Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-07-25
LIBRARY BUILDING.


Last Friday evening, at a special
meeting to consider plans for new
library building, there was a full at
tendance of the Wausau Library Board,
as follows:
Mesdames ID. L. Plumer, s. Nj. Quaw,
w. e. Dickens, p V. o. VanVechten,
Messrs. Louis Marchetti, H. e. Flieth,
j. Ripczinski, F. H. Genrich and E. B.
Thayer. For a month there had been
an attempt to get together on some
one plan, but opinions differed. The
board first decided upon two story
building and for which plans were ac-
cordingly asked from and submitted by
the following architects: Phillip Dean
and j. II. Jeffries, of Wausau; G. ID.
Van Ryn and Ferry & Claus, of Mil
waukee; g. w. Maher, of Chicago, and
Mr.. Foeller, of Green Bay
Phillip Deans plan had a majority on
an informal ballot bnt missed by one of
being adopted on a formal vote.
For the reason that the board could
not agree on any one plan and for the
further reason that some of the local
contractors (who had been called in to
look at the plans gave it as their
opinion that the buildings could not be
constructed and first class materials
used for the amount given by Mr..
Carnegie 900, it was voted to ask
for one story plans from the same
architects. A resolution was passed,
the main points of which being that each
plan was to be on scale of I of an
inch to the foot; four elevations shown;
plan to be without coloring and the
name of the architect not to appear.
All of the architects, with the eXcep-
ton of Mr.. Foeller, of Green Bay, again
submitted plans. The resolution under
which the plans were drawn was fol
lowed by all with the exception of Mr..
Maher, of Chicago. His plan was
drawn one eighth of an inch to the
foot, was colored, showed only one
elevation and contained the name of
the architect in a bold hand in one
corner. Objections were raised to this
plan being allowed, under the circum-
stances, to enter into competition, but
a ruling to the contrary, permitted it
to be hung upon the walls for consider
alton with the others.
The one story plans were inspected
for the first time by the board on Mon
day evening, July 18th, at which time
the choice was between the plans of
Ferry & Claus and Phillip Dean. An
adjournment was taken until Friday
evening in hopes of securing full at
tendance. AS has been stated, all
members were present on that evening
and after a season of voting the follow
ing motion was passed:
'"That the secretary be instructed to
write Geo. w. Maher, of Chicago, that
majority of this board adopted his
sketch and suggest that he come to
Wausau and hold conference as to
detail and cost as soon as possible"
The writer of this, being member of
the board, very naturally had choice
of the particular kind of architecture
which he thought should go on the
site selected. 1t so happened that his
selection was plan drawn by home
architect, so he felt doubly justified in
holding to his choice to the end.
However, there was a majority who
did not think as he and few others
did, and that majority made choice
which it had perfect right to do-and
the style of architecture, presented by
Mr.. Maher, will adorn the library site.
The building selected may not be large
enough, but nothing prevents the board
if it so elects, from having it enlarged;
it may not suit exactly in other partic-
ulars, still the board can make such
changes as will make it come pretty
close, at least, to meeting the views,
not only of its members but the COM
munity at large, if it so chooses. The
insinuations made in a city paper
that there are any on the board afraid
to express their convictions in this
matter, is a rank insult. Barring the
writer, of course, the PILOT knows, and
says without the least hesitancy, that
the board is composed of citizens who
are patriotic in the highest sense and
! have only the best interests of our city
at heart; they are men aud women of
ideas, of course, and thereon we base
our judgment.
That they will give the people of
Wausau beautiful library building,
complete in all its details, and one
which will be credit to the city, no
one need fear for one moment. The
members of the board will probably
receive the most unjust and unreason-
able criticisms from those who have
not placed one cent upon the subscrip-