The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-05-10
DECISION DELAYED
The Library Board Adjourns Ur=
til Wednesday Night.
An Informal Ballot Yesterday Afternoon
Results Five 10 Three for the New
York Plan.

The library board took but one bal
lot at it's meeting Tuesday afternoon,
on the plan tv be adopted for the Car
negie library, and that was only an
informal one The vote stood five for
the New York plan, two for one of the
Mankato plans, supposed to have been
entered by Architect Gerlach, and one
for the other Mankato plan, supposed
to have been entered by Pass & Schip-
pei. An adjournment was taken until
eight O'Clock this evening, when
final decision is expected to; be
reached -
AS soon as the meeting had been
called to order, Mr.. Willard moved
that the board proceed to take an in
formal ballot on plans. This was car
ried and the ballot, resulted as stated;
The only absent member was Mr. Noe,
who is out of the. city. -
When the. result of. the ballot had
been announced, Mr.. Thro raised the
question whether. the board could
erect the. building according to the
New York plan and have sufficient
margin left. for furnishing it; The
board had decided to hold down the
building to $32, 600, leaving So, 900 for
furnishing, nxUures, etc. J. B. Mel
sens estimate on the New York plan
was S33. OPS. He did not think that
this would be the limit of the cost of
the building. He pointed out alleged
defects in the plan proposed.
"a President Wood championed the New
York plan, and others came to his as
sisIance. Mr. Bierbauer raised :. the
point that the building could not be
properly furnished for So, 600, and
thought that the sum allowed was too
small. There might be good deal
less left for this purpose under the
New York plan.
ALI of the members of the board ex-
press themselves that all things being
equal, the contract should be awarded
to Mankato firm, in order to keep
the money at nome. .----ess,sss be-.
Messrs. Thro and Bierbauer are in
favor of one of the Mankato plans
with some alterations. $. g..
DR.. Wood and others believe that the
New York plan is the best, everything
considered. They favor some altera-
tions that will give more room and
meet some criticisms. The building to
be erected under this plan would be a
very handsome one and would econo
mize. space. 1t is the only plan calling
for a semi circle side to the stack
room.
Mr.. Nelson's estimate on the Gerlach
plan is something over 500, 900, and on
the Pass & Schippel plan something
over $31, 900. 1t is claimed for these
plans that they embody features not to
be found in the New York or other
plans, that will make very complete
and convenient building.
A good deal of contention has b cen
raised over the plans, the local archi-
U6CUS duu Gu6lI lIl6ullS udUuIdlly plO-
ferring to have the plans of home
man chosen. The public generally
wants the very best building that the
money can secure, but everything be-
ing equal would like to see Mankato
architects favored. The building will
last for several generations, and the
people of Mankato will hold the pre-
sent library board responsible for the
kind of building that is put up. They
want building that can be pointed
to with pride for it's external features,
while containing all the convenience
of arrangement and care in detail that
are to be found in the most modern
libraries. The building must be up
to date in all its features If this kind
of building is provided for by the
plans of local architects, the people
want the reward and honor to 60 to
them, but if it is provided only by
some eastern architect they will be
satisfied if the contract is awarded to
him. The people are depending upon
the best, honest judgment of the
library board.