Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-02-22
LOCAL NEWS.

,,auv held on!the night of Monday the Goth
instant at the Assembly Rooms :. IN, ,..ss
PRESIDENTS REPORT. : :. !, +, B., ~.
T.. fh, alexandria Library CbmLdnB:
At this, the sd annual meeting OF the com
Of our charter, for the purpose of electing off
GERS, and for the transaction of other business;
Of importance, it would seem to be the duty Of
the President to present forsyour consideration
report, or statement of the affairs and condi
ton of the association in whose behalf and by
whose authority We are here assembled.
This duty which conceive to be incumbent
on me by virtue of my position, while none the
less binding because sanctioned by time-honor,
ed custom, rather than prescribed by the ''di
rect letter OF the law, ls to me, perhaps, more
than ordinarily pleasant because Ihave pleasing
things to report.
The Library was never in more hounshine
condition since its establishment, as is evidenc-
ed by the very encouraging reports of the Lii
brarian and Treasurer herewith submitted
marked "a and 'B, respectively, to which
| will presently invite your more particular at
irntion .
Before, however, approaching matters of
more urgent and Immediate interest, it may be
not amiss to take rapid sketch of the hiStor,
of the Library from its establishment up to the
last annual meeting.
The Library Company Of AlrranI,m WAS
formed on the Oath day Of July, l794, by some
OF the prominent citizens OF our venerable city,
who assembled themselves for this purpose at
the house Of one John lEse-an ancestor by
the way, of some among U.s. who, at this day,
though nearly eight decades older than their
Prototype fore fathers, still hold to good inst-
buttons. At that meeting L voluntary associa-
ton was formed, and some constitutional out
lines were laid down for the establishment of
Public Circulating L'n"oYm the city IF Alec
nn1,id.
On the 3lst day Of the same month Library
Company was organized by the election of the
Rev. James Muir for President, and for Di-
rvctors, the following gentlemen: Elisha G.
Dick. John Gill, Robert Mease, William Harris
horne Charles Simms, John d. Orr, Charles
Lee and John Fitzgerald Samuel Craig was
elected Treasurer, and for Librarian they Sc
lected Edward Stabler, the grandfather of the
worthy gentleman who has SO ably managed the
finances of the company for several years past.
In the year 1898 the character Of the original
association was materially changed. At this
time an act Of Incorporation was granted by
proving Defective it was in the following year,
succeeded by the charter as it stands ut the
present day. Governed and guided, with vary
inc success, by this amended CHARTER the COM
pany has attained its present highly beneficial
and self sustaining position. As the incoming
tide of ocean, sometimes retrOgradlng, but at
each successive wave rising higher than before,
50 has the Alerand,7n Library, gradually, but
steadily, gained ground in popular favor, while
widening the sphere of its usefulness
On the establishment Of the Lyceatn,, in 1910,
L union was effected between the two companies,
under the conditions Of which the books were
transferred to q room in the Lyceum building
situated on the corner of Prince and Washing
ton streets, which room they occupied until
about the first of February. 1868, when they
of the Aecand,1a Christian Association. By
authority of the society last named they were
soon after removed to the room of the assoca-
ton, over French's bookstore, No. 95, King
street But, lest We omit a link in the chain his
torical-or '!'drop a Stich, as our gruudmothers
would say-it is necessary to retrace our steps
for Il little The connection between the Lucc-
am and the Library lasted until 1914, when it
was broken by mutual consent, although the
books were allowed to remain in the Lyceum
building. Thereupon followed 4 season of alb
>olute or comparative quiescence. Dust set
tied thickly on the Library shelves. and was
shaken off only at rare intervals BY some lite.
rary antiquarian in search of buried treasures.
The Library remained in this unpronllsing and
Van Wrinkle condition up to 1852. In that year
it was disinterred and revived by the energetic
and well directed efforts of Miller, HalloWel,
Carne, Stuart, and host of others, some OF
whose names are yet prominent on your list OF
stockholders, while their presence here sutti,
GENTLY evinces the lively interest they still feel
in an institution SO venerable and benlticent: At
that time the number Of stockholders was about
l00 the volumes numbering hoo the yearly
additions averaging about 80, while the num-
Der issued was nearly 5000.
So We tsheld our own" until the inception OF
the late disastrous civil conflict, III the course OF
which; as in other wars, monuments as we'll as
men were ruthlessly destroyed. BY the war the
Library lost not less than 900 or 500 volumes
of the best standard and current literature, the
loss being felt especially in the latter class of
books the very pabul,tn, from shich circulat-
ing library derives its chief support. Thus it
will be seen, that like other institutions of il
similar nature, our Library emerged from, the
war not unscarred Subsequently several ef
forts were made to infuse new lite into this ap,,
parently defunct organism, all OF which proved
barren of good results until about the beginning
of the year 1870, when, in obedience to reso-
luton passed at q meetlng OF the Dlrectors last
preceding the present Board, call was made
upon ''all citizens favorable to the Library cause
to assemble at the rooms Of the Christian Asso-
citation. At the meeting held in consequence
of this call measures were setafootby which the
Library might be put upon more substantial
basis. The good work thus begun was ia ken in
hand by your present Board and carried on;
with what measure of success you yourselves
may best judge.
If any apology be needed for 50 long a tres
pass on your time and patience, | beg that YOU
will try to find it in pardonable interest which
| feel in the affairs of the company, and III
which, assure myself, your sympathies wlllnot
be lacking. Emboldened by this assurance, l
venture to ask your indul gence for Il few mo-
ments longer while I set before you, as briefly
as possible, statement ofwhat4has been done;
in the company's behalf BY your present Board