The sun., 1901-03-27
THE CARNEGIE SCHEME.
Further View, on the subject

Further View, on the subject.
To THE EDITOR OF The suN-Sir: l beg
70 return TO Mr. Carnegie's plan for building
sixty-fve branch libraries in New York city
The astonishing thing is that the scheme
takes no account of the advancing organi-
cation of intelligence through the spon-
taneOus movement Of commerce with the
daily newspaper as its instrument The
wonder IL that there is no suggestion from
the side OF its projectors of the need of bed
rock investigation
Men like DR. Billings. head Of the Public
Library. Mr. George l.. Rives and. of course.
MIR Carnegie himself. are working under the
endowment principle 10 extend the library
system until it shall come In touch with all
individuals Their zeal is commendable
but the unfortunate thing is that they appear
entirely ignorant Of the parallel work which
is taking effect through the ordinary COM
mercial agencies they have never really
seen the daily newspaper as the book Of uni
versal circulation. The need is to master
both sides Of the movement and 80 con-
tribute to bring them into clear working
relation
The continuing crudty Of the daily news
paper cuts no figure in the question. IL has
the line Of development ana is certain to refine
Itself. There is no bad news there is only
bad reporting. which is sure TO disappear.
The work Of the daily new spapers in con-
nection with such events as the death of
Queen Victoria Is not understood by men
whose trade is TO organize libraries. yet at
such times the papers distribute all tho news
or literature of the subject which the people
require. As occasion offers. prompted by all
manner Of occurrences. the remotest fact
In the encyclope dia is adhold Of and turned
into news.
The movement Is organic. as much 80 as the
work OF the Post ONCE or tho house to- house
distribution Of illuminating gas and Of pure
water
In the near future all news handling will be
perfectly done and the effect must be revolu-
uonary with regard to school and library
org imitation
The word book. once fraught with great
meaning. has become a mere term Of the
bindery and should. therefore, no longer carry
an imposition After "A while Byrons saving
that "a books book although there's moth
ing in it," will no longer hold good. and In
time a large part Of the volumes now housed
In the great libraries will be burned at the
stake
As the organization Of journalism (mean-
ing by this the publishing business as a wholeI
proceeds selections will more and more be
made from the daily reports TO be put into
book form FOR convenient and abiding use
The great extent to which this will be- done
cannot now be conCevedin any detail. though
II is certain that the schools Of the people
will draw their daily reading matter from the
newspaper ONCE
The examination Of all literature as means
TO setting the days event in the light Of his
tory will be in the hands Of experts at the
centres Of the news movement
The news system has appeared II CON
sists Of the daily paper. the trade or class :
/ journal and the bureau Of information In
| It's outworking the system will connect with
all sources Of expert knowledge. and with
every individual in the community. as any
one may At times possess a fact of value
Ia his neshbor 10 his class. or TO the people
a. whole But the daily newspaper is the
Oentre of action
! During IN. last twenty years class Journals
have come 10 be centres II scientific inquiry.
| The fun list numbers something ike twenty
| fye. az varying stages of efficiency Their
! news Is certain 10 become more and more inn
| poTtant 10 their respective divisions Of COM
inerce. representing engineering, electrical
/ and scientific interests
And the news trust Is already outlining IT.
/ self As now the different parts Of the news
! system do not buy and sell OF each other save
| very incidentally II IL a singular thing
! that when new fact is disclosed I'm the new =
! movement II carries three possible sales or
! profts Us general meaning 70 be distributed
/ through the daily paper. its class bearing,
/ and its value to particular individuals through
/ the bureau Of information when In line
| with the principle indicated tho different parts
/ of the news organization begin systsmati-
| Callv 10 trBflc with each other the ncWs trust
| Will have taken shape The class paper will
| sell 10 the daily press the general news touch
! ING It's division of commerce while the ccn-
| tT1l bureau of information which l. 10 come
! In. will huv and sell news on all sidea Such
| papers rs are in mis- nearby combination will
! survive the Others will vither md disappear
The builders ~ libraries need to take strict
account u the fAaf devcloring news Orgnni-
zation and its Infinite possibilities for the cir
| culntion Of literature. FEASkLiS IoKD
CITY CLUB March %
To THE EDITOR oP THE SUS--Sr Your
! leader IN Yesterdays issue on the proposed
Gift 10y Andrew Carneeie for llhrarie. 70 the
city II New York Ia full NJ good horsA-senso
and should command the attention Of all
business men In the same line would
mention the donation made by the late Enoch
Pratt of 81, mn, 600 for library in Baltimore
The condition made by Mr. Pratt was that
the cItv should appropriate annually the