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A new location for the Spokane City Library was found necessary for many reasons. One reason was that the Spokane City library was within "skid row" and unsuitable to women and children. Another reason was the increase of library patrons. Registered borrowers increased twice the initial number between 1896 and 1901. The increase of library patronage was due to the abandonment of the library fee in January 1,1901 when the City Library was renamed the Spokane Free Library and supported by city taxes. In March of 1901 the citizens of Spokane formed a committee and sent a telegraph to Andrew Carnegie, the famous industrialist and philanthropist known for his generosity toward building libraries. The telegraph arrived too late as Andrew Carnegie traveled to Scotland three days prior. source: "Move or Make Room" City Hall in Heart of Skid row. Spokane Chronicle, February 7, 1901. "Spokane had Just Missed The Boat!" Spokane Chronicle, March 15,1901 Image: Newspaper Spokane Chronicle, March 15, 1901. Scanned from Microfilm Periodical Collection Spokane Public Library Microfilmed Newspaper "One Day Too Late" Spokane Chronicle, March 15,1901 Spokane library committee Telegram to Carnegie Too late Carnegie Sails for Europe March 13th 1901 Spokane Public Library Periodicals Microfilm