The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-11-26
Public Library and Reading Room for Coal
Valley

To the Editor of The Rock Island Argus
The question as to whether means could
not be devised which would afford an OPP
portunity to our citizens of spending their
leisure hours in some way which would |
prove more profitable that the present, has |
often been discussed A Public Library |
and Reading Room Association,i it has been |
thought, should be established and
although talked about and the urgent ne
cessity of some such institution evident
even to the most casual observer, nothing
definite has, as yet, been accomplished in
this direction. Man is, by nature, a social
being, and when opportunity is afforded
naturally seeks the society of his fellows
Here then is the first grand opportunity to
be improved In order that such an Asso-
citation NAV be profitable there must be
accessible such information as will furnish
topics for discussion or conversation, and
have a Wholesome influence on those who
participate therein 1t is evident that
such an enterprise cannot have the re-
) hottest hone of success unless separated
apart from everything that is pernicious to
society or has tendency to degrade the
moral man The interests of society de-
mand that some action be at once taken
MANY of our Youths who labor in the mines
cannot avail themselves of the advantages
} afforded by our public schools, and they
spend their evenings on the streets or in
, places of resort where vice turks in every
, corner and temptingIy lures them to the
first steps in crime, Why is this? Sim
a ply, as they will tell you, because there
5 Is no other place to 60" Let there be a
q place provided, with that only which has a
tendency to elevate and ennoble and we
will, ere long, find desire for knowledge
fast developing itself; the haunts of vice
deserted by those who are now forming
habits of vice; and what is still better we
shall find in our youths blessing to the
r community in which they live. Nor is il
!, our Youths who shall reap benefits. There
1 are heads of families who have no other
IS place to 90 and who would gladly set tn,
e example for our youths, had we som,
- pleasant and profitable place of resort.
An opportunity for satisfying this de
e mand is now very generously offered to GU
If citizens; and, Judging from the interes
+ already manifested, the probabilities ar
:. that at no distant future we shall have
~ Public Library and Reading room fitte,
= with all the conveniences of comfort, bot
,e physically and intellectually, wher
- their leisure hours. The initiatory step
y were taken on the evening of the ODD
Is when number of our citizens assemble
lie at the Post Office for the purpose of takin
e the matter into consideration. DR.. Marti
+ was called to the chair and j. B. MeFal
" lane appointed. secretary After a state
ment from the chair as to the object of tn
lie meeting, Thos. Lees, Esq Offered the 70
of lowing preamble and resolutions whic
r we're unanimously adopted:
WHEREAS, The Hon. P. L. Gable has very gene
IS, ously offered to donate lot and build the nece
- sary building for Public Library and Readir
IL Room Ia this town: Therefore be 1t
mn ReS0lrsd, That this meeting appoint a commi
- tee OF three to confer with Mr.. Cable the sd
lie ect and also 70 carry out the wishes OF this COZ
h. munty IN the prosecution Of the work 10 Il sueces
- ResoIssd. That said committee he authorized
- call meeting of the citizens at their earliest co
9S Resoirsd, That the thanks of this meeting
ar rendered to Mr. Gable for the very kind and prom
manner in which he has responded to the wish
Of our citizens In their efforts to accomplish I
he above work.
nd sent to the Rock Island ARGus and Rock lsla
. Union for publication
John Bowen, Thos. Evans and ?
put Bratt, were appointed a committee to CO
est fer with Mr. Gable.
,re 1t will be seen from these resolutio
~ that all that is required of our citizens
'O' to stock the Library with reading matt,
Wo which we trust will be done in credital
ms manner.
uel Such generosity on the part of Mr.. Cal
cannot fail to strengthen the love aud
gard of our citizens for him, knowing Il
while developing his mines, he also has
one one deep interest in the developments of
Fad Fad moral and intellectual welfare of our p
pie. TIP.