File:Wooster Republican, February 18, 1903 page 2.jpg

Newspaper article

Date	1903/02/18
Organization name	Wayne County Public Library WCPL Wooster Main
Industry Sector	Information > Libraries and Archives
Year	1903
Newspaper title	Wooster Republican
Page number	2
Article title	Andrew Carnegie Offers a Free Library to Wooster

Wooster Republican February 18, 1903 Page 2, columns 3-4

ANDREW CARNEGIE OFFERS A FREE LIBRARY TO WOOSTER

The Great ironmaster again Makes a Bequest to This City –Steps to Secure it Already Under Way.

The Cost Will Come within the City’s Purse.

ITS PROBABLE LOCATION

Has Not Yet Been Announced, but will be as Soon as It is Known –The Levy That is Allowed by the State Will Nearly Cover the Amo0unt Asked by Mr. Carnegie.

Wooster is to have a Carnegie library, providing the request of Mr. Carnegie is complied with. The negotiations have, it seems, been conducted by Mr. James Mullins, who is president of the board if library trustees.

The Republican has known for some days that through the efforts of Mr. James Mullins, Andrew Carnegie, the steel king, had made an offer to furnish the means for the erection of a permanent free library building in Wooster. As it was the wish of Mr. Mullins to keep the matter out of the papers until the trustees of the Public Library association held a meeting, and until he could talk the matter over with the members of city council and leading citizens, his wish was complied with.

At a meeting held on Tuesday afternoon the matter assumed such shape that we are now at liberty to make publication. Options have been secured on several sites that are considered favorable, in fact much has been done toward accepting the offer of Mr. Carnegie. We give below the letter form Mr. Carnegie’s private secretary in which the offer is made. Also a copy of the letter of Mr. Mullins in answer to it:

CARNEGIE’S OFFER

James Mullins, Esq., Wooster, Ohio:

Dear Sir: --Your letter of the [unreadable] was duly received.

In behalf of the citizens of Wooster, and of our Board of Trustees, I thank Mr. Carnegie most sincerely for his kind and liberal offer, of twelve thousand five hundred dollars, for the erection of a Public Library in our city and you for the prompt attention you have given our request [unreadable] understand. There are so many other similar cases pending.

You may say to Mr. Carnegie that his requirements will be fully met. I have talked with the President of our City Council and he assures me that at the next regular meeting, (which will be on the 16th inst.) a resolution will be passed agreeing to maintain a Public Library at a cost of not less than $1250 a year. A free site will also be provided which I am sure will be entirely satisfactory to Mr. Carnegie. This will be done by subscription the list being started today headed by myself, for $500. As soon as the resolution is passed by Council I will send you a certified copy and by that time I think I will be able to say to you tht the site will have been purchased.

Very respectfully and truly yours,

James Mullins, Pres. Board of Trustees Wooster Public Library association.

When Mr. Mullins wrote to Mr. Carnegie, and laid the matter before him, he realized that it would probably be as easy to get $25,000 as it would be to get the sum obtained. But he also realized that Mr. Carnegie would require a larger amount to keep it going. For instance, Mr. Carnegie always requires that ten per cent of the amount given by him shall be expended each year for the maintenance of the building. Had Wooster secured the $25,000 it would have taken $2,500 each year to maintain the building but having secured but $12,500 it will take the amount named in Mr. Carnegie’s letter $1,250 to keep it going.

The levy that is being made now by the request of the board of education under a state law for library purposes amounts each year to about $700. The board is allowed by the state, however, to levy five-tenths of a mill whereas, it has been levying but three tenths of a mill. By levying the other two-tenths the sum will reach $1,200 or nearly the amount asked by Mr. Carnegie. It has been figured that $12,500 will erect a beautiful and commodious structure, and one that will provide for all the needs of this kind in Wooster. The cost depends, of course, upon the material used, but it is assured that everything about the building will be very beautiful and serviceable.

There are several sited in view, some of which are more convenient and cost more than others. It is desired to select a site as near the center of the city as possible that will be handy to everyone. It will not be long until the announcement of the proposed location will be made. It is very probably that council will take speedy action in regard to the matter, and that the structure can be built during the coming summer.

• A note on the transcription.

Spelling, capitalization, words in italics, and punctuation have been preserved as in the original printed article.