, 1859-03-25
Balance in tlle Treasury,


Though tho duty devOlving upon your Com
mittes calls for but the above brief statement,
they cannot foFsgD the opportunity here presented
to congratulate the Association upon the success
that has thus far attended their efforts. Few
like attempts elsewhere have been attended with
equal success. . ..H T. .r.H Is. Jtl al
II is hoped that, on the opening Of the Library
Tor the use Of It's members an increased interest
will be felt In regard to its success. Should its
growth keep pace with the growth Of Steilacoom,
no cause will be had for complaint Great care
has been given to the choice Of books ordered,
land which arc now daily expected that their
character shall be such as will instruct and in
tercst, without cOrrupting the minds Of the
readers. A further sum Is about being rcmittcd
Tor another supply; which, added to the first, It
is thought will purchase collection Of books fully
equal to the present wants Of Steiacooln. ia'
It should not be forgotten that, before the
Association was well under way, the gold excite.
ment burst forth, and nearly depopulated for q
time our town and county; notwithstanding
which, We have added largely TO the original mum.
Der Of members, and accumulated fund exceed.
ing the anticpations Of the most sanguine. Should
We be equally successful during the ensuing wear.
our labors will indeed have resulted happily; for
We shall then have established upon sure and
firm footing an Institution which promises to
confer q lasting and priceless benefit upon the
community Of Steilacoom in future years. Too
high an estimate cannot be placed upon the value
Of public Libraries. In the dissemination Of
knowledge they have at all times been powerful
and efficient agcnlsj while the salutafy Influence
they exert Ia the promotion Of morality and
virtue Is iucalculable Tho public Libraries Of
large cities are nightly thrOnged BY young men,
either in the pursuit Of knowledge or entertain.
mcnt who, in the absence II thcss Libraries,
would perhaps be engaged in the indulgence Of
vices and exeesses Of every kind This having
been their effect abroad, none will aiI to sec the
Importance Of fostering and encouraging the As
soelation here; for We have growing up about Us
a large number Of young men who require an
attraction and check Of this nature to draw
thcm from the haunts Of vice Their future
welfare appeals strongly 10 this Society, and let
US hope the appeal will not be in vain - So
Library Associations in some Of the older cities
Of the Union, beginning under no more favorable
auspices than this, have established and now sus
tain several Of the best schools inthe country. in
which all tho higher branches Al taught, and this
is done without the imposition Of any tax in ad-
dition to the usual dues and the revenue derived
from the letting out Of books. From these schools
hundreds Of young men graduate yearly, the
limited means Of whose parents could not have
afforded them the facilities afforded bv these as
sociAtions for finished education. May we not
hope to accomplish as much here? But this is
matter for future thought and action.
~ A. p. DELIN,
taa e291 1ssi d5g Chairman Of Committee.
SrELAcooN, w. T., Jan, 8d, 1850.