The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-05-10
NO RECOMMENDATION.
Library Board Forwards Five
Plans for MankatO's Library.
Librarian Anderson of he Pi;sburg
Carnegie Library W i'll Select the
Plan for MankatO's Library

The plans to be followed in the cree
tion of the Carnegie library in this city
will be selected by Librarian Ander-
son of the Pittsburg Carnegie library,
as suggested by the private secretary
Of Mr.. Carnegie. This is as it should
be, as Mr. Carnegie donates the
money and it is no more than right
that the library be erected according
to plans most acceptable to an expert
in that line named by Mr.. Carnegie.
1t might be that his experience will
reveal defects in the plans most favor
ed.by members of the library board,
and which have escaped their vigilance.
1t also removes from the shoulders of
the board what has proved to be deli
cate and troublesome matter.
Mr.. Anderson is undoubtedly well
equipped to make a selection of the
plans, and he is to indicate his first,
second and third choice. The compen-
sation will be awarded according to
his decision. He will be ignorant as to
the makers of the plans, and whatever
his decision, it will no doubt be fair
and impartial and should and will be
accepted by the libary board and the
people of Mankato as final and not to
be questioned.
OF the five plans forwarded, two
were submitted by Mankato architects
and one each from New York, Boston
and Cincinnati.
The library board held a lengthy
meeting last night, attended by eight
members. The first half was devoted
to the discussion of an accusation that
President Wood had been guilty of
manipulating Contractor Nielsen into
making his figures favor the New
York plan over the others submitted to
him.
Mr. Thro quoted Mr.. Nielsen as say
ing that he had favored the New York
plan because he had been given to I'M
derstand that the majority of the
board favored that plan.
DR.. Wood denied that he had en-
deavored to influence Mr.. Nielsen to
favor one plan above another. He had
been perfectly fair with all the plans,
and thought that Mr.. Nielsen had been
so.
After a long discussion about this
matter, Dr. Wood said that he would
be willing to send the five plans to Mr..
Anderson without any recommends
ton whatever.
Mr.. Willard moved that this be done
Another prolonged discussion followed,
after which a vote was taken and the
motion was carried, five to two, Mr..
Thro declining to vote, although dis
approving of the motion.
Father Hughes asked that Mr.. Mel
sens figures be sent with the plans.
DR.. Wood objected to this, on the
ground that he had been accused of
having caused the figures to be man
ipulated.
Secretary E. L. Patterson forwarded
the plans to Pittsburg this afternoon,
together with letter stating that all
of them have been figured on and will
come near the amount set aside for
the building, 500, 600; that some will
cost more, but can be modified so as
to be satisfactory and come down to
the limit that some will cost less, but
can be improved so as to cost about
the limit. No figures are given on any
of the plans. The substance of this
letter was agreed upon by the board.
Considerable time at the meeting
last night was taken up in looking
over the plans again.
Messrs. Willard and Patterson gave
reasons why they favored the New