The Washington times., 1903-01-08
LairdOf Skjbo Pledges $3.50
600 to Establish Branch
Libraries in All Parts OF
the District.
Twelve Subsidiary Centers
of Distribution Become
Possible When Congress
Accepts Conditions,


realizing the need OF branch libraries in +
the District OF Columbia, Andrew Car +
negte announced last night TO the trus-
tees Of the Washington Public Library
his intention to give the District S350000
additional.
The announcement was surprise 10 /
them. and the news was soon spread
among the friends Of the new library /
trustees. Everywhere it was hailed /.
with joy. for the additional money viii
serve 10 carry out a plan long ago
formulated by the library trustees, anI
viii more closely meet the views OF the
steel King Al once, the question OF
the location OF the branches arose. and /
this morning there was hUstling among /
the suburbs TO capture the prizes
Under Original Conditions.
In announcing his additional gift. Mr.
Carnegie said: since I made the origi-
nal gift 10 Washington for & public IL
brary I have kept in mind that branch
libraries should be erected here IN re-
mote parts of the city, and I have said
10 Mr. Warner and others that I viii
give 1856. 0G0 20 be used for these
branches upon condition that sites be
provided and that Congress maintain the
buildings JUS as II IS to maintain the
central building.
Will Cover District
The fund established yesterday by the
Laird of SIzfbo viii be so divided by the
trustees as TO distribute the branch
buildings according to the population
Suitable branches can be erected at a
cost of $50. GOO. and this viii permit the
construction of seven. If the cost is
limited TO $4,000 OF less. a dozen
branches can be established and the en-
tire population of the District favored
with these libraries The board viii
take up the matter of equitable distrl-
button at an early meeting,
While inspecting the library last night,
Mr.. Carnegie said:
7 am more than pleased with the
building. The commission has erected
one OF the handsomest Libraries in the
country and number Of those now IN
der construction are modelled after this
one. The work OF construction is thor
ough and enduTable and The arrange
ment is all that could be desired I in
tended to mention the excellent work Of
Capt. Bernard Green in my speech and
had in mind before the dedication 10
praise the architect, but forgot both.
Branches Much Needed.
The people Of the District of CoIum-
bia are a book-Ioving people and want
TO 90 all I can TO help them in their
pleasures Because Of so many bright
intelligent Government employees, the de-
mard for books Is large Washington
IS growing rapidly and is getting 10 be
quite a winter resort On account OF the
increasing population, the need of
branch library system was impressed
upon me and so made my additional
offer"
3. r. Warner was perhaps the hap
piest man in the city this morning, for
the first announcement Of Mr.. Carnegie's
additional gift was made to him last
night IS he was walking through the
library building with the founder and
his wife. Mrs. Carnegie was deeply i'm
pressed with the exercises yesterday and
pleased with the many kindly things said
10 her distinguished husband by the rep
resentatives OF the different branches o.
the Government
While the President spoke, Mrs. Car
negic sat directly in frOne OF him ana
as words OF praise were given Mr.. Car
negie. bushes Of pride passed across her
face. She seemed much interested In
that part Of the Presidents address in
which he referred 10 men helping them
selves instead Of being helped. and ap-
plau6ed the sentiment warmly
The Presidents Speech
The President spoke exremporaneous-
II. but his address was marked by its
epigramnatfc statements He said, in
part:
Mr.. Macfarland, Mr.. Carnegie, gentle
men and ladies' count myself fortunate
sn being able 10 come here today, not
only for my own private, individual sake.
but a. in some sort representing the peo-
pie OF our country, 40 express my pro
found appreciation Of what Is emphati-
caIly the gift OF wisdom.
"A gift Of the Utmost possible benefit
10 ali the people OF the country, from
you, Dir. Carnegie IApplause.l
1T seems to me that the man has
right TO call himself thrice blessed VINO
has in him the combined power and pur-
pose 10 use his wealth for the benedt Of
all the people at large In a way that can
60 them real benefit, and in no way can
more benefit be done than through the
gift OF libraries such as this.
a free library, where each man, each
woman, has the chance TO get for him
self or herself'the training that ne has
the character to desire and TO acquire
Now. Of course, our common school sys-
TEN lies at the foundation OF our educa-
tional system. bat II is the foundation
only. The men who are 70 stand pre-emi-
nent as the representatives Of the cuI-
ture Of the community must educate
themselves. EApplause.l
Self Educational Work
And the work done by this library is
helpful. because It represents one side Of
the way IN which all this seIf-educa-