Evening star., 1922-06-18
Carnegie Corporation Offers
Funds for Institution in
Mount Pleasant Area.
GIFT is CONDITIONED
ON SUPPLYING OF SITE
Commissioners Will Try to Obtain
Appropriation From Congress
to Buy Ground.

FUNDS amounting to 100000 to
| provide for the erection of another
branch library in Washington have
Deen granted by the Carnegie Cor
poratfon, 1t was announced at the
monthly meeting of the board of
trustees Of the Public Library Friday
night by Theodore w. Noyes. presi-
oent OF the board. 1t is planned TO
erect the new library in the populous
mount Pleasant residential district
Ihe amount allotted by the corpora
ton is regarded by the library trus-
tees as an installment from funds
originally promised by Andrew Car
negie in 1903, when he offered to give
the money needed to furnish all the
branch libraries required by Wash
ington. The sum set apart for the
new building is to cover the cost of
Its erection, in accordance with plans
satisfactory to the Carnegie Corpora
tion, and also will cover indispensable
permanent furniture and fixtures and
architects fee. The gift is con-
ditioned on the supplying of a suit
| able site. n
Sites Already offered.
The library trustees have decided
that the next branch library shall be
located in the populous Mount Pleas
ant residential and apartment house
section. A considerable number of
the users of the central library come
from this section, which has a popu-
lation estimated at from $4,000 to
| $4,000, including many with keen ap-
petites for books and reading It is
thought by the library trustees that
the branch should be located between
the 1lth street car line on the east
and the Mount Pleasant line on the
West-that is, on or near 18th street.
provided a suitable site can be Sc
| cured.
Although good library sites are get
ting scarce and high in the Mount
Pleasant section. a number have al
ready been offered to the library trus-
tees, including one that is especially
desirable located at the corner of La.
mont and 18th streets. This site is
owned by Mrs. John B. Henderson.
who, in consideration of the fact that
| this branch library will be a large
and beautiful building, has offered TO
sell the site in question at consider
ably less than what it would bring
! if sold for residences
Commissioners to Act.
| At the request of the library trustees
the Commissioners of the District Of
| Columbia will try to secure from Con-
gress an appropriation to purchase the
branch library site in a deficiency bill
before the adjournment of the present
session. A year ago Congress appro-
priated $4,000 in the second deficiency
bill for the purchase of site for the
southeastern branch library. That ap-
preparation established a precedent for
I the purchase of branch library sites
and it is believed that Congress will
make the necessary appropriation OF
$4,000 required for the site for this new
branch in the near future.
In connection with this grant by the
Carnegie Corporation of the funds for
this new branch library building. the
history and conditions of the Carnegie
offer of branch libraries are of interest
Congress Failed to Act.
In 1908. on the occasion of the dedica-
ton of the central library building, Mr..
Carnegie offered the library trustees
the money necessary to build all branch
library buildings needed by Washington.
Congress at that time failed to pass
the enabling legislation authorizing the
| nf he pif
1910 did Congress authorize the accept
ance of $4,000 to erect the Takoma
Park branch library building.
When in 1919 the library trustees re-
opened the question with the Carnegie
Corporation and asked for funds prom
Used by Mr.. Carnegie to carry forward
the branch library building program.
they found that Mr.. Carnegie had left
no instructions in his will to supply the
money. The Carnegie Corporation was
finally persuaded to give on its own
initiative the money required. $4,000.
for another branch building and in the
second deficiency bill of 1921 Congress
authorized the acceptance Of the money
for the southeastern branch library and
APPROPRIATED $4,000 for a site. That
branch library is now being erected and
it is expected that it will be opened in
the autumn.
Trustees Much Gratihed.
On April 81 the library trustees
asked the Carnegie Corporation for
500 600 for the branch now proposed
for the Mount Pleasant section and
recently received a favorable re-
sponse The library trustees are
much gratifed at the outcome, espe-
cially in view of the recent announce
ment Of the secretary Of the corpora
ton to the effect that the corporation
is not making any new appropriations
for the erection of library buildings.
The present allotment is considered
by the library trustees as the supply
ing by the Carnegie Corporation OF
another installment of Mr.. Carnegie's
original offer. The library trustees.
however, believe that it is quite i'm