The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-03-12
LEON MIGHT GET ONE.
Neighboring Towns Get Carnegie
Libraries, Why Not Leon?

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doah and Bethany to build Carnegie
Library Building. A proposition to
vote small tax for the support Of
Icons free library is to be submitted at
the coming city election, and if it carries
a strong and united effort will be made
to induce Mr.. Carnegie to give Leon 8
library building. They have just finish
ed the Carnegie library building at Ell
dora to which MIR. Carnegie made q do
nation last year and the building will
be thrown open to the public in few
days. The Eldora Enterprise gives the
following description Of the building
and its 6nishings:
Citizens of Eldora are all more or less
familiar with the history of the mag
nificent new public library, nearing COM
pletion, Oh the south side of the court
house square. About one year ago
Andrew Carnegie, the millionaire philan.
thropist, selected the city of Eldora as
one of the objects of his generosity and
made a gift to the city Of $4,000, to be
used in the construction of public
library. The gift was formally &C.
apted by the city council and steps at
once taken to prepare plans, secure
material and site and begin work at
once.
Work was commenced in the early
summer. The announcement is now
made that the building will be complete
pnd ready for occupancy before or
about the middle of March.
z At the time the gift was made the
local committee in charge of the work
decided to use home materials in its
construction. Accordingly, wherever
possible, home materials have been used.
The exterior is constructed of stone and
Eldora brick. The architecture of the
building is according to Mr.. Carnegie's
we'll known ideas regarding libraries,
the plans having been furnished by
architects who live in Chicago. The
arrangements of the interior is according
to the latest and most approved ideas of
library construction. Following is a
description of il.
Upon entering the large front door
the main hall appears. This is a room
9x15 over all and is finished in antique
oak, including stairs to basement. The
wall and ceiling is frescoed in a neat and
attractive style, as are all the walls and
ceilings of all the rooms on the first
floor. In the hall are three large steps
which lead to huge swinging doors,
which are oak veneered and contain
plate glass. This opening leads to
large and beautiful delivery room,
l5x15 square and finished in antique
oak IN such style as to give it very
imposing and massive appearance.
Directly in front of the main entrance
and in the center of this room is the
delivery counter, built of oak with
antique finish and octagon in shape. 1t
is ten feet across it. This counter has
outlets leading to the commodious stock
room in the rear, which is directly south
of the delivery room. This room is the
largest on the first floor, it being
approximately 24x30 feet. The finish
is the same as the rooms formerly men,
toned, except that the style is palmer
and does not have as heavy appearance.
The several book stacks designed for
this room will not be installed at present,
as there are scarcely books enough at
this early date to fill the wall shelves in
the different rooms. Thus the stacks
will be added only as occasion demands.
The children's reading room is situat-
pd directly west of the delivery room
Mnd is one of the neatest appearing
rooms IN the building, besides being
large and roomy. The size of this
room is 1Sx25 feet. 1t has solid row
of shelving the long way of the room,
along the west wall, reaching half way
to the ceiling. Four large tables are
placed in the center of the room and
each table is supplied with an electric
light cluster on beautiful stand fas-
tened to the center of each table. There
10 diao a very u0aG uIc pldCG III lue
south end of this room which adds
much toward giving it pleasant and
cheerful appearance. The finish in the
room is also Of antique oak built up so
that it makes the room appear solid
and substantial.
The general reading room is directly
east of the delivery room and is finished
similar to the children's reading room,
having about the same shelving, tables,
etc. The size of this room is 2Ox21
feet. Besides the book shelving liz this
room there is a large magazine case in
the northwest corner. There is a large
opening in the south side of the room
leading into small, yet roomy, octa-
gon, shaped room, called the reference
alcove. One large table occupies posi-.
ton in the center of this room, and