| 1913 |
 |
 April 2: Andrew Carnegie refuses to fund the erection of the central
library |
|
|
May 24: City Solicitor Michael J. Ryan issues an opinion stating that the 1898
loan money cannot be used for the construction of the central
library |
| 1914 |
|
September 24: Mayor Rudolph Blankenburg signs an ordinance to borrow $40,000 for the central library to overturn the 1898 loan restrictions |
|
|
 November 5: Mayor Rudolph Blankenburg authorizes the erection of a temporary
building for evangelist Billy Sunday on the central library site |
| 1915 |
|
January 7: Mayor Rudolph Blankenburg signs ordinances appropriating $40,000 for
the central library and overturning the 1898 loan restrictions |
|
|
March 25: Mayor Rudolph Blankenburg requests that library officials restart the
central library construction effort |
|
|
May 21: The Philadelphia City Council extends Logan Square west to Twentieth
Street |
|
|
July 17: City Solicitor Michael J. Ryan authorizes commencement of construction
of the central library following approval of the $40,000 loan |
|
|
August 13: Horace Trumbauer states that "The preliminary plans and studies are
completed and preparation of the working drawings and specifications can
be started immediately, requiring about ninety days for their
completion." |
|
|
August 16: The Free Library's Board of Trustees authorizes Horace Trumbauer to
proceed with plans and specifications and schedules the groundbreaking for
September 16, 1915 |
