CARNEGIE LIBRARY BOOKLESS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6451, 24 February 1908, Page 10

CARNEGIE LIBRARY BOOKLESS

IJUIEDING AT TAHLEQUAH NEVER, UStiD. CITIZENS 1/ID NOT AGREE. What is hid invert to ho tho only ,1/ookless Carne;;io liiirary in tile Imitetl Slaton siando on a hill overlooking this quaiid: old oapilaj of the Cliciokoo nation Talileqnah, in tho Indian territory. Tim library building cost IU.OOOdoI and t,resents a t>/-ttvi- appearanem than other ttammgie libraries thal cost twice) as (Hindi, It; was finished mom than a year ago. but has been tenantless to this (tali', and if tho citizens ot Tahleeinah now in control of the .situation have their way. Tahlciinah will bo a much bigger and richer town before there are honks in this Carnegie library. Tlie library is in an open place on the crest of a wooded hill. The building is lighted at night, hut the illumination merely adds to tho lotKsomeness. tsevcral of Tiihlef,nub’s citizen,’ decided some years ago that as the ironmaster was (li.-irihuting Ills wealth in a prodigal manner it would he well for Tahleqnah to get its share. Mr Carnegie agreed to give Ih.WcHlol if the town would provide Jn.tDilot a year for maintenance. The town eoniK'ii then in oiiico promised Mr Carnegie that it would do its utmost to guarantee this annual appropriation. Tim lihary was Guilt. With a. population ot only about 20t)0, other citizens felt that a library tax would lie 100 great n t a time, when money was needed lor the improvement of the water works service, ete At a municipal election a lax levy for tho library was do foaled.

The controversy divided the town into Iwo factions, Carnegie and anti-Car-negie, with tho latter in control. Just what Mr Carnegie will do when he learns of his bookless library is unknown. His money has been invested and tho building cannot bo taken away.