Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-29
LIBRARY OFFER,
Andrew Carnegie Tenders
Watervi||e Sum Of $4,000
For Erection Of Public Library--Site
and Annual Appropriation
OF Not Less Than $4,000 to Be Pro.
vided by City.

Waterville, Me-, April 2S.-(SpeciaD.
-Waterville is to have public library
building, or at least it looks that way
now for Andrew Carnegie has offered
to give the city $4,000 for this purpose
provided it will provide site and vote
to expend $4,000 year for its support. 1t
is, in fact, just about the same propo-
sition that Mr.. Carnegie has made to
all the places where he has built Ii
brary buildings and there already
seems to be 4 disposition in the CITY Il,
accept the offer.
The story Of how Mr.. Carnegie hap
pened to make Waterville one Of his Of
fers is an Interesting one. Mayor
Blaisdell received the following letter,
this morning:
Andrew Carnegie,
70 West 51st Street,
New York,
April 26, 1902.
Mayor Blaislell, Waterville, Me-:
Dear Sir: Responding to your COM
munications: If the city of Watervila
pledges itself by Il resolution of coun-
ellis to support Il free public library at
cost not less than $4,000 per year. and
provides Il suitable site. Mr.. Carnegie
will be pleased to furnish $4,000 for the
erection of I; free public library build
ing.
yours very, truly,
JAS. BERTRAM,
p. Secretary"
This letter was q mystery to the
mayor, for so far as he knew Mr.. Car
ncSie was not aware of the hustling
little city on the Kennebec. But if the
reason for the letter was mystery, it's
contents were plain enough for any
one. So the mayor started out to spread
the good news and incidentally TO find
out if possible who was responsible
for it.
The first man he happened to meet
was Prof A. J. Roberts Of Colby, who
is one of the trustees Of the present
public library. The professor was not
the responsible man, but he thought he
could put his finger on him and told
the mayor to ask Superintendent Of
Schools Wyman about it. The mayor
sought out the superintendent and then
the whole story came out.
Mr.. Wyman was somewhat familiar
with Mr.. Carnegies methods from
what ne had read of his other gifts, and
he had notion one day to write to the
philanthropist and see what would
come of it. In the first letter he ex-
planned what had been done towards
providing library for the city and
about the patronage it had received
and what a benefit it was to the schol-
ars of the public schools. 1t was not
long before he received n reply from
one of Mr.. Carnegie's secretaries, ask
ing for more information regarding the
library and the city. This was prompt
ly furnished and another letter was re-
ceived, asking for still more Informal
ton.
1t was plain at this point that Mr.
Carnegie had been interested and that
library might result. The next letter
was sent to Mayor Blaisdell and re-
ceiyed as stated, this morning.
But although this correspondence
may have been the final influence that
induced Mr.. Carnegie to consider Wa
terVille as d location for one of his gifts,
there have been many Influences at
work and especially during the past six
months. Mr.. Havcland. q New York
lawyer, who was formerly a resident Of
the city was much interested in the IL
brary and its needs on a recent visit to
the city and from the great interests he
manifested it has been surmised that
he may have had something to do with
the gift.
Then Mr.. Melony, graduate of
Colby, and now one of the superintend-
ent of schools in New York city, was
also much interested in a library for
Waterville and did considerable work
for it. He had been interviewed by Mr..
Owen, the financial secretary of Colby.
a short time ago in regard to the mat
ter and was much interested. AS Mr..
Carnegie was present at the recent
meeting of school superintendent in
his city, Mr.. Melony might have in
terested him.
Then Mrs. G. d. y. Pepper has work
ed in the interests of the library and
has written Mr.. Carnegie. Hon. S. S.
l'rown has also interested himself in
the project.
Mrs. Johnson, who is now librarian.
has beer hard at work in the interests OF
the library and was one Of it's founders.
She had plan which she was carrying
out and which she thought might in
terest Mr.. Carnegie. This was to get
up large petition asking for a library.
This was to be sent to Mr. Melony. who
in turn would see that it reached Mr..
Carnegie. All these influences have
been at work of late so that those who
are most deeply interested are at loss
TO determine just who shall have the
credit of influencing Mr.. Carnegie to
make his generous proposition. Some
hard work has been put in and it has
been successful.
When the news was circulated on the
street it was met favorably on every