Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 81, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 June 1903 — Carnegie Library Building. [ARTICLE]

Carnegie Library Building.

Editor Republican: _ , What is the occasion for a legal opinion by thirteen (unlucky) Lawyers of this oity, who say "they are interested in the establishment of a Public Library”? Unless they want to throw cold water upon the offer of Hon. Andrew Carnegie to erect a library building for the oity of Rensselaer. Simon P. Thompson also prints his conditions in the Democrat, five in nnraber This may be well enough, but, why not comply with Carnegie’e conditions and get a SIO,OOO library for the oity. As the matter now stands, if we have .been rightly informed, Carnegie has offered to build for the oity a Library Building. His osnditiona are “a suitable site be furnished and the guarantee by by the oity of SIOOO per annum for the maintainanoe of a public library therein. A library board has been chosen who will receive this building ( with Carnegie’ conditions) when it has been ereoted and turned over to them in behalf of the pnblio library to be maintained therein, and snoh board will be the custodians thereof. The levy by the Common Counoil of l mill has been made and the township of Marion, have levied two-tenths of one mill, which will famish the neoessary money.

' The library board have decided upon two sites. Lots oa Van Rensselaer street provided SI2OO is donated for their purchase by Monday June 15, 1903. If this money is not subscribed then Weston Park is the chosen siteThe people know the site condi. tious (not Thompson’s new ones) and their contributions ought to indioate their preference. If the money is not raised then Weston Park is the site and all that remains is for the Council to make the order permitting its use as provided by statute. The people want this building and will be satisfied with either site selected The public mind ought not to be poisoned by unfair and improbable oonstruotions put upon the library laws even had every attorney of the Jasper County Bar joined therein. Do not stand in the way gentlemen let the Library Building be built. One op the People