The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-04-01
THE PR ESS,
Monday Morning, April !, 1867.



Shall we have a Public Library in Portland?
Shall We have any Library? Every Public
Library in the city was destroyed in the de-
structive fire of July last; and will the spirited,
enterprising people of this city permit the ashes
which cover the vast intellectual treasures
which then persisted, to shoulder undisturbed?
While renovation and improvement are rapidly
going on in all other departments OF our pusy
life shall nothing be done to restore the means
of mental progress, good morals ana h'ei"s
recreation among us? We can anticipate pu.
one answer: and while all are ready 10 pro-
nounce the cheering aoord, this Will DC all In
vain. unless it is followed by the open hand and
tba nromnt and earnest act. How shall the
tan thousand volumes of the Athenaum and
tina larqa collections of the Mercantile Library
Association and the Young Mems Christian
Union be replaced? Words will not do it
however ardent; but determined action, liberal
contributions can alone restore those persisted
sources of instruction and pleasure.
Portland is admitted to be one of the most
enterprising, intelligent and energetic of our
American cities. She has rapidly accumuiat-
ed capital, and is full of young men and women
of eager and inquisitive minds constantly seek
ing for the sources of knowledge and intellect
ual Improvement. Who that witnessed the
gathering of young men and middle aged men
at the meeting held to organize the new
Institute could help being struck with the
deep interest they felt in the Embarrassing
These have not the capital to 1ouhu
library, but they have the zeal and earnestness
to carry it on. The capital must come from
the elders who by tact and successful labor have
acquired wealth-who have children that have
need of the stimulants of literature and art
and science to improve their minds and devel-
one the higher powers of their natures
No city of the;size of Portland in New Eng
land, is without Public Library; New Bed
ford with population of q 900, had in 1865 a
library Of 10000 volumes, to which 1000
were added in 1865; this was opened in 1858,
Springfield with population of % 600 had a
library in 1866 of q $50 volumes-a subscrip-
ton list of ,535 names besides the city corpo-
ration, and this association was only organized
in 1857. Newburyport with a population Of
1900, has large and constantly increasing
library, in a beautiful building owned by the
Society, purchased, improved and furnished by
liberal contributions from citizens and natives
the town. For instance, Plant Sawyer, former
ly citizen of our town, where he made his
property, gave $1,000; Josiah Little
gave another $4,000; four other persons, res
idents, gave 81 900 each, five $500 each, three
persons, natives of the town but residing
abroad, contributed 1000 each, and seven alike
situated, contributed $500 each, and there were
many subscriptions of $3.50, $500, 500, Sc.
The institutions in the other cities mentioned
received liberal gifts from their enlightened
citizens, and liberal endowments from their
municipal governments. The results of which,
are noble establishments of which those cities
and their people are justly proud, and which
are the means of incalculabe benefit to its cit
liens, young and old land to seekers after
knowledge as well as to those who desire use
full and agreeable recreation. ,.a-, .t. r.-fi
Now Portland has population at least one
third larger than the largest of the cities refer
red to: and think our people would not be
willing to be set down as less enterprising, less
wealthy, or less liberal than the best of them.
Then shall we longer hesitate to take hold OF
this noble work just initiated, make it perfect
in form and structure, and build it up by large
and liberal donations, every one according to
his means, to found and elevate an establish
ment worthy of our city, worthy OF the age in
which we live, and which will be perpetual
blessing to the present and all future genera
tons? Let all the people say Amen. w.