The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1910-03-11

WHICH nave DCcu Quilt III IuC OAACA-
ent cities of the northwest, can
conscientiously state as fact that
Andrew Carnegie, at an expenditure
of $4,000, has given to the city of
Bemidji a better library building
than any city in the northwest
possesses, which were built at cost
of $15,OOO," said w. D. Gillespie,
member of the architect firm of
Haxby & Gillespie of Fargo, to the
members of the local library board
who held meeting yesterday for the
purpose of formally accepting the
new Bemidji Carnegie Library build
ing.
Mr.. Gillespie was here from Fargo
yesterday and met with Rev. S. E.
P. White, ]. M. Richards and Prof.
A. P. Richie, members of the
library board, for the purpose of
inspecting the new library building
and formally accepting the same
from Contractor Thomas Johnson,
provided the building was in accord
ance with the plans and specifications
furnished by Haxby & Gillespie.
Mr.. Gillespie gave the new build
ing a thorough examination, from
basement to roof, and was very we'll
pleased. AS the members of the
board had already expressed them
selves we'll satisfied with the build
ing, the library was formally &C
cepted on behalf of the board, which
will turn the same over to the City
of Bemidji for the use of the pub
lie.
The new building is one story,
with splendid basement, and is
substantial, handsome structure in
every respect. The original plans
for the construction of the buildin g
were for $4,000, and plans were
drawn for a building costing that
sum. The contract could not be
let for less than $1O,O6O, and the
local library board correspondent
with Andrew Carnegie for the pur-~
pose of securing an increase in the
amount which he had donated, with
the result that, after much cores
pondence, Mr.. Carnegie increased
his original amount $780,, making
the total available for the construc-
ton of library building $12,5O0.
In speaking of the library building,
the work of the library board, ETC.,
Mr.. Gillespie said:
THE library board is fortunate in
being able to secure so splendid
structure for the nominal sum of
$12,5OO. 1t is seldom that a con-
tract is completed for the exact sum
at which the bid is submitted;
usually the cost is increased from
fifteen to twenty per cent.
"Bemidji certainly has splendid
library. The basement rooms are
high and we'll lighted. There are
two large rooms, besides the boiler
and toilet rooms. On the second
floor there are two other large rooms
in addition to the stack room, where
the books are kept, and the toilet
room. These two rooms will be the
real reading rooms for the use of
the general public. 1t is more than
likely that one of the rooms will be
used for the Juniors and one for the
seniors, this being at the option of
the board.
The plans for the library building
originally contemplated porch on
either side of the stack room, over
looking the lake. 1t was the intention
of the board and the architects to
have these porches for occupancy in
the evening when the sun shines in
to the building from the west, but
Mr.. Carnegie thought they we're
superfuous and the porches were cut
out in order to get the building with
in the amount of Mr.. Carnegie's
donation. -
Il think that the citizens of
Bemidji will see the advantage OF
adding these porches according to
the original plans, as they can be
put on at cost not to exceed
$4,000; and with this addition
Bemidji would have most admir- able
library. both as to beautiful location