The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-09
Carnegie Library in Kansas City,
Has, Alm-s. Ready.
Building and It's Furnishings
Will Cost $4,000.
OVER 1000 VOLUMES.
Its Dedication the elimination
of an Old Movement.
Mrs. Sarah Richart Started the
Work Back in 30.

Kansas City, Kan, Nov. 9.-The Car
negie library building, recently COM
pleted and accepted by the board of
education. will not be formally opened
to the public for several weeks. Part
Of the furniture has arrived and new
books costing $1,000 have been ordered.
There are 1000 volumes in the old pub
lie library at Fifth street and Minnesota
avenue which will be removed to the
Carnegie library as soon as the book
racks arrive and are placed in position.
These have been promised by November
10, but are not expected to arrive until
after that date. When they have been
placed and filled with books the board
of education will decide upon a date for
q public opening and dedication.
The opening of the new $4,000 build
ing will be the elimination of a library
movement which was started by the
women Of the city several years ago.
The women were enabled by private
subscription to make a modest start in
q school house. Later more con1nodious
quarters were secured in the library
building soon to be abandoned.
The most prominent woman in the IL
brary movement was Mrs. Sarah A.
Richart. widow, now dead. Mrs.
Riohart was a public spirited and self
sacrificing woman. Some five or six
years ago she proposed to the city au-
enumeration she would turn over all the
fees of the Office to the public library
fund. Previous to that time most of the
fees had gone to the enumerator. Her
offer was accepted and her labors went
to keep up and increase the usefulness
of the library.
Through the combined efforts of the
board of education, the women's clubs
and the Mercantile club Andrew Carne-
gle was induced to give $4,000 for a
new library. The plans were drawn by
W. W. Rose and the contract was let in
May, 1902, to F. A. Thompson for $751;
$50. The first draft of $1,000 was re-
ceived from Mr.. Carnegie June TO- 1902.
The building was accepted by the board
October rs and few days later it's Of
fees were moved to 1t from the high
school. The building. thus far, has cost
$66,926.6O. The contract with Mr.
Thompson did not include heating and
lighting, which, with the grading OF the
site, furnishing and other expenses have
made up the total. When fully furnish
ed and equipped the total probably, will
be slightly over $4,000.
The building stands on Huron place
at Sixth street and Minnesota avenue.
The ground was originally donated to
the city by the old toWnsite company
for a seminary site. The library build
ing is built on an attractive architect
uEal plan and is one of the best ar
ranged and constructed buildings in
either of the two cities. 1t is of two
btOIiGSs Will d 44lE4A. DdSGlllEuI, IlldklIlS
practically three stories. 1t was so
designed that additions may be built
whenever required. The building is
rectangular in form, measuring 7Tx90
feet in ground dimensions, of classical
Renaissance architecture, executed in
hydraulic pressed brick and terra cot
ia. The prof1les of the most prominent
authors form feature of the outside
decorations. Inside the corridors are
finished in oak and wainscotted in mar
ho hfrf11fr1er &c to1 n
lated by a Plenum system of direct and
indirect radiation. The halls and the
part of the building used for public lee
lures may be heated and ventilated in
dePendently of the library proper.
The north and east sections of the
second floor are occupied by a large
room for the board Of education, an
office for the clerk of the board and
stenographer. The whole western end
Of the second floor is taken up with the
law library rooms. On the south side
of the floor is a lecture room to accom-
modate $50 people The library proper
is on the first floor. The office of the Ii
brarian and the book room are in the
west end. On the south are the reading
room and the children's room. The
northeast corner is occupied by an art
room. There are north and east en-
frances.
In the basement are the ianitor's
room. STAFF room, packing room, museum
and a large room not yet assigned
There are two high pressure boilers, an
engine and an air pump, forming the
heating and ventilating apparatus.
James Fee is custodian Of the building,
and has been in service since Novem-
Der 1.
Under the contract with Mr.. Carnegie
81 500 must be expended annually for
the maintenance of the library. The
board expects to equip the museum with
private collections which have been Of
fered and will provide cases for them.
The unassigned room in the basement
will probably be used by the associated
clubs.
Evade the Truancy Law.
I.nar,arnr.-nr-tI, Aror- q