Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-02-20
LOCAL TIE Ms.

-. IIRRARY.--The annual meet
ALExA M Alexandria Library Company
ing Of , 'ns tonight, as will be seen from
tskes Pia aJ notice in another column. We
the ofnclS Sone that there will bea full atten-
.incere, Iot tV only of the stockholders, but of
da 10 .hoss who are anxious to keep IN sue
oil FL, t operation, an institution SO creditapie
70 a aleN Alexandria Library was founded in
Inc md contains many works OF great
l'yf' come of them SO rare as to be found
value, @ other collections in America. The
IN lev .,her of volumes is upwards of 5000;
total n hon 900 having been added since
Reorganization of the Company, IN 1897
INC ne though the supply OF new works is not
snu III ~ the demand, a very slight EFFORT on
equaa .rt Of our citizens would supply this
,,sot Immediately. 200 :.
Inv liberal one, and. under it, all sub
usnsg of S3 wear have been constituted
$r, ,Iholders with the right of equal owner
IN while they continued to pay, and the
snip p;,sge of surrendering their stock, and
gln ';ng themselves from all further pay
iree'aH whenever they think proper 10 do SO.
S E'yhs.r;bers for half year, and even tor one
'uv .,ar are. also. received; and all subscri-
g a.s have the right to draw two books at a
lime. and keep them out two weeks OF even
sur if the book is not in demand.
VII The Library Room is in central location,
,asssible to all, yet sufficiently retired from
~ hustle of the principal streets; 1t is well
' ~ and lighted every night, and affords
w. EXCELLENT opportunity for young men to
~ s,a and study. There are very few among
:" Wv Who do not expend more than three dol
~. wear in books and periodicals. Would
!, not be as well for those who can spare
ooly that small sum, to enter into tins asso-
10. ,;a;;on and thus enlarge, not only their own
.ssns Of instruction. but the opportunities
Of others? =
Va earnestly advise, then, all who have
,bs literary reputation, and social well De-
90 of our city at heart, to attend the meet
ne to-pight. If they are not stockholders,
thew can readily constitute themselves such;
when they reach the Library Room, and
thew will thus have an equal right to control
,bs future operations Of the Company, with
those who are now struggling to maintain it.
Let the young man 80, he needs instruction;
and he can obtain it cheaply. Let the Ola
man 90, he will find many volume which
will afford him delight in his declining
wears. Let the father so, ne can make no
more useful present to his children. than TO
Grant them access to the fountain OF know
fsdge. Let the merchant go, his clerks need
relaxation, and they can find it much better
in q library room, than In the bar-room OF
hotel. Let the mechanic go, his apprentl-
ess will give him much less trouble, II ne
can get them to read good books, than II
thew pass their evenings In the streets, ana
about the engine houses. Let our whole
community go, for they have in their midst
treasure, which is to be preserved and
transmitted to posterity by their exertions'
and which may be lost, unless an effort 1s
now made.
FOREIGN TRADE.-We published last week
a statement of the commerce OF this port ioi
the wear 1859. We have, also, computed
from the official tables of the Treasury De
partment. and give below, a statement O
the foreign commerce OF the port 1or eaci
one Of four years past. The summaries o
the first three years given, are Tor .tsca
years; the last year given, is for the eallen
OAR year. The values are at the custom
House valuation, and, in many eases, are
far below the actual value Of the articles
imported.
The following is the statement OF the gross
amount of direct foreign commerce during
the years mentioned: