Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1918-05-15
MAYOR OEMARAY ON
LIBRARY QUESTION

| have had SO many questions ask
ed me- regarding tho library situation
that would like to make u state.
ment Of the facts as know them.
Al the time Mayor Truax received
word from the Carnegie Corporation
that sis,s0o was available for a II.
brary building Tor this city there
had been a petition before the coun-
~ court for the establishing OF n
Joint City and County library. and
the County Court had promised $500
for books the next year looking to
the establishing OF such a Joint u.
brary.
The city Council and Library
Board after taking the matter up
concluded In view OF the fact tina,
the city had no available site FOR a
library building TO ask the County
Court to donate site on the Cour,
house grounds and an agreemen,
was reached wherein the city was to
furnish the present library and to
levy a tax producing si,2oe per
year for library purposes. provided
the county would put up $500 and
furnish heat. lIsht and janltor scr.
vice TO a Carnegie building when wa
obtained the same, The city then 70.
nounced its claims 10 tho donation
In favor OF the county and the Coun.
ty Court proceeded to take the mat.
ter up with the Carnegie Corpora.
,ion. They fused along all last
year and got nowhere and we're told
when they asked to put on buIidlnp
TN after the war that N they did
not avail themselves OF this orcr
now II would be withdrawn. There
have been number OF plans sub.
mltted for approval. the Library
Board wishing to have the Library
and assembly room on one floor and
no basement. but II seemed the do.
nors insisted on basement and
plans we're finally found they would
accept provided the cost came with.
In the allotment or was otherwise
guaranteed.
The lowest bid submitted last
month was by Mr.. Dougan who built
the courthouse. II was si7.57s.
From which a saving Of s1.7s0 could
be made by eliminating the torn
Gotta trimming and making ths
building entirely OF white glazed
brick: 3700 BY omitting the cork
carpet: 5000 by cheapening the
lighting fixtures and IN some other
matters, In fact Mr.. Dousan agreed
to eliminate $500 from his profit on
the building and got the nrire down
to S12.s50. This with an architects
Tee OF 1900 would bring the cost Of
the building to sf3.250 complete
without sacrificing ANYTHING the
Library Board feels that Il vital ey.
cepting the cork Garnet which they
feel Is essential and can hn nut In
later should finances permit The
County Court made n budget lew OF
$500 for such a purpose. and with
what funds are available from rum.
mage sales. etc. I believe the build.
'rg can be financed without any
further taxation. Very little furni.
ture will be needed aside from what
the library now has and neither the
Library Board nor myself see why
the expense OF maintenance need be
greater In a Carnegie building than
In its present. quarters. unless there Ia
a material extension Of hours kept
open or enlargement Of service rem.
dered.
As a city library no distinction
was ever made, giving books to all
who applied regardless OF whether
they contributed taxes or were in.
side the city limits. The library
board have always felt that SER
VICE was the thing desired and
freely gave II. Anyone doubling
the value or appreciation Of this In
stitution need only 20 there to be
convinced.
Q. n. DEMARAY,