Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-08-13

Awaits Steel Mafnate's Return
From Scotland..0 Other City
Council Grist.
A $4,000 library gift from Andrew
Carnegie is in sight fol, Marshalltown.
with every appearance Of becoming a
reality upon the return of the great steel
king from Scotland in December. The
city council with admirable Judgment
Monday evening freely granted the
necessary raise of half mill In the
hbray tax levy to make the guaranteed
annual maintenance fund equal $4,000,
which is the required ten per cent in the
terms laid down by the donor of liz
braries A desirable site had already
been offered free by public spirited
citizen and everything is in readiness
to receive Mr.. Carnegies gift upon his
own terms.
The libraries trustees in conjunction
with Mr.. Merritt Green have been work.
ing on this library scheme, quietly but
effectively, for the past six months.
Knowing that the Iowa cities OF Daven-
port. Dubuque. Cedar Rapids, Ottumwa,
Ft. Dodge and Fairfield had secured
gift libraries from Mr.. Carnegie the
trustees wrote to each city to learn the
exact methods to pursue and terms to
be met. They then prepared their petit
| ton and thru Mr.. Green, who Is per-
| al fri of ri, y
rotary in charge of Mr.. Carnagie's Ii
brary dispensary. presented 1t. 1t was
approved by the secretary who declared
1t the best proposition he had yet re-
ceived and told Mr.. Green that, in his
judgment, there was not one chance
in thousand that the library would be
refused. He stated that he would put
the Marshalltown petition on the top
of the pile to be the first one acted upon
when Mr.. Carnegie returned in Decem-
her. The trustees and Mr.. Green are
very modest and reticent about the mat
ter hoping that they could have the
building clnched before the scheme was
made public, but their work in getting
the necessary ten per cent maintenance
fund in readiness let the cat out of the
bag and all Marshalltown wishes them
ultimate success.
MORE WARRANTS NEEDED.
The meeting was expected to develop
| some very interesting features. IL was
known about town that the sewage dis
| pcsal plant is in serious need of money
to carry on the work and that the city
had attempted to raise money at the diff
ferent banks for that purpose. The
\ banks had refused the loan pending a
complete investigation Of the city's right
4 to further increase its bonded indebted
ness. Each bank was ready to take Its
1 pro rata of rhe loan II the city could
prove solvency In the matter. 1t was
talked among those VINO are supposed to
know that the city was at the end of It's
resources and that any attempt to in
lcrease the debt above the legal limit
would be met with injunction proceed
ings open to any taxpayer. In conse-
quence it was thought work might be
stopped at the plant for lack of funds.
The thin ice on this question was skirt
led by the council, however. and the
lmatter did not come up. Mayor Jones,
however, stated that the limit had not
been reached by several thousand dol
liars, probably somewhere in the neigh
| borhood of $4,000. This is outside the
newly acquired property In West Mar
shalltown. There is no doubt, however,
/ that the matter has become one of seri-
lous embarrassment and developments
may be looked for at the next meeting.
COUNCIL ROUTINE.
/ After the reading and approval of the
minutes of previous sessions the meet
ling was ready for the presentation of
petitions! Messrs. p. S. Balch and G.
f. Kennedy, library trustees We're
present with petition to the council
for q mill library tax. Mr.. Balch
stated that the levy of such tax
would, in his opinion, greatly aid in
securing the gift of 100000 library
building from Mr.. Carnegie, negotia-
tions for which were now under way
with most favorable prospects. He
said the present levy of 1 V mills gave
an income of $1,000 in round numbers
and the added one half mill would raise
this to slightly over $4,000. Mr.. Car
negies terms are that the city should
raise an annual income of $4,000 for
a $4,000 building and Mr.. Balch
thought the chances for q favorable
reply to the Marshalltown request
would be Forthcoming upon their abil-
/ ity to show a $4,000 income already as
sured for library purposes. The APP
plication was now in the hands of Mr..
Bertram, private secretary to Mr.. Car
negie. Mr. Bertram had expressed
confidence that the application would
be granted. Further, Mr.. Balch stated
u citizen had offered to donate a CEN
trally located lot wherein to place the
new building. and as a 100000 building
lis credit to the town and splendid
home for the library. he thought 1t
well for the levy to be raised as pc
ltitioned, and asked that the council
take such action. Mr.. George F. Ken
nedy thought that tho the city might
POSSIBLY fail to get the building the
added income might be well used in
purchases Of books and the general
needs of the library.
/ The Marshall Oil company prayed
an extension of time to next year in
which to build the walks ordered be-
fore their property on South Third av-
enue, which was granted.
THAT BUGGY FACTORY.
| Mr.. Mcclure presented commune
cation from Rhoades & Carmean
Buggy company. The proposition was
1 in the nature of an agreement. 1t
bound the Rhoades & Carmean Buggy
company to erect, on the tract adj
1 jaoapf IN the prasanf fooforx, Iyo,,,y,