The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-05-27
HE worLD arvAL Mn. oARNraLr
= Massachusetts, Millionaire Goes the
Scotohman One Better.

Boston has mult-miilionaire who
Is iIVal or Anacsg O.Al nsk,e "a no
gard, at east. TO one Oh 10 Iaa.oes
ocotchman oWers OF pubnc fnDraf rs..
10 Massachusetts towns.
Jacobs Edwards. VINO is one of Bos
ton richest manufacturers, goes Az.
Carnegie about two better on a library
oner TO the town OF SouthbridEe AMI A
merry controversy Is gong oa ia lhat
township as to which offer shall ve ac-
cepted.
The people Of the town are also be
ginning to discuss the propriety OF
even accepting both offers IL such d
/ thing can be arranged.
Meantime Mr.. Edwards seems TO
have the inside track in the race 70
give away money, Tor Southbridgs is
his native town and ne eners a sun
about twice as larke as that rendered
0y Mr.. Cernegie. as we'll as oLncr
strong inducements
Southbridge people feel that because
of the rivalry between Mr. Edwards
and Mr.. Carnegie the town has fallen
INTO rare good fortune.
Mr.. Carnegie offers $4,000 to Duild
and equip library, sIipulatingg that
he town provide cite and an annual
appropriation for maintenance of tie
Institution.
Mr.. Edwards goes the famous Scotch
man at least two better in this way
Mr.. Edwards proposes FIRST to buy a
Site for the building. instead of asking
he town to provide t. then be offers
10000, double the sum tenderel Dy ~.
carnegie &c cover the cost OF the
structure. Thirdly, he proposes %
squip the building In every way and
aave II ready for occupancy and use
without an outlay OF even one dollar by
he town.
Mr.. Carnegie was written to after Mi.
Edwards offer was made known, and
4 was suggested that both offers might
De combined ii agreeable q the Donors.
MIR. Carnegie replied 70 the town off
cials, saying tnat he would be quito
agreeable to any addition to the fund
aesoffored. ~
But Mr.. Edwards VIII have none of
hat apparently.
M want to DO Il all myself" said Mr..
edwards. cat the same time | do no
want anyone to think that would be.
1
nave had this very proposition for
southbridge long IN my mind and trust
hat | may see 1t accepted and Iny
lopes In regard to 1t finally realized"
The people OF Southbridge haverde-
'erred action on the offer OF Mr. Car
legie.
Meantime Mr. Edwards. who has
been an invalid for several years. un-
lble TO leave his home at bb Bellevue
ltreet, LOngwood, has deputed hts son,
Robert ]. Edwards. to choose q site for
he proposed llbrar. Mr.. Robert Ed
wards has not yet decided upon safe.
3ut hopes to do so soon.
A canvass OF the townspeOple lndi-
,ates apparently that the general senu
nent Is Ia favor of accepting Mr.. ed
Yards offer at once ana without furth
n controversy.
Another town meeting Is to be held
n about two weeks. Mr.. Edwards
lopes by that time TO have hxed upoa
1 location for the porposed gift ana TO
purchase the land. In that case the
own probably will vote 10 accept Mr..
Edwards offer. which means probably
hat Mr.. Carnegie's tender Will be
i.ourteously declined.
MIR. Jacob Edwards Is now ABOUT 70
rears old. He was born and raised in
southbrldge. He owns much valuable
property there.
He started in business In Southbridgo
IS a country st0rekeeper when Le was
very young man.
In 1852 he came 10 Boston with $780,
700, a snug little fortune to have made
4 that date.
Today he Is worth we'll on to 10 mil
ion dollars. Since coming TO boston
1859 he has become one OF the most
widely known hnaneiers and manufac-
.urers OF New England.
The home Of the Edwards family Is
4 fine old mansion. large and roomy.
ind there the venerable head OF the
house remains day in and day out an
nvalid. physically. but with the endur
ng mind and business acumen thar
made him what ne Is. OLe on Boston's
multi -millionaires. --BcstOn Post