New-York tribune., 1901-03-17
THE CARNEGIE OFFER.
STEPS TO BE TAKEN AT ONCE
TO FULFIL ITS TERMS.
MAYOR AND CONTROLLER AND OTHER
CITY OFFICIALS ENTHUSIASTIC
OVER THE GIFT-PLANS
FOR A GREAT
SYSTEM

City officials and citizens united yesterday IN
praise of Andrew Carnegie on account of his
offer to give SJ2O0000 for the erection of sixty
five branch libraries for the people of New-York
His gift was declared to be the largest ever
bestowed for educational purposes in this coun-
try by any at time. The magnidcence
of it was spoken of in keeping with his char
aCter public benefactOr. IL was said that
his gifts of libraries are stop, but that he
is 10 give libraries other cities until he has
spent $JO.0OOO00 The condition made by Mr..
Carnegie that the city shall provide the sites for
the sixty-five branch libraries and shall make
suitable provision for the maintenance of tho
libraries they built said TO be both(
reasonable and proper.
There is little doubt that the city will accept,
Mr., Carnegies offer and that New-York will
have. result of his munifcence. of the4
grandest library systems in the world. Mayor
Van Wyck. Controller Coler and other city off,
Cials announced yesterday that steps were TO be
taken TO comply promptly possible with
the terms of Mr. Carnegie's offer. and Governor
Odel has promised that he will aid in securing
whatever legislation is needed to permit the city
to provide the library sites and give the neces-
sary pledges for maintenance. II is understood ,
that the city will have to spend 100000 a year.
for the maintenance of it's library system after
the branch libraries completed
n count Of the sums already spent by Mr.
Carnegie for libraries and other educational In
stitutions in this country and in Scotland showed
that they have amounted to over S25. 900.
and the gift to New-YOrk will bring the totaI,
up 10 $50. 100000. His plan for bestOwing HbIa-'
ries cities said 10 be TO give for ths
erection of library buildings ten times the sum
to he provided each year for the maintenance OF
the libraries Mr. Carnegie's rule, ID was said.
was not to give money for temporary charities.
but to provide institutions intended to benefit.
many people for all time.
Mr.. Carnegie's offer to erect sixty-ive branch
libraries in this city made in a letter TO Dr..
John 5. Billings. director of the New-YorB Pub,
lie Library. announced yesterday in The
Tribune. and in conversations which the two
men had before Mr. Carnegie went abroad IL
was made plain that Mr. Carnegie wished ~
have the branch libraries parts Of a. grands
library system of which the New-York Public
Library should be the centre. DIR. Billings said
yesterday that ii was Mr. Carnegie's expressedi
wish that the library system shall extend
through the entire city and into every borough,
The branch libraries are to become the mean.
of distributing books of the Public Library into
every part OF the city Each branch library will
be only circulating library. but it win have
reading rooms and facilities for those who de-
sire To consult valuable books of reference.
The branches Will be placed So that they viii
be within reach of everybody. The sites will bA
selected according to density of population and
routes of travel. The plans of the New York.
Public Library have been drawn so as TO make
the building to be erected at FIfth-ave. and
Forty-secOnd-st st great station for the distri-
button of books that are intended for free circu-
latfon among the people. as well as for the
safekeeping Of books Intended for reference.