The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-16

pobiLlOu Will Do lOuuu on our C0unter, au0 we
request the signatures of those of our citizens
who are in favor of prompt action in the
matter.
The New Mercantile Lib. .ary Building.
THE work of transforming the Franklin Mar
ket House, on Tenth street, between Chesnut
and Market into handsome and commodi rus
building, adapted to the purposes OF the Mer
camille Library Company, Is rapidly progress
ing; and when all the alterations and improve.
ments are made we will have In this city what
has long been needed-a cheap popular library
with ample accommodations of every kind
We would like to see in Philadelphia
great free library like the noble institution Ia
Boston; but the prospects of ever being blessed
with anything of the kind are SO extremely
remote, that the consummation of our desires
is scarcely to be even hoped for. much less ex
pected. The next best thing to free library is
one conducted on the plan of the Mercantile;
and as the Directors of that institution are now
exerttpg themselves to make 1t more than ever
worthy of public patronage, we hope that their
efforts will have the liberal support and en-
couragement Of the community at large.
The Philadelphia Library. with its interest
ing historical associations. its invaluable col.
lection of books, and the liberal spirit which
characterizes its general management, will al
of students and men of letters. For the genera
reader, however, the Mercantile has peculiar
characteristics to recommend It, It Is, in the
first place. great accommodation to have the
book shelves open. so that the desired volume
can be obtained without consulting the Libra
rian. The fact that the reading room, with all
the magazines and reviews, American and
foreign, upon the tables, is open until 10 clock
at night, is also an advantage of no little
Wi no
newspaper and chess-rooms, make the
Mercantile Library place OF resort for many
who would otherwise find 1t difficult to pass
their evenings in manner at once pleasant
and profitable. The facilities to be afforded by
the new building will largely increase all thes
advantages, and the accommodations to be
provided for the student. the general reader. the
chess player, and others who make q practice
of frequenting the present establishment. will
add greatly to their comfort, and make the in
stitution more popular than it has ever been.
The location of the new building is an emf.
nently suitable one in every respect, and when
all the alterations now in progress COM
pleted 1t will be one of the handsomest, best
appointed, and most attractive libraries in the
country. The main library room on the first
floor will be II by l07 feet, with area OF 1898
square feet. Upon this floor there will be two
large reading-rooms-onef for ladies and one 10 r
gentlemen-each 80 by "a feet. and large news.
paper room, At by II feet. besides toilet rooms.
conversation rooms. etc. Upon the second fooI'
four committee-rooms, a directors room 26 by
80 feet, and classroom 80 by 47% feet.
The front of the building is fast assuming the
appearance II will have when the work is com
pleted; French roof has been added and the
doors and windows altered, so that the market
house look of the place has entirely disappeared,
and it is beginning to have quite a bookish air
OH oil DIV Incid IIeo
being run up. the arched roof is being covered
with a suitable ceiling, and other necessary
alterations and improvements are being mad >
as rapidly as the means In hand will admit of
This enterprise Is one that our citizens generally
ought to be much interested in, and 1t will de.
pend upon the support of the public whether
the work is to be pushed on TO completion Inn
mGdiately, or whether it will have to stop ha :
way for want OF the necessary funds The new
building will make the Mercantile Library q
better institution in every way than 1T has
been, and o fe thousand dollars In the trea.
suiy at this time will expedite matters ANA.
zipgly.
To raise the money required four different
methods are proposed. In the first place, dona-
tions and contributions from all who are dis.
posed TO aid Will be thankfully received by tn 9
directors. Secondly, they desire to obtain pur-
chaseTs for the stock of the COM pany, a. ten
dollars per snare. Inc Culrd method Is by the
sale of scrip certificates at ten dollars each
which may at any time be converted into
active stock, so as to entitle the holder TO all
the privileges of the library upon the payment
of the annual dues. Fourthly. it is expected
to realize something from the sale of life-mem
berships at forty dollars each, which entitle the
holder to the use of the library during life, aud
which may at any time be. converted Into four
shares of active stock.
II is to be hoped that the interest of the public
In this matter may be kept alive, ana that
enough money may be placed in the hands of
the directors to enable them to remove from
their present inconvenient quarters TO the
more commodious establishment on Tenth
street during the coming winter, or by spring at
the farthest. The low price of the stock enabNs
almost any one to become purchaser, and the
annual tax is insignificant in com parison with
the many advantages which a membership OF
the library affords.
The Macon (Ga.) Telegraph says;-"Generai
John b. Gordon, recently from visit to his
iather In Alabama, expresses his tear that under
the keglstry act, passed few days since by the
so,called Legislature of that State the whites
VIII be SO largely disfranchised that the Demo
Gratis may lose the State.n