The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-03-16

New York, March 15.-Andrew Carnegie
who, since retiring as an active figure in
the steel world, has been able to devote
his time exclusively to his other passion,
the founding of libraries, has made his
departure for Europe this spring mem
orable by the largest offer of that kind
ever advanced If New York will pro-
vide the sites and the maintenance. he
has promised to give $, 2O0.O0O to establish
slXty-five branch libraries in this city.
The offer was made in a letter TO Dr.
John s. Billings, director OF the New
York library. last Thursday. The CORE
spOndence in connection with the offer
was made public tonight as follows:
New York. March 3, 1901
ITO Mr.. John 5. Billings, Director New
York Public Library:
Our conference upon the needs OF the
greater city of New York for branch Ii
braries to reach the masses of the people
in every district has convinced me of the
wisdom of your plan.
''Sixty-ffve branches strike one at first
as very large order, but rs other cities
have found one necessary for every 10000
costs of these Libraries at $4,000, being
S?2O0,OO0 in all If New York Will fur
nish sites for these branches, for the
benefit of the masses of the people, as it
has done Tor the central library, and also
agrees in satisfactory form to provide
for their maintenance. as built. I should
esteem it a rare privilege to be permitted
to furnish the money for the buildings,
5000 600. SiXty-five libraries at one
stroke probably breaks the record. but
this is the day of big operations, and New
CSigned0 ANDREW CARNEGIE.''
Secretary G. L. Rivers of the New York
Public Library association wrote to
Mayor Van Wyck. submitting Mr.. Car
negie's letter, as follows:
City Urged to Accept.
Robert A Van Wyck:
''By direction Of the board of trustees
OF the New York public library, Actor
LennOX and Tilden foundations I have
the honor 10 hand you herewith a copy
OF letter which we received from An
drew Carnegie on the 18th, the day OF his
You will observe that Mr.. Carnegie
offers to bear the expense of building a
number of branch libraries at an es-
timated cost of $4,000, provided the city
viii furnish the necessary land and pro-
Ylded satisfactory arrangements can be
made Tor all these branches. There are no
other conditions.
Il am instructed that if the city author
tiles look with favor on the general plan,
READINESS TO cooperate in every way pos
SlDIe IN turthering the beneficent pur-
poses. which are the object Of Mr.. Car
neg16S mun1hcent offer.
1t is understood that Mr. Carnegie's
ofter IS intended to apply to the entire
city The methods and agencies of ad-
ministering branches in bOrOughs other
than Manhattan and the Bronx viii be
left TO be settled hereafter.
L am further instructed to say that in
nOm1na ting Mr.. Carnegie'S proposal, DR..
Billings accompanied 1t with the following
statement:
In the conferences referred to bv Mr.
carnegie, the suggestions which 1 have
made related mainly TO a free public Ii
Drary system for the bOrOughS of Man
haitian and the Bronx 1 have stated that
such system should include the great
central reference library on FOrty-second
street and Fifth avenue, about forty
branch libraries for circulation, small dis
tributing centerS in those public school
buildings which are adapted to such pur-
poses and a large travelling library syS-
TEN operated from the central building
Each or the branches should contain
reading rooms for from sixty to 100 adults
and for from seventy to 125 children, and
in these rooms should be about 5000
aliases and large and important refer
ence books. There should be ample tele-
phone and delivery arrangements between
the branches and the central library.
Would Require Five Years.
To establish this system would re-
quire at least five years. The average
cost of the branches 1 estimated at from
$4,000 to $4,000, including sites and equip
ment. The cost of maintaining the Sys-
tenn, when completed, / estimated at
q The circulation of the books for home
use alone in these bOrOughs should
amount to more than 100000 volumes per
year, and there should be at least $500
volumes in the circulation department,
with additions of new books and to re-
place wornout books, of at least 10000
oughs of Greater New York I have made
no special plans. but l think about TWEEN
ty-five libraries would be required for
them
% Following are some of the data which
1 have furnished Mr.. Carnegie: The pop
ulation figures are those of the last CEN