The Savannah morning news., 1902-02-06
WILL TALK LIBRARY
COUNCIL WILL MEET THIS AFTER
NOON FOR THAT PURPOSE.
WILL BE JOINT CONFERENCE.
WITH THE COMMITTEE FROM
GEORGIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

Yesterday From the Secretary to
MIR. Andrew Carnegie-Mr. Carneg-
les Rule Is to Donate a sum Ten
Times That the Community viii
Appropriate for the Annual Main
tainance of the Library-COI.
George A. Mercer, President of the
Historical Society, Thinks the Lii
brary ShOuId Be Under the Man
agement of the Society, the City
Having n Voice in It's Control.
A meeting of the Committee of the
Whole of the City Council will be held
this afternoon at O'Clock for the pur-
pose of considering the matter of the
establishment of a free public library
in Savannah. A letter was received
yesterday from Mr.. Andrew Carnegie
through his secretary, Mr.. James Bert
ram, defining the rule that is followed
by the philanthropist in making gifts
to communities for the establishment
of free Libraries.
The letter set forth that Mr.. Car
negie has been accustomed to donate
an amount ten times as great as the
community might appropriate annuity
for the support of the institution. 1t
is also the part of the community, ac-
cording to Mr.. Carnegie, to furnish a
lot for the building. which is erected
with the money donated by the philan-
thropist.
This was all there was to the letter.
Brevity has characterized those re-
ceiyed from Mr.. Carnegie in the mat
ter of free library for Savannah. 1t
has never been set forth how much Mr..
Carnegie expected to donate to- this
city, nor has it even been positively
declared by himself or his secretary
1t is inferred, and probably rightly,
however, that he will make a donation,
either of 5000 or $l00, 900.
With the Committee of the Whole
this afternoon will meet the special
committee that was appointed from the
Georgia Historical Society forSthe con-
sideration with Council of the library
question. The appointment of this
committee grew out of a communica-
ton addressed to Col. George
A. Mercer, president of the society by
Mayor Myers, who sought to ascertain
If there were any reason why the build
ing of the Historical Society, Hodgson
Hall, might not be used for free pub
lie library. Col. Mercer and most of
the members of the society agree that
it cannot be so used, under the deed
of trust by which the building is occu-
pied. The committee from the society
consists of Col. Mercer, chairman, and
four other members.
Col. Mercer was seen about
the letter from Mr.. Carnegie's secre-
tary. He said that he did not see that
the letter put any different phase upon
the matter, for it was just what had
| been expected. 1t was known, Col. Mer-
| Ger said, that the rule followed by Mr..
| Carnegie has been to donate a sum ten
times that )of the annual appropriation
to be made by the community for the
annual support of the institution.
II see," said Col. Mercer, that Act
| ing Mayor Dixon does not want such
a building as $4,000 would erect. A
very handsome structure could be built
for that money, and it would be an
ornament to the city. l should think
that all of $1,000 a year should be APP
propriated by the city for the support
of the library, which would mean
enough to, pay the salary of the libra
rian, two assistant librarians jan
itor and to defray the cost of repairs
and insurance.
IA thoroughly competent man
| should be employed as librarian, and
think that $1,000 a year would be
none too much for his salary. Mr..
William Harden has a knowledge of
books and of methods for conducting
a library that would be valuable in
the free library. Each of the assist
ants could be employed for $500 year.
''It would not be possible to have a
free public library in Savannah for
both whites and blacks. 1t could not
be expected that white people would
use the same building or the same
books. Should the city have the ex-
elusive management of a library II
would mean that the colored people
could not be excluded. The only solu-
ton that see for this difficulty is the
erection of a library building on the
lot Just north of Hodgson Hall, the
property being held in trust by the
Historical Society. Under the opera
ton of the Historical Society, the In
stitution might be so managed as TO
be for the use solely of white people.
The city might name representatives
upon the board of managers of the in
stitution, and have a strong part in
the control.
ct have no doubt that the Georgia
Historical Society would donate many
of its books of light character to the
free instituoin, and owners of private
libraries would doubtless make con-
tributions. The city. too, could set
aside a few hundred dollars a year for
stocking the library
Col. Mercer was asked If he thought
Mr.. Carnegie would object to estab-
fishing library at Savannah that
would not be used by all the people
colored, as well as white. He answered
tina the considered that Mr.. Carnegie
would impose no conditions in that
respect as he did not do so in Atlanta
81 do not know what will be decided
upon at the conference tomorrow aft
ernoon." said Col. Mercer. What I
have set forth are my ideas. but 1t re-
mains to be seen what will be agreed
upon. There is, l think. quite a de-
cided division OF opinion in this mat
ter of Mr. Carnagie's prosnectiYe Gift :"