Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-01-04
QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Terms Of the Carnegie Gift land Title
to the Property.

following questions concerning
the the gift of $l2,5OO.OO by MIR.
Carnegie to our people for the
erection and equipment of a free
public library.
First, what are the terms and
conditions of the giftl
Second, when, if at all. and on
what conditions does the title to
the property become vested in the
people, free from any control on
the part of Mr.. Carnegiei
Third. what is the liability of
the city, if any, in connection
with the propositioni
In reply to the first question
we will state that the gift is
coupled with but two conditions.
The first is that a site for the
building be provided without
drawing on the fund in question.
In other words the people are to
give the site free. This may be
done by permitting the use of
some site the title to which is now
vested in the public. or by the
purchase of an available site by
popular subscription. 1t is not
to be acquired by taxation or
bonds or antXhing of that sort.
Unless a site can be had, free,
the proDosition fails The second
condition is that the city council
ADOPT a resolution agreeing to
raise a fund equal to ten per cent
of the gift fund annually for
maintenance, that is to say, to
keep the library and reading room
in operation. to pay q librarian,
janitor. to pay for lights, fuel,
and the ordinary incidental ex-
perse of maintenance. Not one
dollar of this fund goes outside
this purpose. 1t all goes into the
enterprise itself. This resolution
is insisted upon by Mr.. Carnegie
merely to prove the good faith Of
the people and her real interest in
the work. The resolution is not
legally binding upon the city.
No council can bind a succeeding
council in the matter ofa tax levy.
Replying to the second question,
the answer is fully expressed in
one word. Immediately. Just as
socn IS the site is provided and
the city council adopts the resolu-
tion stated, the sum of $12, 10000
is placed on deposit to the credit
of the library board of this, city
and is subject to the check OF
draft of the board, absolutely
without conditions. The library
board is appointed by the mayor
and council. They immediate.
ly become vested with the title to
this gift fund and spend it as they
please. They adopt such plans
for the building as they may ap-
prove. They employ their OWL
architect and their own builder
They spend the money in their
own way. The money is theil
own. The gift is complete anC
has no strings on it whatever.
The property belongs to the peo
pie. The title to the building i.
vested in this library board abso
lutely. The people own it exactly
as they own their school build
ings, their city hall or their court
house. All this entirely without
any conditions. 1t is not ever
necessary for the name of Mr.
Carnegie to be used on or abour
the building. 1t is not required
that it be called the Carnegie
Library. 1t is the peoples
library and is free to all. 1t i.
simply a Free Public Library.
To the third question we wouIC
say that there is absolutely NJ
liability on the city whatever ex
cept that of maintaining the en-
terprise after it is established
This they will do in their owl
way. Neither Mr.. Carnegie no
any one else can dictate how thi
shall be done, nor the amour
necessary to raise for this purposI