Evening star., 1909-04-18
Preparing for Carnegie liz
brary at Howard University.
NOTABLE GUESTS PRESENT
Corner Stone of Building to Be Laid
May 26.
PRESIDENT TAFT WILL ATTEND
Justice Barnard Tells of the Fortu-
nate Accident That Led to the
Noble Donation.

Ceremonies attendant on the breaking
of ground for the new Carnegie library
building. which the. steel magnate" has
given to Howard University were held
on the university campus yesterday after
noon at 4 O'Clock. Several hundred Of
the students Of the institution gathered
about the small platform which had been
erected by the site of the building on the
west side of the campus just south of the
athletic field.
A number of distinguished citizens hon
ored the occasion and turned the first
shovel of earth for the new $4,000 home
CT the university's books. Among them
was an unexpected guest in the person
of Secretary Ballinger of the Interior
Department. He responded to the invi-
tation OF President W. +. Thirkield of
the university for a few impromptu re-
marks.
The other speakers included President
Thirkield, District Commissioners. Mac
farland and Justice Barnard. Among the
guests at the ceremonies and who dug
bit in the green turf were Associate
Justice Thomas III. Anderson of the Dis
trict Supreme Court, Judge Henry Nj.
Baker, Judge William Ill. De Lacy of
superintendent of the Public Library.
Cuno II. Rudolph and William V. Cox.
President Thirkield announced that tho
laying OF the corner stone Tor the new
library and the attending ceremonies
would be held there on commencement
day, May % next He continued: Presi-
dent Taft has promised to be on hand.
After the singing of patriotic number
by the gathering, led by the university
choir, President Thirkield told how Mr..
~ sv,fn tod N q
university and had finally given the
$4,000 for a new building. He said that
after forty years the university library
had grown from a few donated volumes
until it comprised an excellent collection
Gf more than $1,000 volumes.
Carnegie's Local Benefaction.
District Commissioner ii. b. +. Macfar-
land congratulated the university on its
history, on the graduates 1t has turned
out and upon the new building which
has been given. Continuing he said in
part:
Andrew Carnegie has already done
much for the National capital, and is will
ing to do more. His first gift, the beauti-
full building of the public library of the
District of Columbia, will be supplement-
ed by branch library buildings whenever
Congress accepts them. Besides this, the
noble home of the International Bureau
of American Republics. now fast rising al
the entrance OF Potomac Park, and the
headquarters of the Carnegie institution.
now building on 18th street. are substan-
tial contributions to the enrichment of the
city of Washington. Today we are break
ing ground for another building. the gift
of his generosity. which will be of lasting
benefit to this university and through II to
the whole country. All intelligent men
now agree that this university and like
Institutions should have the cordial sup
port of all. We all believe in industrial
and other forms of education. but We
cannot do without university training for
teachers and professional men and wom-
en- In this building, when il is completed.
the eager students of all the future Will
find the lifeblood of master minds for
their instruction and inspiration"
Justice Barnard Tells of the Gift.
Following the Commissioner, Associate
Justice Job Barnard of the Supreme
Court of the District of Columbia, and
president of the board of trustees OF the
university. expressed the gratitude of the
for the magnificent gift of the
steel king and dwelt upon the happy ac-
cident which had brought about the gift.
In part he said:
when the installation of President
Thirkield was planned for. those in charge
decided to have the ceremony in the
spring. AS our main speaker of that oc-
casion we Furthermore desired 10 have
President Roosevelt. At that time he was
i'm. the midst of tremendous amount OF
heavy work, including several messages
to Congress, and when our committee
ca lied upon him he declared tlrat he
wonld be unable rs come or even to write
an appropriate letter.
Very much disappointed we went
away President Thirkield however WAS
SO anxious to have the President attend
the ceremonies that he urged us TO post
pone the date until the fall following.
Finally this was agreed upon. In the
fall President Roosevelt accepted our in
vitation to come out and make an adj.
dress. On the day of the ceremony Mr..
Carnegie happened TO be guest at
at the White House and he was
invited by his host To come out here To
Howard University.
We'll. to make long story short he
was prevailed upon and did come. lie
even made a few remarks when asked.
While looking over the university he be-
came interested in the library and ITS
narrow facilities for the students One
suggestion followed another and finally.
after much correspondence, when he had
home the offer of the building
for which we break ground today WAS
made and accepted
Il congratulate the faculty and the
on this fine prospective home OF
book wisdom and hope that the student
body will show its appreciation by
faithful use OF II.
Secretary Ballinger's Sympathy.
On the pressing invitation of the presi-
dent Secretary Balinger made a few re-
marks. Recalling the days of his youth
he said that he had always been much
thrown with the colored race. In the
civil war his own father Lad commanded
a regiment of negro soldiers and for
short time he himself had been drum
mer boy with that regiment. lie said
further:
Il know the race well and | am in
hearty sympathy with the moral and
mental uplift of its people. | fully ap-
preeiate the race prejudice that exists
i'm many parts of the country today. 1t
is a source of deep regret to me that the
colored man has not had an even chance
with the white man in the United states.
Our country needs more of the men
with characters such as are forged at an
institution of this kind While | hold an
official position in the government. | will
do all that | can in any matter relative
to the colored race that is brought before
my notice.
Cheers followed the words of the Sec
retary and the students gave him the
Howard hand clap.
Led by President Thirlield the speakers
and guests then left the platform and
proceeded to the northeast corner of the
new building site. Giving the spade