Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-01-11
The carneaie Libraries.

of Andrew Carnegies library benefac-
tons were prepared and read by Hor-
ace White Of New York. at the recent
dedication OF the new library building
at Be!oit college, Wisconsin. The fig
ures were compiled for Mr.. White by
Mr.. Carnegie's private secretary and
the statistics are accepted as absolute
ly correct. Although it is somewhat
the fashion With some editorial writer's.
and some people who are not editorial
writer's. for that matter, to poke fun at
as burdens. rather than blessings to
the communities where they are built,
still the fac. Is not to be denied that
MIR. Carree.es extensive benefactions
have resulted in vast amount OF
good. and that the communities sener-
ally which he has recognized are duly
aprrcciative of this fact.
1t appears from the figures that Mr.
Carnegie has given or pledged himself
to give 2aO library buildings to the
Enrlish-spc;,king peoples. OF these
10 are in the United States. The ag-
sregate cost of these buildings is $39,-
3s22j 40. of which s29O9i .6S0. or practi-
cally thrce-fourths of the whole, has
been expended in this country, about
IS Op0. GG1 in England, about s.. OOO, 900 in
Scotland, and Sl,4.5 800 in Canada. The
proportion Of the total population
which Mr.. Carnegie has supplied with
library facilities is, for the aggregate
of the English-spcaking race. Il little
more than Is per cent, .tnd that is the
percentage for the United States. for
England and for Canada, taken separ-
;ttely.
There are Carnegie libraries in ev2ry
stt,e and territory in the Union except
Mississippi and Rhode Island and it is
explained that Mr.. Carnegie has not
discriminate against Mississippi and
I:hGde Island, but that the Mississippi
IltIiS tIl'! tIIt VI iNltotN A'i-ilii
have either failed to ask for library
buildings or have expressed an UNI
willingness 10 be taxed for their sup
port. Most of the New England states
We're early in the field with free Library
laws, and have also Il large number of
wealth and public spirited citizens.
Although foremost among the states OF
the Union in the matter of public Ii
brarios they have had fewer in proper
ton from Mr.. Carnegie thin many
other states. New York leads in
C,pn"eic libraries with 1I?. while Utah.
Nevada. Connecticut have one each.
Main. is credited with II Carnegie IL
Eraries, towards which Mr.. Carnegie
has given !l7G,oCo OF the other New
England states. New Hampshire has
nine; Vermont. two: Massachusetts. II,
and Connecticut one. Among the
states which have the most, outside Of
New York. already mentioned, Pcnnsyl-
vania has ~: Ohio, IS; Illinois, So;
Iowa, -: indiana, ~; California, So:
Michigan, 81; Wisconsin. SO; Mime
sofa. 2S. and Missouri. %. England
has 81 Carnegie libraries: Scotland.
lo2: Canada, As; ireland. SO; New Zea-
land. five, and Porto Rico. Tasmania
and the West Indies one each. AS
stated ahove. 80 of the total of 1850
Carnegie libraries are in the United
States.
In spite Of these libraries upon which
Mr.. Carnegie has expended almost $40
0oG. 900 he has given away fortunes for
othrr causes, notably $4,000. 300 for ed
uc;1iOn i'll Scotland. and 10000. 900 for
scientific research in this country: and
Is still giving away millions along these
and Other lines. And yet there is little
prospect that he will die poor.