Evening star., 1924-03-24
GROUND IS BROKEN
FOR NEW LIBRARY
Officials Attend Ceremony at
Start of Work on Branch
in Mount Pleasant.

Ground was broken for the new
Mount Pleasant branch OF the Pub
iic Library at ceremonies held today
at the site, 10th and Lamont streets
northwest. in the presence of Dis
trict and library officials and repre-
sentatives of citizens associations.
The earth was turned by Commis-
sioner James +. Oyster. representing
the municipal government; Theodore
W. Noyes chairman of the board of
trustees CT The Public Library: Or.
George F. Bowerman. Librarian of the
Public Library; Harley V. Speelman
of the Columbia Heights Citizens As
socistion and Cof William E. Rogers
of the Mount Pleasant Citizens As
sociation.
The ceremonies. begun at 10 am.
attracted the attention of a consid-
cradle gallery of residents, who 81 ood
in the bright rays of a true spring
sun to watch the ceremonies. many
Of them standing upon. somewhat
damp earth.
The several hundred residents were
able, listening to the addresses of
OYSTER. DT. BOWerman
and Mr.. Speelman, the latter speaking
on behalf of the two citizens associa-
tions, to vision the two-story-and-
basement structure of Indiana lime
stone that is expected to be complet ed
by January /.
Commissioner Oyster. opening the
ceremonies, said that the people of
Washington and of the nation are
to be congratulated upon this new
addition to its intellectual opportuni-
60 ~
the National Capital reflects corre-
spending credit to the nation at large
Tributes to Carnekfe.
The Commissioners thank Mrs.
Henderson" continued Mr. Oyster, ''and
congratulate the committee to whom
this section of the District is so
largely indebted for this needed ad-
dition to it's library facilities and
architectural adornment and bespeak
for it usefulness in keeping with
the beneficent objects of the con-
tributions to the fund for it's erection,
whose sagacious public spirit SO
clearly saw that knowledge is power
and that the public library is the
most facile agency for the diffusion
of that knowledge. We all must join
in grateful acknowledgment to the
generosity of that great philan-
thropist. Mr.. Andrew Carnegie
DR.. Bowerman, outlining the plan s
for the structure, which faces 10th
street, congratulated the citizens as
sociations and the approximately
100000 persons they represent upon
the new library, for which the Car
negie Institution has contributed a
total of 100000, the site having been
sold by Mrs. ]. B. Henderson to the
library committee for half of its
market value.
After delays in overcoming OBJ
now ready to add another strong link
to the chain of libraries which gives
adequate library service to the vari-
Gus sections" In going slow, the
librarian continued, there has been
an advantage in this particular case.
If this branch had been constructed
earlier 1t would have been impossi-
BILE to forsee the great growth of
the section, he added, hence the build
ing would have been much smaller and
today would not be adequate to the
needs of the community. The popu-
lation today demands large build
ing, DR.. Bowerman continued, and
one in keeping enthusiastically with The
immediate section, which contains
several handsome church. edifces.
0pen-Air Reading Room.
Describing the building to be con-
structed, Dr. Bowerman said the main
entrance will face toward 10Th street
AS one enters he will see an open
:.