The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1909-07-30
Will Ask Steel King for $1,000.

1
Andrew Carnegie will be asked to
give $1,000 for the Norfolk public Ii.
brary building, instead of $4,000 as
already provided. Owing to the ad.
vance in cost Of labor and materials
during the past six months, the library
building planned six months ago to
| cost $4,000, will now cost a little
more than $1,000 The building as
planned is as small and inexpensive as
Norfolk should have, in the opinion of
the library board, and an effort will
be made to secure additional funds
from the steel king in order to build
the structure just as outlined.
There is reason to believe that the
additional $1,000 may be secured. The
steel magnate makes it rule to give
for library building ten times as
much money as the city will yearly ap-
propriate for maintenance. And ow-
ing to the increase in Norfolk's as
sessed valuation, due to increase in
property and to growth in the city, the
levy made for library maintenance,
originally planned to bring $1,000 per
year, will now raise about 81 100. Ten
times this amount would make 81 900
and Mr. Carnegie makes it a rule to
give ten times the yearly maintenance
appropriation, for the buildings con-
Struction.
So Mr.. Carnegie will be written to
Immediately, and the facts in the case
tn OH
is received, and the needed additional
money provided, work will not start
on the building. But matters will be
expedited as much as possible so that
just as quickly as is possible the new
building will begin to be built.
Bids Are Opened.
The library board met yesterday af-
ternoon to receive bids on the pro-
posed building. AS result the follow.
ing figures are available:
For the completed building, without
furniture or architects fee, the low
bid was $11,S4O.
For the same building without fin.
ished basement ION which original es.
innate was based) low bid was $11 ,005.
Four bids were received, two from
local contractors and two from out.
side. John Hermann and Pruden &
Beckenhauer were the Norfolk bid
ders; F. H. Woerth of Scribner and
Anton Rastad of Vermillion, S. D.,
were the other two. There was $500
difference between the high and low
bid.
Deeds for Site Now Signed.
The last deed for the library site,
at Norfolk avenue and Eighth street.
was signed Saturday, so that now all
is in readiness for the building itself
as soon as the additional fund is ar.
ranged. The site is 1877 feet by 1O4
feet, at the southwest corner of Nor.
folk avenue and Eighth.
The increased cost of building, over
the figures of six months ago, was
shown by the 20 per cent increase on
brick and the 33 per cent increase on
labor. One contractor stated that he
is now paying 25 cents an hour for
common labor, as against II cents last
January, and men are hard to get at |
that price.
The building as planned will make
beautiful public institution for Nor.
folk and the library board feels that
any action in reducing the size or the
quality of the building, from the orig.
lnally planned structure, would not be
justified, in view of the fact that Nor.
folk is entitled to library that Is
worth while. The board feels that to
erect an inferior building would be
cause for lasting regret and for this
reason-to get the building that has
been planned-the new effort with Mr..
Carnegie will be made.
The building could have been built
before, but owing to delays in the
closing OF arrangements with Mr.. Car.
negie, over which the board had no
1t was impossible to proceed
until now.
With another $1,000 from Mr.. Car.
1egte and with a portion NJ the main