Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-16
CARNEGIE RAISES HIS OFFER
Offers $4,000 for Public Library IL
City VIII spend $1,000 Per
Year.

Andrew Carnegie has generously con-
sented to increase his donation for a pub
lie library building in Council Bluffs from
$500 to 1000 on condition that the city
provide an annual fund OF 1000 to main
tain the library. The following letter was
received yesterday morning by Trustee
Baird from Mr.. Carnegie's private secre-
tary:
NEW YORK. Jan. 10. 1sO3.-w. s. Baird.
Council BLUFFS, Ia: Dear Sir-Honorable
w. !. Smith and General GrenVille M.
Dodge have written to Mr.. Carnegie about
the library building which he has promised
Was cO Sesdrdi BIgff to Mr. The c smSg9e off fgiel
based on the amount which you reported
could be guaranteed from tax levy for sup
building is about what Mr.. Carnegie usually
gives TO a place the size of Council Bluffs.
Mr.. Carnegie win increase his allow
ance to $1,000 II the city will increase
maintenance guarantee to $1,000 as sug-
gested. Respectfully yours,
JAMES BERTRAM, Private Secretary.
When word was received here that Mr..
Carnegie had offered to donate $50. 900 for a
library building there were many who
thought it unwise to ask him to increase
the gift, and it is evident that Mr., Carnegie
in arriving at the decision to give $40, 900
insteadS of $50, 1000 was Influenced by the
following letter to him from General Gren-
VILE NJ. Dodge:
NEW YORK CITY, Jan. 8, 1898. james
Bertram, Esq, Secretary to Mr.. Andrew
Carnegie, 5 West Fifty-first Street, New
York City.-Dear Sir: Referring to the
very generous proposition of Mr.. Carnegie
to Council Bluffs. of which | am a resident,
to furnish $4,000 for a library building,
PIRATES 5000 annually for maintenance, 1
would like to ask II the city will appropri-
ate SlCC9 annually 4 Mr.. Carnegie win in
My reasons for making this request.
which | think Mr.. Carnegie will understand
as fully as | do, are that Council Bluffs
way, and there centers to a connection
with 1t six great through trunk lines. ard
creasing very rapidly, there are 5000 rail
road employees, a great many of whom use
the library, and to meet the necessities Of
this growing class of people and the large
library they have there It is considered by
tpe citizens that IL would take at least
10000 to accomplish what they desire.
library committee and the city, but as |
feel a great Interest in this / take the
liberty OF adding my word, and as Mr.,
Carnegie and myself are old acquaintance
! think he will appreciate the necessities
OF a place such as this Is especially as Sc
Il is. At one time Mr.. Carnegie, like my
self, was connected with some OF the roads
/ enclose statement Of the present library
board. which NAV be of interest in making
the decision Respectfully yours moan
~ ehs DCoANs
The city council will meet Monday night
at which time the ordinance passed last
Monday will be amended so as 10 obligat,
the city to levy a sufficient Number o.
mills annually to provide a FUND OF $500
for tho maintenance OF the library. Thii
can be done legally. as the statute per
mits a tax Of 2 mills for this purpose an,
on the present valuation Of the city thii
will provide the, required amount.
Now that, thanks to Mr.. Carnegie's lib
erality. a permanent home for the publ
library is assured. the question OF a suit
able site naturally arises. The eonsensu.
Of opinion is that the building should b
centrally located and accessible by car from
all parts OF the city. The suggestion ha
been made by a number OF prominent bust
moss and professional men that the lihrHr,
building. II possible. should face on Bayiis
park. This is not disputed. as Il is con
ceded that II is here he building should b
no matter what the cost OF the size.
Opinion seems TO favor the property a
the southwest corner OF Pearl street an
Willow avenue, belonging TO the W. H.. N
Pussy estate. This property hiss a front
age on Willow avenue Of i25 feet ard o
Pearl street Of 1872 feet. II is accessible
from all parts OF the city by car. Ever
stranger coming into the city from the de
pots OF the Burlington. Wabash, Roc
Island aud Milwaukee railroads would hav
TO pass the building on coming uptown