The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-01-08
Reported for the Journal.
PROCEEDINGS DE THE MEETING
= ...4.. HI sHa inc a ERnndinC II OOun.

pose Of establishing a City Reading Room II
After consultation among the leading men
Mr.. Scientific was called to the chair +.
and Mr.. Squib elected secretary. On taking
the chair the President addressed the meeting
in very feeling and appropriate manner
He alluded to the certainty of success as in
dictated by SO general turn out: and he was
happy to see nearly every class of citizens
represented. He proceeded to speak of the
advantages such roomwould afford to every
class of the community. To the merchant
and business man it would answer well as a
temporary exchange-the professional man
would love occasionally to refresh himself
the weary mechanic, after the tolls of the day,
would delight to glance over the world, in
reading the valuable papers it contained
Then there were hundreds Of young men who
might be induced to spend their evenin gs
here, instead of lounging about stores and
taverns, and thus a great benefit to the com
munity would be realized. His alIusion to
the bond of union it would afford to the va
rious sects, and parties and classes-fusing
Jail in one, by afording a common privilege
Ito all persons, was touching and sublime, and
he sat down expressing hope that harmony
would prevail, and that the measure so ar
Identity desired would at once be accomplish
ed. After the emotion produced by the elo-
quent chairman had subsidized, Mr.. Anxious
offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That we consider the establish
ment of a reading room in this city matter
of primary Importance, and that
"One thing at a time" shouted several
"Let US discuss that resolution first" and
Mr.. A. took his seat offering only what he had
Tread. .8aast Haa raa
Mr.. Cautious taking the floor said: think,
Mr. Chairman, am as great friend to lit
Ierature as the city affords. have long been
known as patron of all benevolent enter
prises and thinkI am entitled to hearing
in this. |; was the fear that few enthusi-
asts would resolve to establish a Reading
Room, and then that would be asked to aid
in filing it up, that brought me out Let us
look before we leap There is the wharf
just fnished-streets half graded-aud the
) Railroad, Mr.. Chairman,-all these public
Improvements in one year, besides the bridge
over Pigeon, and Market House and the pool
, house just think Of it for a moment !
Then you must remember we want every
dollar we can spare to pay our taxes with
f They are enormous Mr.. Chairman, they are
and but few ofus would pay them if we coulc
fIheIp it. There too, look at our churehes-toc
numerous to mention, and our-our-( schoo
houses some one whispered) yes, Mr. Chair
t man our school houses. They, (that is ou
public school houses speak of our enterprise
D in behalfof the intellects of our children, they
e stand as SO many monuments of our hberalty
When it is remembered that they never pay
rent, nor in any way return farthing to tn,
a public treasury, or to the Golfers of private
: stockholders, our school houses are Just in
dex to our desire to improve the minds of tn,
!, young. Look at them, as so many suns
Y emitting the rays of moral and intellectual
5 light. WHO does not feel justly proud of on
high literary character. as he conducts tn,
: stranger, seeking home in some thriving ant
+ intelligent city, through our beautiful streets
i We say "look at our wharf-our streets
e our churches-the canal, and there sir, " W,
add with indiscrbabIe emotion, there sir
+ that beautiful edifce back of the marke
: house, near Apps stable, are our Seminary
n and common school houses '-(great sensa
t ton). By the way, MIR. Chairman, not wish
it ing to divert the minds of the meeting fron
, the question under consideration, Fll give I
h dime towards having sign board painted i
gilt letters-Q think gilt would look like w
had some public spirit) Cry HIGH ScHoo
e House, to put over the door, for most pei
} sons take it to be the Jail or one ofApp'
e stables. need hardly add, Mr.. Chairman
that am decidedly in favor of this measur
Is if it cost nothing, but ifit costs anything ar
y y for postponing the thing until we all have a
I much money as we want" Greatapplause.
: Mr.. Propriety next took the floor. l an
~ Mr.. Chairman, decidedly In favor of that read
= ing room, though with my friend who just So
> down, have my doubts of the propriety {
. establishing it now. He has with his charaC
Il terishc liberality alluded to few reasons of
public nature why it ought to be postponed
Though it may be somewhat unpleasant t
- speak ofprivate and personal matters mus
- do it on this occasion. Whar, sir, is propose
! to be accomplished by this measure? Is
y not, in plain terms, to supply some mental foo
:. land clothing? Now sir ask and If is amo