City Requests University to Give Land, Produce Library

A letter requesting that Harvard grant the City of Cambridge a certain piece of land near the Observatory and build a library to go with it, was sent to President Conant yesterday afternoon. The plot in question is now occupied by a portable garage.

This note of appeal, which is signed by Cornelius P. Cronin, secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Cambridge Library, continues by suggesting that the new library be named in honor of President Eliot. It then elaborates on the value of a public library to youth and adults alike as a cultural and refining influence.

The only other land transaction between Cambridge and the University in recent years was on an exchange basis when the City obtained the square on which to build the New Central Fire Station. This is the first request that the municipal authorities have made to Harvard outside an humble petition that the College should pay some taxes.