The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-25
Trustees Plan to
 Sell, Library Building
(Contiued from Page 1.)

CCOnt1ued rom rage l.)
 as the most striking objection, the danger of the lecture room becoming a fire trap.
 The lecture room of the library is on the top-fourth-foor. The means of egress are very limited, and the construction of the building is not such as to render it freproof. or even often prevented the carrying out of extensive lecture series planned for the building, and when such lectures have been held, the greatest precau- ton has always been maintained as to safeguarding the attendants.
 library directors, though several have been suggested. In 1907 the General Assembly passed an act authorizing the directors to sell the library build ing and purchase new site on the west side of the Pequonnock river. The proceeds of the sale were to be devoted to the purposes of the new library.
 The library directors are nine. They are Henry A. Bishop. William T. Havi- land. Jacob Klein Alfred B. Beers. Jerome orcutt, Robert N; Baakeslee. Armstrong and Charles B. Read. The action instituted today is brought by the directors against the Burroughs Home, corporation having charge of the residue of he estate of Catherine E. Pettingill. and also the heirs of Catherine E. Pettingill.
 The Burroughs Public Library build ing was bequeathed to the board of directors of the Bridgeport Public Li- brary and Reading Room. under the will of Catherine E. Pettingill. who died in January. 1883. The building Block.
 The testatrix specified in her bequest that the directors should not be re- auired to furnish a bond: that the land and buildings should be forever known as the Burroughs Public Li- brary. building; that the directors should keep up the premises and guard against initiation especially by bolts. bars. signs. and handbills: that the first story and basement and such other parts as are not needed for H. brary purposes. should be rented. the income to be applied first to the main- tenance of the building and second for the purchase of books.
 My object" reads the will. "is to benefit as much as possible the inhab- itants of my native place and of this vicinity. and also to perpetuate the the trustees will honestly and faith- fully discharge the trusts I have com mitted to them, and that this gifl will be of great and permanent benefit to this community
 Tn the legislation enacted in 1907 the Public Library directors are author ized to sell the present site. or part of the same. as they see fit. and use the avails for the purchase of site and erection of building which shall bear the inscription. '"The Burroughs Pub lie Library Building"
 The time has now arrived when the directors wish to proceed. But Ques- tions have arisen as to the power of the directors to make the sale without first securing the sanction of the Burroughs Home as residuary legatee, and the court is asked to guide the directors. It has been intimated to the board of directors that certain rel- atives of the late Catherine E. Pet ,in- gill are much opposed to the proposi- ton of selling the present building
 The Burroughs Block. as it was once known, was built by Abijah Bur- roughs. brother. of Catherine E. Pet tingill. He died in 1877. leaving the property to his sister. It was then inventoried al $77,000. The land is a little over 50 feet in Main street. with a depth of 130 feet in John street. Since the beouest of the property to the city. many important changes have been made in the building.
 Prior to Mrs. Pettingills bequest. the maintained in the Wheeler building, over the store of the D. M. Read Co. Funds were provided for it's support from both public and private sources.
 The Burroughs Block sands upon the site of the old Isaac Burroughs homestead, which in the early days of Bridgeport was one of the landmarks when the present business section of Main street was residential dis