O0O 900
on a building. did not overlook the possibility
that larger sum might be required Some of
them, at least, even then believed that 1t would
be wiser to name higher figure, or perhaps to
fl no limit to the expected appropriation in the
legislative act: but the success of the under
there was a natural desire to avoid as far as
possible the risk of exciting popular and official
antagonism. Moreover, there of course
hope that the specified sum would prove ade-
quate to requirements which could not be ac-
curately estimated so far in advance. But for
a good while it has been becoming more and
more evident that S2,500,000 would not prepare
the site and put up building worthy of it and
equal to the constantly increasing demands of
the library. 1t is doubtful If that amount
would have sufficed even If the cost of labor
and materials had not largely advanced, and if
the city had not required an unexpected outlay
on the approaches for the library is growing
with uneXampled rapidity, is being used to an
extent which the most sanguine did not foresee,
and is planning to cover a much wider field
than was originally contemplated. 1t would be
foolish, for economical and all other reasons to
establish such an institution in a permanent
home which would be found incommodious, if it
were not actually outgrown, at the beginning of
its tenancy.
There is another consideration besides that of
| adequate size and convenient equipment. In
view of possible contingencies the trustees have
| been obliged to entertain the idea of using ma
| terials inappropriate to such building as they
| have planned. Now 1t may be said that the
value of a library depends upon its contents and
| the facilities for making them accessible, and
not upon the appearance Of the structure in
which they are contained. But that is partial
view of the matter. The institution which
| New-York is acquiring, somewhat too late
for its credit among the great and opulent and
enlightened cities of the world, will not fulfil all
the high purposes to which it is devoted If it is
not a model of excellence in design, and not
only in design but in materials and workman
ship.