The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-02-15

THE original suggestion that we
seek donation from Mr. Carnegie wa
made by John B. Meagher. A yea
ago l wrote to Mr.. Carnegie and pre-
sented our whole situation to him. A
that time his mind was occupied with
the Prick troubles, and wrote hin
again and asked him to file my lettel
and application and suggested that i
be taken up when it's turn came.
Last summer I spoke to Congress
man McCleary about the matter, and
he said that he had thought of it but
had not felt like taking it up with Mr..
Carnegie then for the reason that some
one might make political capital out
of it. He agreed to help and do what
he could as the official representative
of the library board Nothing more
was heard of the matter until last
week, when l received the following
telegram:
"'W Washington, d. G. Jan. 80. M.
B. Wood, Mankato. Carnegie asks
how Mankato supports public library
and how much money we raise an
nually. Please advise me fully at
once. j. I. McCleary.
SIN reply to this, I sent Mr. Nc
Cleary the following telegram:
Library supported by direct tax.
Have received s., 600 per year. One
mill tax allowed by law would give
81, 000.
~ have heard nothing more until
read the dispatch in last evening S
Journal, but 1 knew that Mr.. Carnegie
must be considering our case. -
DR.. Wood states that the state law
gives to the library board full control
of the expenditure of the library funds
and that it will have charge of the
selection and purchase of a site, the
preparation of plans and the construc-
ton of the building, subject to what
ever conditions Mr. Carnegie may i'm
pose 1t is believed that Mr.. Carnegie
passes on all plans of buildings for
which he donates money, and it is
known that he requires the sites to be
well located and placed where there
will be plenty of light and air on all
sides.
DR.. Wood states that the library
board has known of the move all
along. 1t has number of plans of
library buildings in other cities. 1t
will be the policy of the board to erect
fire proof building, mostly one story
high, with a small second story. 1t
will be steam heated and will follow
the plan of the best modern libraries
of the size. The board will figure on
the cost before doing anything and
will take its time, as there is no need
for haste. 1t will begin at the inside
and plan to have everything just as ii
should be there, and whatever money
is left will be used to make an attrac-
tive exterior, but the interior will not
be sacrificed for architectural adorn-
ments on the outside. Reading rooms,
reference and general library rooms,
Office, etc., will be provided.
So far as location is concerned, DR..
Wood states that several sites are in
view, but it would be manifestly un-
wise to mention any of them. He is
in favor of raising as much as possible
by popular subscription and asking the
city council to provide for the balance.
He does not anticipate any trouble
about raising the annual levy.
The library board is composed of
M. B. Wood, j. G. Thro, Jno. G. Noe,
A. O. Eberhart, Prof. W. E. REIN,
W. D. Willard, E. L. Patterson, Father
Hughes and Oscar Bierbauer.
DR.. Wood states that the board al
ready has partial promises of subscrip-
tions for SITE The matter will not
be brought officially before the council
for some time yet.
Mayor Curriers' Views.
Mayor Currier stated to the Free
Press reporter that he considers the
gift a magnificent one. He believes
that the city can stand levy of 81, OOC
year if it can be lawfully made. He
states that the city has reached the
limit of its bonded indebtedness, 80
that it cannot issue bonds to purchase
a site, but he would favor making q
special tax levy for the purpose.