The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-11
wayne 3 chicago railroad at the same
KANSAS SOCIETY," ANXIOUS

KANSAS SOCIETY ANXIOUS.
According TO authentic data which Ii
brarian Stevenson has in his possession,
Mr. Carnegie had been in the employ of
the Pennsylvania company 10 years OF
more subsequent to having used the
library Of Col. James Anderson. There
IS nothing on record to show that Mr..
Carnegie ever used the books of Co.
John 3. Anderson The Kansas EIistOri-
cal society has taken up the matter of
thoroughly solving the singular problem
which c0nfronts the residents of one Of
her most important towns Letters have
been written to Mr.. Carnegie, also to
Librarian Stevenson. During the past
few hads the latter has received numer-
Gus letters from residents of EnpOria.
Topeka and from state and municipal
officials asking for Information that may
clear. up the badly mixed up affairs.
Among these communications We're sew
eral written by George w. Martin, sec
retary of the Kansas Historical society.
with headquarters at Topeka. Mr.. Mar
tin writes that an autograph letter was
received at Emporta, addressed TO the
was dated April II. 1899. and says
among other things: Your husband
opened to me the temple of knowledge
from which I obtained the foundation
of an education" !"
The letter asked that the photograph
which was framed IN the City hail Of
Emporia be forwarded for the use of
sculptor OF the statue which Mr.. Car
negie purposed to erect in Allegheny in
memory of Mrs. Anderson's husband.
me library at Emporfa was erected
by Mr.. Carnegie at a cost of S35 900 It
was built in memory OF col. Anderson
According to the letters received in this
city the given name of the person to whom
the institution is a tribute was not
specified The library was built for the
use of Esmporias s college
AN ORGAN IN THE CASE.
The trustees Of the library are not the
only persons in Kansas who are in a guam
Diary as to Col. Anderson" Mr.. Carnegie
recently installed a large pipe organ. cost
ing 81 500, in the Presbyterian church, at
Like the people of Emporia, the congre-
cation Of the church is anxious to know
to the honor of which of the Andersons
the musical instrument should be dedi-
Gated.
Librarian Stevenson yesterday wrote
letters to both the Kansas Historical So
ciety and to the trustees of the Junction
City church in which biographies Of both
the Co.'s Anderson were given. He said
that the complications which were caused
concerning the gifts of the multi-mil-
Mr. Carnegie has made mistake In the
names of the two men, or that during his
former Pittsburgers. Librarian Steven
son stated chat according to the biogra-
phies, the historical society could best
judge Tor itself as to whether the bust
of Col John Byars Anderson would be
appropriate to grace the monument which
Will be erected in memory of Col. James
Anderson, or whether the library at En-
poria should be known as the Col John
Byars Anderson institution. Col John
Byars Anderson, according to his history
which has been carefully compiled by
Librarian Stevenson, was born in Wash
iugtOn county, Pa, and died at Manhat-
tan, Kas., a number of years ago. He
was son of John and Rebecca Anderson.
He was an expert engineer and was for
many years one Of the most prominent
railroad officials in this part of the cOun-
try. He served throughout the eivil war
and retired with the rank of colonel.
HISTORY OF THE ANDERSONS-
When Andrew Carnegie became con-
nected with the Pennsylvania Railroad
company it was some years after he had
ceased using the books ef Col. James An
Carnegie never referred to the former
division superintendent of the Pennsyl-
vania company Col. Anderson was for 81
years a member of the board of inspec-
tors Of the Western penitentiary. and from
1859 until 1867 he was president of the
board.
Col James Anderson was of Scotch de-
1873 and when lad Of 10 years he made
Allegheny his home Col. James Ander-
, son was an iron manufacturer and phil
anthrOpist of Allegheny more than so
years ago. He opened his private library
to the use Of boys and young men of the
age of the offer were Andrew Carnegie
and Henry Phipps, jr- Encouraged by the
use made of his private library he estab-
lfshed in 1850 the James Anderson Ii
brary institute of Allegheny City It first
| occupied the southeast corner of Federal
and Diamond streets. the site now occu-
pied by the Second National bank In
1853 the library occupied the house of
Robert Donaldson on West Diamond
street. The institution was the forerun-
ner Of the Citizens Free library which
is now being conducted on the north side