The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-10-03
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Report OF the Building Committee OF
the Carnegie Public Llbrary-Fun
Report OF all Transactions to The
Local Boards.

A iaeeting OF the City Council and
the city Board OF Education was
called yesterday afternoon to hear
the report of s. n. Edmunds. who had
been appointed as the representative
of the two bodies in the construc-
tion os the public lilorary for the city
Of Sumter. The report follows In
full;
To the Honorable. the City Board OF
Education and the City Council:
Gentlemen: AS chairman OF the
Building Committee OF the Carnegie
Public Library OF Sumter. s. c., APP
pointed by both the Board OF Educa-
ton and the lty Council. beg leave
TO submit the following report:
The architects selected for this
building were Messrs. Walker and
Johnson. After competitive bids had
been submitted. Mr.. ]. M. Hardy was
chosen as general contractor. The
plans Submitted by your local archi-
tects were transmitted through your
committee to Mr.. James Bertram.
the secretary OF the Carnegie Cor
poration at New York City. The plans
were revised several times by your To-
cal architects to meet the require
ments of the Board OF Architects of
the Carnegie Corporation. They were
finally approved In full.
The local architects. under the di-
rect supervision of the City Board of
Education. continued the scrutiny OF
the proposed outlay. until this came
within the amount OF 100000 al
lowed by the Carnegie Corporation
This corporation agreed to donate the
sum OF $4,000. no more and no less.
To preclude the probability OF an ex-
cess over this donation. the Board
provided for any unforeseen contin-
gency that might arise the sum OF
sl54,6O' In spite OF this precaution-
airy measure. when the last report
was submitted by the local architects
and transmitted to the Carnegie Cor
poration. II was found that there was
an excess of $500 over and above
the $4,000 allowed. The architects.
Messrs. Walker and Johnson. gener-
ously deducted this amount from
their commissions and 1t is for this
reason that the receipts and disbursc-
ments balance to the cent.
The chairman OF the city Board OF
Education, DIR. j. A. Mood. appoint
ed as ar auditing committee, Messrs
c q. Rowland. c. NJ. Hurst. and w.
Percy Smith to check up the accounts
of your chairman. The report OF tn
comnittee Is herewith attached.
The library building has been
completed and 1t seems to be mod.
el of convenience for the purpose for
which H. was designed. Your two
boards displayed excellent judgmcn,
In erecting this building at the tim,
that they did: for II seems that II,
will be long time before material
will be again as abundant or iabo.
as easy to obtain. This building could
not be duplicated today for $4,000.
Your committee appointed to pro-
cure additional books for the library
Is busily at work and the books will
be available at an early date. rec
ommand that the library be not
opened for public use. until these ad-
ditional books arrive and that the
committee be urged to prosecute their
efforts with as much expedition as
practicable.
i recommend. further. that. when
the books shall have arrived. a pub
lie opening OF the library be held.
under the auspices OF the Civil
League. with such exercises as may
sem TO this body TO be appropriate.
Permit me to say that II has been
an unusual pleasure for me to serve
in the capacity OF chairman of the
building committee of the public
bbrary and / wish to thank you
gcntiemcn for the privilege thus
granted and for all of the consider
ut: and cooperation that you have
SespectfuIly submitted.
- IL. Edmunds. Chairman.
- Al.