The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-12-25
CARNEGIE NOTE
AND CONCLUSIONS
Another Trustee Who Sees
Clouds Gathering on the
Library Horizon.

Editor Advertiser:-I have read with
much. interest the article in this morn
ing's Advertiser concerning the pro-
posed Carnegie library building and the
land deal between the Honolulu Library
| Association and the Y. NJ. C. A. Per
haps ] may be able to shed a little
light on the subject.
1t should be understood at the outset
that Mr.. Carnegie neither gives, POUNDS,
nor endows libraries. He gives library
buildings. To these gifts he fixes as
a condition precedent that the local
community, either through it's govern
ment or otherwise, shall make adequate
provision for the permanent upkeep of
the institution.
In our case such provision has not
been made, and no one knows, whether
it ever viii be. The last legislature
appropriated $4,000 for the support of
a hbrary-not $4,000 a year as has
been stated in the public prints, but
The Governor, as I understand the mat
ter, holds that as it viii be at least
a year before the Carnegie building
can be ready for occupancy the appro-
priation of $4,000 is virtually for one
year--the second year of TIE biennial
period. Just what the Governor wrote
Mr.. Carnegie, and what documents and
data he submitted to that gentleman,
are matters unknown in Honolulu The
following is copy of Mr.. Carnegie's
letter to the Governor, which is ali
we have in black and white at present:
November 90, 1909.
Ny Dear GOVERNOR have to-
day read your letter and accom-
panying documents, and cOngratu-
late you upon your success.
You do not refer to the furnish
ing of site, which must be done
without touching the $4,000
year provided for maintaining a
library. Whenever we hear you
have a site and see satisfactory
plans for a building to be COM
pleted, ready for occupancy, with
in the hundred thousand dollars
promised, | win arrange with my
cashier, Mr.. J. A. Franks, Home
Trust Company, Hoboken, New Jer-
sey, to honor the calls of the proper
authorities for the same as needed,
to the extent of one hundred thou
sand dollars.
Very truly yours,
(Sgd) ANDREW CARNEGIE.
Gov. w. F. Frear,
Honolulu, Hawaii.
1t will, be noticed from the above
that the cost of a site is not to come
out of the money provided for the
upkeep of the library, and | think it
is pretty evident that it is not to come
out of Mr.. Carnegie IS hundred thousand.
Just how this difficulty is going to be
solved is not at present known. There
are certainly grave objections to the
proposed location in the capitol grounds,
and the whole question presents some
very pretty problems.
1t should be remembered that the
action of the last legislature IN APP
| propriating money for the support of
a library affords no guarantee OF what
NAV be done by future legislative
bodies The very next legislature may
| refuse to appropriate anything, or may
appropriate an amount entirely made
| quate; and then where are we3
! There has been considerable said IN
| the newspapers about the proposition
| of the Y. NJ c. A. for an exchange
of real estate with the library assoeia-
| ton. and the action of the latter body
| upon said offer. The proposal of the
| Y. NJ. c. A. has never been published,
and | have reason to believe that 1t IS
| not generally understood. The follow
ing is copy of the communication on
| which the library trustees acted:
Honolulu, Dee 3, 1909.
Honolulu Library and Reading
Room Association, Honolulu.
Gentlemen:-The Young Mems
! Christian Association of Honolulu,
| in furtherance of the proposition
for exchange of properties, would
| hereby offer to transfer to you the
| lot and building on the corner of
| Alakea and Hotel streets in ex-
| change for the property owned and
| occupied by you on the opposite
| corner of said streets and including
the lot in the rear Of building.
| 1t is understood by the Y. NJ. G..
| A. that your properly as mention
| ed is valued at 500 900. The Y. NJ.
c. 4. is paying taxes on a valua-
ton of So 500. To offset this diff
ference of $500 the Y NJ. C. a.