Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-15
Observation-Disclosures
Interest in the Subject
Among District Citizens.
MR.. CARNEGIE'S OFFER
IT'S ACCEPTANCE TO BE APPRov-
ED BY CONGRESS.
Various Sections Offer Sites and Solicit
Cooperation of Public Ii
brary Trustee.
MR.. CARNEGIE'S OFFER

INTEREST in establishing branch libraries
In different sections of the city and in the
suhurbs under the terms of Mr.. Carnegie's
heneficent offer, made in his address at the
dedication of the Public Library of the DIS
trict of Columbia, has in no wise apateo.
Mr.. Carnegie offered $35OOOO or an amount
that might be needed for the erection OF
branch library buildings In the Dlstrlct' on
condition that sites be provided ana 'he
buildings be maintained for library pui
poses As early as last January many SITES
had been offered by publ1c-spiriteo ci'izehs'
while numerous communications have been
received by the trustees of the Public LII
brary from time to time, assuring willing
ness on the part of the writers to heip
equip the libraries with magazines and ref
erence literature.
The approach of the session of Congress
awakens new interest in the matter, for the
acceptance of Mr.. Carnegie's offer on the
conditions given rests with that body.
Every effort is being made to secure the
libraries soon as possible.
Takoma Park.
At the regular January meeting OF the
Takoma Park Citizens Association the
means of securing branch of the Wash
ington Public Library was taken up and
discussed at some length at the meeting.
A committee composed of Col. G. c. Kniftin,
chairman; George A. Warren. Rev. VIM:
Hart Dexter and c. M Heaton. appointed
at a previous meeting of the association,
submitted a report, in conjunction with the
Takoma Club and Library, of which
portion of the committee were members,
relative to a suitable site in Iakoma Park
for library
The report stated in part that all offers
mentioned In the report were upon cond1-
ton that the library building for Takoma
ID To- ha
managing trustee of certain lands In Ia
koma Park, agreed to sell to Mr.. Angus
Lamond, site for the library building,
lots Is and 10. block 3, In the Lipscomb and
Earnest addition to Takoma Park, subject
to confirmation by the court.
The purchaser, Mr.. Lamond, agreed to
donate these lots for a site If the location
of the library was secured and the sale
agreed to between himself and Mr.. Earn
est and the sale confirmed by the court, on
condition that the citizens purchase lots SO
and "a of block of the same subdivision
and present them to the mayor and council
of Takoma Park, to be set apart forever
a public park and to be cared for and
maintained by the mayor and council of
TakOma Park.
Should a branch library be secured the
building was to be erected on lots 10 and
10 of block 3; then John P. Earnest, trus-
tee, agreed further to sell to the citizens
of the park, for public park, lots SO and
"a, subject to the approval of the court.
Site for the Building.
The lots and parking mentioned would
contain 24,059 square feet in what is known
as the Thornton tract. The site would be
located on Carroll avenue at the southwest
corner of Carroll and Willow avenues, fac
ing on the former avenue The parking
would have a frontage of 125 feet on Car
roll avenue and depth of 135 feet. The
location was central and most desirable
one being within short distance of the
Brightwood electric cars and the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad.
Upon the receipt of information from Mr..
Lamond who was former townsman and
admtrer of Mr.. Andrew Carnegie in Scot
land, that he would purchase and donate a
site for the erection of a branch library
upon the terms of Mr.. Carnegie's offer a
communication was addressed to the trus-
tees of the Washington Public Library set
ting forth the reasons why Takoma Park
should have a branch library. The letter
informed the trustees that Takoma was the
largest separate community in the District
outside of the city proper. having, among
other things, public school with an en-
rollment of more than 300 pupils. For the
past two years, through the medium of the
Takoma Club and Library, efforts have
been made to secure library facilities. Up
ward OF 600 well-selected volumes demon
strate the interest and successful efforts of
the residents of that section.
Should the presentation of a site be con-
sidered by the trustees a prerequisite to the
norarles and the erection of the building
the citizens of Takoma have pledged them
selves to provide such a site suitably and
conveniently located.
Brookland.
Mr. A. F. kinnan, president of the
Brookland Citizens Association, made the
following statement today:
Everything has been done to secure a
branch public library for Brookland under
Mr. Carnegie's offer that can be done at
present. The outlook is very nattering. but
all depends on the acceptance of Mr. Carne-
gle offer by Congress. The B-ookland
Citizens Association will It's utmost in
fuence to Induce Congress to accept the
offer
Brookland had no land owner of suffi-
cient means to donate a suitable site so
inc citizens met In a mass meeting and
indorsed the action of the citizens asso-
cation In taking an option on the two
pest lots In the suburb. The site is 1OOxl5O
rect is at the corner of 18th and Provi-
oence streets northeast, and the price
agreed upon was $500
The people came forward with rare en-
thuslasm and subscribed nearly the entire
amount The small amount remaining can
be raised In half an hour.
AS Tar as l am aware this is the only
comInunlt! where the citizens have been
ooiSed to purchase site. If anything fur
ther Is necessary, such as securing current
literature. in the way of newspapers and
books
&c. our citizens association will see that
they are forthcoming at the proper time"
Brightwood
In Brightwood Park four sites have bean
oHered for branch library. w. M. CLAW
ton offers the southwest corner of stb and
Flint streets. The lot is 65xl5O feet has a
paved street, granolithic sidewalks. water
sewer and gas mains along It's fronta ge
The lot is near the geographic center of the
park, is on high elevation and graded
Diller B. Groff offers all of block 6 In
Brightwood Park. bounded by Erie street
illinois avenue and Brightwood avenue
Another offer is at the corner of Ingraham
street and Brightwood avenue. r. E. T.
White, for Miss Ida NJ White and Mrs
Sadie L. Donnely. offers lots o. 81 and q.
IN block 3, White Croft subdivision. a lot
6o by 50 feet, with twenty-eight feet park
ing This lot Is in 18th street near Insra-
ham street. 1t has sewerage, water. gas
granolithic sidewalk. is elevated and CEN
trail The lot is two blocks from Bright
wood public schools within few blocks
from I'VE churches and one block each of
the Brightwood electric railroad and the
Brightwood fire department A COMMITTEES
mas been appointed to receive subscriptions
or books and periodicals. The Brightwood
Park Citizens Association, in its letter TO