New-York tribune., 1900-01-25
THE NEW LIBRARY BILL.
BOARD OF ESTIMATE NOT OPPOSED TO
IT-THB LARGER APPRoPRIA-
TION NEEDED

The bin which Assemblyman Gherardi Davis In
troduced in the Legislature on Monday providing
for a greater appropriation for the New-York Pub
lie Library probably will not meet opposition from
members of the Board of Estimate and Apportion-
ment in this city. President Feitner of the Tax
Department said yesterday that there appeared to
be saving clause in the bill enabling the Board or
Estimate and Apportionment to limit the amount
of the appropriation for the library building be-
yond s., 50000O and he thought the Board would be
willing to appropriate any sum that seemed to De
necessary and proper for the completion OF the
building according to the plans already approved.
Dr. John s. Billings director of the New-York
Public Library, commenting yesterday upon the
bill, said to Tribune reporter:
One need for larger appropriation for the new ~
1r4FS M bSs rs Iaf iron ana otheT dne and labor also
have advanced at least % cent IN cost since the
appropriation app 70 y .' 1t must be remembered
also. that the amount fixed by that act was not not
computed upon any arbitrary estimate, and was
made before any plans or specifications had peen
IS to be set back se1ehtyive feet from Fifth-ave'
will require additional expense for proper ap-
inal appropriation was determined upon the ma ma
er @ be To pc USED IN constr4%Gg % 30 sse m ths new
bill will not commit the city to anything. but VIII
to settle they please the kind Of building that
should be erected and the sort OF materlai III tqas
large and beautiful memorial structure that may may
be Of marble AS a mater Of fact, it was proposed
the outset to use Indiana limestone. but the
stone being used. and l am doubtful if under ex-
listing conditions it would defray the cost Oh even
a brick building.
As bids have yet been received, we have no
definite knowledge to what the new library VIII
cost, but il seemed the wisest course to the au-
thorities to free themselves of the trammels and
limitations of the 1897 In the first place,
1t quite apparent that should want as large
a building had been planned. because the num-
Der of readers is constantly increasing, ana IN the
last year alone fifty thousand volumes ana one nun
dred thousand pamphlets were received, making In
themselves a good library. 1t now seems prop
able, also that there will be consolida ton Of the
circulating Libraries of the city, and that the new
the circulation throughout the metropolis That
work alone would require q great deal or space IN
the central building, that IL does not seem pos
sible to reduce the size Of the new library as
planned
It must not be forgotten that this library will be
a city building. and that it will belong to the city
The municipal authorities will undoubtedly be
swayed by public opinion as to what FORM thal
building shall take. Our interests are mainly CEN
tired in getting building commensurate with the
a handsome monumental structure which viii be
credit to the metropolis of the United states, we
shall. of course, object. But as l have sald,
public opinion, expressed through the press and
otherwise, will determine this matter.
DR.. Billings added that he had means OF esti-
mating how much more money would be required
beyond the existing limitation for the construction
of the new library according TO the accepted plans
at will greatly depend upon the materal-upon
whether marble or stone is used" he said. III 1t
should be decided to make the outside walls or
marble 1t is reasonable to suppose that the interior
will be marble also. and l suppose that to use
building might make a difference of perhaps
S500000."