The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1904-11-10
City Meeting Takes Decisive
Action on Library Lot
BY A VOTE OF l49 TO 20
Decided Last Evening to Turn over Ii
brary Lot, Corner Of Washington
and Elm Streets. to Trustees
Of AIdrieh Library Fund.


BY vote in the city meeting at the
opera house last evening it has been def
nltely decided that the public library
building. made possible through the gen
erons donation OF the late Leonard II
Aldrich, will be erected on the lot at
the corner Of Washington and Elm
streets and it is probable that the
preliminary work toward the consum-
nation oi the donors plans will be
started at once. Out OF a total Of 169
voters present at the meeting last even
/ ing, only twenty were ID opposition Is
the gilt BY the city and 4 good poy
ltion Of that opposition was made up
iof those who wished 10 give a part of
the lot only believing that a part would
he sufficient for the purposes.
/ After tile preliminary work of elect
ling II. G. Howland as chairman of the
evening aud few questions, the citizens
settled down TO discussion OF che prop
losition on the motion Of Charles 4.
Smith that the city Of Barre, deed the
] library lot. s0-called To the trustees
lof the Aldrich Library Fund for the
purpose Of erecting q library thereon
| MIR Smith referred 10 the fact that the
lcitizens had twice voted in opposition
10 the use oil the land for any other than
library purposes. John Tierney thought
| there was more land than the trustees
needed and he didn't want to burden
them. John Callaghan asked for more
information, which was Forthcoming
lshortly
Fred Bruce believed that the lot 81
Hand was large enough for the library
/ building and also for federal building
land that the city should deed only that
Ipart which il actually needed for the
library and should retain the rest for
future uses. He said If the government
should want part OF the land for
federal building after library was
lerected on one side Of the lot there would
/ Istill be the 40 feet required by the GOV
lernment between its building and any
lothcr.
a. a. Boyce argued for the gift Of
the whole lot on grounds of the beauty
iof the building and its surroundings
Iie wanted breathing spaces and grass
pilots. The tendency Is to crowd build
ings and the result Is Increased insur
lance rates IN spite of our good fire
Ipfotection DR. H. Q. Worthen was
heartily in favor Of giving the whole lot,
Ieontending that il was all required to
give beauty To the baildiHg. He under
stood that the ladies of the city had
promised, and Mr. Aldrieh's will had
lalso made arrangement for the care Of
the lawns. etc.
James Z. Aarr was The only one who
lspole against the city's giving away
1.-THE land to the trustees of thc fund, de
Eelaring that the people Of Barre we're
hoodwinked when they voted to buy
| the lot for the erection of the building
lprovided for by the Aldricl will: they
had supposed the trust fund would be
turned over to the city after the set
Ting Of the estate. lie further declared
that it would be introducing Russian
government methods into Barre if the
lefty should turn over to the trustees
lof the fund 4 property which thhy could
not control later. He moved to amend
| by offering the lot to the trustees for
| $4,000, with a six months option.
| George w. Mann would give the whole
lot with the proviso that it should never
be used for any but library purposes
and that If the building should ever
| 90 out OF existence the land would rc
vert to the city. lie made that an
9oifer Of amendment to the original mo
ltion. Mr.. Mann thought there ought t.
be plenty Sc room for the library as vte
have too many tho bug buildings about
Barre already The last remark elected
considerable applause.
Then Charles a. Smith, at some length
lcommented upon the breadth 81 the con
| leeption Of the donor of the library fund,
las shown by the stipulations Of the
iwill He declared there was no infringe
lment whaeYer upon the rights and priv
lleges Of the citizens in the library and
/ Mr.. Bruce followed up the same idea
with i pertinent illustration as follows
lThat ii some one should give him an
| leight-horse team, to be held in trust by
III. G.. Leonard, but with all the benefits
| of that team aceruing to the recipient
ihe mir. Bfuce) would be most foolish
Iif be didn't accept the gift. Alr. al
1 ldrich has given us the sum Of $4,000
or more, TO be held in trust by seven
| itrustees, but with all the advantages
that lihrary gives going TO the citizens
Of Barre MIR. Aldrich has furnished Us
| Il library: all we've got to do Il t0
use it ii we wish Mr.. Bruce believed
we should Use It. lie was entirely op-
posed to Mr.. Marr's idea although he
had some time ago held similar views.
The discussion closed with brief re
marks by q. j. Dodge who said that
the growth 81 the city would probably
need an enlargement Of the library build
ing and we should have the whole LOT
to be prepared for such enlargement.
No one seconded any Of the three
amendments, the original motion was
nut 10 n vote. on Mr.. Maus request
ballots being used. Mr. Marr, Mr. Bruce,
Mr. L 4. Robbins, Mr.. Boyee and Dr.
II. Q. Worthen acted as tellers and the
chairman announced that out q 169
votes cast, lao were III favor of deciding
the whole lot bounded hy Washington,
Elm and jefferson streets and the City
Hotel property, to the trustees Of the
Asdrich Library Fund.