The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-11
Andrew Carnegie,
> West lifty.hrst street.
New York.


library:
Andrew C,rpcgio,
West fitty.hr,t street,
New York.
{. g. SuJuuor. fsq., Carboudalc, Pa
Dcat Sir: Nums oi 2>th February received.
II the city ri Cirbonddlc will furnish a su't.
able site aud agree by act OF councils to main.
tain library at 4 cost of not les than 81, 800
HoJt, NJ ,ainogc will be pleased to Livc
s2i,oo Tor building. Respectfully yours
lame, BcrtIam, Private Secretary.
March $, 1901.
The proposition as set forth by Mr..
Carnegie Is a most liberal one and
majority Of the taxpayers in this city
are seemingly anxious that the coun-
ellis will ratify the bargain at the
earliest possible date. Tho city now
pays out in the ncighburhood of 5000
Tor library purposes, 800 of which is
appropriated. The association has an
income of $50 Il year from invest
mcntS. Tho acceptance of Mr.. Car
nosio's proposition. therefore. would
mean an additional expenditure of ST.
40, a little over half a mill on each
dollar of valuation.
The new building would provide
free reading room, a library, and pos
sibly hall for lectures. 1T would also
mean welcome place for the young
men of the city to spend their even
irGS, instead of hanging around the
street corners, which practice is fol-
lowed more extensively in this city
probably than in any city its size in
the country. There is no Young Men s
Christian association or other institu-
tion Of like nature hero to attract
boys and young men, and the good this
library building would accomplish in
this direction alone should make the
city fathers reflect seriously.
Some citizens have already begun to
pick out desirable sites for the pros
prctivc addition to our city buildings.
Among them is the SPOT where the
Columbia hose house now stands: the
tIunc house, corner Church street and
Sixth avenue; the old armory, on
North Main street: back Of the city
building, on the river bank, and other
places.
Hon. J. j. O'Ncill, cN-mayor of the
city, expressed himself yesterday as
heartily in favor of the city accepting
the gift, but said that he did not
thoroughly understand the terms. He
thought that if the ten per cent, or
$500, Was TO run for ten years, or
until the city should have appropriated
as much as Mr.. Carnegie, ii would he
all right, but he did not think that s.. 70
800 year indefinitely was necessary,
rs smaller amount would be ample
after the library was Thoroughly
equipped.
Others said that they did not think
the councils would pass an ordinance
agreeing 10 give s., 800 year. for there
would not be anything in it" for
them, as Mr. Carnegie insists OH fur
nishinG his own architects and super-
Nising builder in all these kind of con
tracts In order that the full value of
his donation will enter into the con-
struction or the building. This un-
charitable view of the motives of the
city legislators should not be taken i'm
matter Of this Kind, where the inter-
cStS of the entire community are i'm
their hands. They can b. depended
upon 70 do their duty. a. they see IL.
and an opportunity to enhance the
value of the citys real estate holdings,
such as tluS affords, with a counter de-
Lcrrcnt of adding to the taxes, even i'm
slight degree should make them bal
anCc the question deliberately and With
fun understanding Of the city's pres
"nt aud future needs and obligations.