Walla Walla Says Yes to Carnegie's $25,000 Library
The city council unanimously accepts Andrew Carnegie's gift for a free public library—and pledges $2,500 a year to keep the doors open.
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By a unanimous vote the council last night passed a resolution accepting the gift of $25,000 of Andrew Carnegie for a public library for Walla Walla and guaranteeing $2,500 yearly for its maintenance as required in Mr. Carnegie's offer. The matter of a site and other things that will have to be taken into consideration will come up at a later date.
Both Councilmen McKean and McLean wished a little time in which to consider the offer, not that they were opposed to the city profiting by Mr. Carnegie's magnificent offer, but to determine what restrictions were placed on the gift. Councilman Glasford was for immediately accepting the offer, stating that the $2,500 required annually for the maintenance of the library could easily be met, as the half mill tax now provided for would, in the course of a year or two, with property values increasing, make up any deficit. He was of the opinion that with the $25,000 a building two stories in height could be erected and by the library occupying the upper floor, the lower floor could be rented at a handsome profit each year. The question of whether Mr. Carnegie would consent to the building being used for any other purpose than for a library was discussed and until this could be ascertained, President McLean and Councilman McKean both advised the postponing of action. Smith and Brewer were both of the opinion that the city should immediately take advantage of the offer by passing a resolution as specified by Mr. Carnegie in making his offer. This was done by Smith offering the following resolution which received a unanimous vote:
"Be it resolved by the city of Walla Walla that the proposition of Andrew Carnegie for a free public library as applied to this city be accepted."
In advising immediate action in the matter, Smith stated that he had made it a point to interview a large number of business men and property owners and not a one had expressed a negative sentiment to Mr. Carnegie's offer but all had declared that the council should immediately avail the city of securing the gift by passing the resolution guaranteeing $2,500 yearly.
“Be it resolved by the city of Walla Walla that the proposition of Andrew Carnegie for a free public library as applied to this city be accepted.”
The Carnegie library was a civic bargain with strings attached: a private fortune built the building, but local taxpayers had to sustain it. The same argument—who pays for public goods and what conditions come with outside money—still shapes Walla Walla's library, parks and civic budgets.
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