Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-08
MIR. Andrew Carnegie's Pro-
posed Contribution
WILL PROVIDE FUNDS
AMOUNT TO BE GOVERNED BY
NEEDS OF DISTRICT.
Outcome of the Dedication Ceremonies
at the Public Library Yester-
day Afternoon.

Thoroughly delighted with the marble
palace in Mount Vernon Square built with
the fund which he provided for the public
library of the District of Columbia, and
deeply gratified by the national and rep
resentative character of the ceremonies
which marked its dedication yesterday az
ternoon, Mr.. Andrew Carnegie has made
a promise to build as many branch libraries
in the national capital as present or future
needs may demand.
Mr.. Carnegie named s35O,OOO as a fund
for this purpose, but explained this morn
ing that he did not intend to limit the IL
brary authorities to this amount.
Whenever branch libraries are needed
here. and for as many as may be needed,
the money for their construction shall be
forthcoming" said Mr.. Carnegie to a re-
porter of The Star. II shall not attempt to
say how many branches may be needed.
Those who have charge of the library work
in this city. the men who have devoted
themselves to the labor, are the men best
qualified to speak the needs of the COM
munity. Whatever they say is required, 1
shall provide"
More Than Double Original Gift.
This broadly liberal offer of Mr. Carnegie
to more than double his original gift to
Washington was the outcome Of the cere-
monies of yesterday afternoon. In speak
ing for the board of trustees of the public
library, Mr.. Theodore W. Noyes the presi-
dent. called attention to the fact that while
Mr.. Carnegie had exhausted the POSSIBLE
tiles in the matter of a main building do
nation, he had covered that phase of the
library situation alone, and his gift should
be an inspiration to other donations and
not ad eterrent
Branch libraries are to be established"
said Mr.. Noyes, Ito render the books coll
lected here accessible to the remoter sec
tons. Pedestals at the entrance to this
building are to support suitable statues; its
interior is to be embellshed by the artist
and the sculptor" Mr. Moves spoke of the
urgent need of special and endowed collec-
tons of books and newspapers, and after
asking who was to supply these needs, con-
tinued:
While the invitation to meet the library
needs of the capital to develop it intellec-
tually as we'll in physical attractiveness,
appeals with especial force to the Wash
lngtonian. the permanent resident of the
District, ii is by no means confined with
in ordinary local bounds, but extends 10 all
Americans. proud of the nations city and
DESTROYS of identifying themselves with it's
life-history by conspicuously participating
In its upbuiding and advancement No
American. whether from Pennsylvania or
California, Montana or Ohio, is foreign to
the national capital. the city created
largely owned and exclusively controlled by
the nation itself"
Enters a Protest.
When the ceremonies were over Mr.. Car
negie approached Mr.. Noyes.
Il protest." he laughingly declared
against an invitation to any one to poach
upon my preserves. have given this library
to Washington. and whenever branches are
to be established I shall insist upon the
.,f1rx
ing of public Libraries to the District of CO.
lumbfa is my province. and you are to let
me know when to provide them
Some of the distinguished official guests
who had mounted the platform to greet
Mr.. Carnegie in the impromptu reception
which he then held, Joined with Mr.. Noyes
In expressing appreciation of such a liberal
and spontaneous offer to provide further for
the mental welfare of the nations capital
There were several minutes of pleasant
conversation on the subject during which
MIR. Carnegie again merrily expressed re-
sentiment that any one else should presume
10 forestall him In donating the proposed
branch libraries.
Mr. Carnegie was afterward escorted
through the library building He found
words OF highest commentator for each
feature of the building and for the struc-
ture as whole. He declared that nowhere
had he seen better results obtained from
the amount of money available. The build
Ing. he said. surpassed his expectations and
seemed TO possess all the facilities of an
ideal distributing library.
Repeats His Offer.
During this tour of inspection Mr. Carne-
gle again stated to Mr.. Noyes that he
would be only too glad to provide for any
and all such branches as the library trus-
tees should deem necessary. He said. fur
tier. that if anything was needed to COM
pete the building In Mount Vernon Square
he should be called upon for the funds nee
essary to that end. Mr.. Carnegie was de-
lighted with the occasion. His smiling face
and his interest in all the details. both of
the ceremonies and of the building, showed
his pleasure beyond doubt
Mr. Carnegie was accompanied from the
library to his apartments in the Hotel VIII
lard by Mr. b. III. Warner. the vice presi-
dent OF the board of library trustees at
whose verbal suggestion Mr.. Carnegie's
original donation was made. He and Mr.
Carnegie also talked of the proposed estab-
lishment of branch libraries, and it was
during this conversation that the sum of
S:iJo.O00 was mentioned as the basis of the
branch system.
Mr. Carnegie returned to New York this
morning at 10 O'Clock over the Pennsylvania
railroad Accompanied only by his wife he
walked from the Willard Hotel down Penn
sylvania avenue to the 9Th street station
His love Of walking bespeaks the demo-
cratic and transformations character of the
man. Very few people II any. recognized
the multi millionaire philanthropist as he
and his wife stepped briskly along the ma
tional thoroughfare In the midst OF quite a
wild furry of snow.
Will Not Limit the Amount.
Mr.. Carnegie talked of his offer to provide
the funds necessary for branch Libraries to
a Star reporter.
II do not intend he said. "to limit the
amount Of money available for this work
TO any specified sum- for the reason that
am not familiar enough with the needs of
the local situation. | have every conf
dence In the library officials OF Wash