The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-12-23
Mr.. Carnegie's Offer.

Mr.. Carnegie's Offer.
In discussing the proposal 10 establish,
n public library in Richmond, our neigh
3 Dor, the News Leader, says:
~ 4 "a very highly esteemed citizen of Rich
4 mond suggests Il combination and COM
promise which to us seems to have sense
init His idea is that $4,000 be added to
the appropriation for the high school. the
y money TO be used in building IL sufficient
library annex and that $4,000 more bG
used for stocking this library with books.
The advantages of this planar that the
a building would be an addition to the city S
assets, whereas the Carnegie building
never can belong to the city and would
I'll revert to Mr. Carnegie's estate along with
tie lot IL at any time in future years
%the library appropriation should be omit
3 ted Tho library as part OF the, public
school building would be convenient o.
lt@access to the very Glasses of people for
whose benefit the library Is proposed.
This proposition would be much moro
economical than that Of a separate ltbra7
4 ~. AS part of or an annex to another
u public building we could secure for $50,
y 600 q library as handsome and convenient
fNSotoSS'
81 AS tic same electric lighting, heating and
ventilatinE plant and janitor's service
\ would do for both school and library,
expenses OF operation would be lessened.
Probably 1T could be, figured out that
d $1,000 q year would be Inadequate for Il
separate Carnegie library.
.srhis idea is well worth considering
while the subject is under discussion.
our neighbor is opposed to accepting
Mi, Carncgie's gift, but it has. been very
liberal in opening its columns to tho pub
4 lie for the discussion of tho subject, and
in&tle article from which we quote there
lis ut least d tucit admission that there
is need OF q public library in this city.
THAT is point gained. Now let us take
II practical and impartial view$of the two
plans. Tho objections raised to the ac-
ceptance OF Mr.. Carncgie's offer are
these;
is First, that it would be called the Car
negie library and not tho Richmond
@ library But that objection does not hold
d good, for Mr. Carnegie makes no such
condition We call the library by any
name which pleases u.s.
The second objection is that we are re-
quircd to pay $4,000 a year for tho operat-
ing expenses of the library In order that
we may receive n gift of 100000 But
does that osIeetion,... hold goou. If a
friend gives you q horse do you expect
him TO provide the means OF supporting
Z The horse? Orif he gives you a house
and home, do you expect him also, to pay
tho family expenses The question is
whether or not you need the horse and
can afford TO keep him: whether or not
you need tho house and home and car
afford to pay the expense Of mainten.
ance. There is no doubt that nicnmond
Y needs public library and that she is
abundantly able to pay the cost of main.
" tenance,
The third objection Is that in case
Richmoild' should ever abandon TIL.
library the property would revert to Mi
4 Garneg!e's estate. That objection is ab,
1 solutely groundless Mr.. carnegie's Offer
IS in these words exactly: IL it 9TH,
4 city$of Richmond will bind itself by or,
dinance of councils to furnish a sitt
s,snnd tax itself TO the extent OF $1,000 {
gear 10 DO devoted to the L!
Sbrary ] shall be glad to GIVE slGo.ot
Tor the building needed" This offer wa
made in February, 1901, but Mr. Carne
gle has recently said that the offer il
still good The terms are that the Coun
4icil must adopt un ordinance committing
Z. alt "a, ,.ia i'm, f,T pf,
less than $4,000 for library purposes. w
have IL from the best legal authority tina
under such an agreement and legal cor
tract, the gift would be absolute an,
ID could nor revert 10 Mr. Carnegie. And s.
that objection falls TO the ground.
fjg Now. let us consider the plan of build
ms d library in connection With the IIig
.;tuopi, which plan undoubtedly has il
4 merits, II no other plan were practicable
+ fatler Than have no library at ali rh
l'lmes-Dispal would be IN favor of This
But IL Is proposed TO spend In establish
ing an annex library, the lump sum G
Y $1,000, TO say nothing of the addiliont
ground which viii he necessary for I'll
annex. whereas MIR. Carnegie proposes
give $4,000, and VIII probably give NOR,
Tor the building, The argument in fave
of the latter proposition Is that the proI
erty would belong 70 This city, But
B seems 70 be overlooked that Richmon
VIII pay dollar for dollar, for the properi
thus acquired, True she would be addir
10 her assets, but she would be payir
a the cost our of her owihpocket We IA
10 see the wisdom of making such .
expenditure when ne may have buil'