Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-28
LIBRARY ON CITY LOTS
Trustees Ask Council for Per-
mission to Erect Library on
Market Place.
The Cummings Lot Found to Be
Too Standardization Under
Consideration.
Bids Received by Council for
Fire Apparatus and Taken
Under Amusement.

wv Weths, penang investigation.
Strange as it may appear. at least two
of the councilinen opposed the granting
of the necessary permission for the
erection of the public library building
on public property.
Messrs. P. S. Balch and Woodbury.
Place, of the library board. and Mr.
Henry j. Howe, representing the presl-
dent of the beard, Mrs. Anna B. Howe
appeared before the council in the in
terest of the library Mr. Balch said
the general Plans agreed upon and the
plans adopted in other cities where
similar expenditures have been made
call for larger building than antici-
offered by Representative b. f. Cum
mings as present to the city was too
small. Mr.. Balch said tina, after con-
ferring with many citizens the board
had concluded to ask permission from
the council to erect the building on the
city property. Mr. Howe spoke briefly
in favor of the change in location. and
the trustees presented plans showing
how the city property would accommo-
date the library building the dimensions
of which would be about 60x52 feet fac
ing on Center street and city building
and hose house for the paid fire depart
ment fronting on State street. The city
property has frontage of 140 feet on
Center street and $50 on State street.
The general plans of the library build
ing agreed upon call for two story
and basement structure, of colonial
design. When the rough plans for the
site were drawn the trustees sup
posed the city had only 100 feet on Cen
ter. Mr.. Benson offered a resolution,
which had been drawn under this mis-
understanding Mr.. Fisher favored
granting the permission, believing the
city building and library could both be
constructed ficing Center street, and
calling attention to the economy that
would ensue in heating both buildings
from one plant. Mr.. Kreutzer opposed
granting the permission, claiming there
was no room to spare. that the city had
purchased the land from the school dis
trict many years ago for city building
site, and he thought the library board
was asking too much, after having been
granted a two mill tax. Mr.. McGuHe
opposed the plan for the same reasons
given by Mr.. Kreutzer. and both ar
gued that 1t would be necessary to sub
NIT the question to vote OF the people.
Both Mr.. Kreutzer and Mr.. Mcguire
seem TO lose sight 7of the fact that Mr..
Carnegie's gift of $4,000 is TO the city
itself, that the city will own the beaS-
tiful library building alreaoy owns sll,
600 worth of books and in placing the
l,,t t. la, a.
ing site for its own property. In this
respect Marshalltown Is Very fortunate
since the city of Davenport expended
$40. 900 in cash. for site for the building
Mr.. Carnegie gave to 1t.
Councilman Kirby wanted to know
what the city would do for a market
place Mr.. Benson said there was onls
one objection to the plaa, i,Tid that the
Ii brary could be placed on the west end
Of the lot, facing on State street, were
1t not probable that the library building
would be much more beautiful than the
city building. AS for a market place, he
said the property is too valuable for
that purpose and that the market place
ought to be further away from the
business section of the city Mr. Henry
wanted the rnatter referred to a special
to report plans at a meeting
TO be held irl two weeks, and this was
agreed to, with further suggestion by
Mr.. Fisher that plans showing both a
city and library building fronting on
Center street be procured and pre-
scented.
The offer Of Representative B. F.
To give the city a lot for IL
brary purposes was most liberal ano
it came with proper spirit. The trus-
tees at first considered favorably the
acceptance Of the gift, until it found
that the lot which is located 100 feet
north of Main. on First street, WIS too
small. Mr. Cummings lot is 5SX60 and
is valued at $1,000. He owns no adjoin
ing property, the building on the south,
which formerly belonged 70 the Cum
minss estate, having been sold several
years ago to Mr.. f. S. Widl. The only
of the Cummings gift was
that the citizens should raise S.. 900 in
cash to be used in the purchase of fur
nlture and rev books for the building.
Finding that the Carnegie donation
will erect larger building than expec-
ted 72x60 feet with the front on the
long side, the trustees have found it
necessary to seek another location.
Next to a site fronting on the court
house square, the city property is prob
ably the most desirable location, and /,
IS believed that when the council gives
the matter careful consideration the
permission to erect thereon Will be
granted.
The council spent much time at the
Meeting in considering the bids and
listening to the various representatives
# manufacturers of fire apparatus.
Bids had been asked for OH single hose
wagons and combination hose wagons
md chemical engines, with ladders and
'ther equipment. The following bids
we're received:
Racine Fire Engine and Motor Com
Combination wagon and engine,
100; light hose wagon, 1925; heavy
outfit, $3.50.
Muskegan Manufacturing Company,
Mich.--Hose wagon. $500;
combination hose and chemical, S1,247
Tinker e Armstrong, Marshalltown
Hose wagon, S425.
SeagreaVe,s Company, Columbus, O.