Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1873-03-07
READING ROOM AND PUBLIC LIBRARY.
A Large and Enthusfasilc Meeting at the
.---t.-f Hoard of Trade Rooms.

-1ua,I Hoard of Trade Rooms.
There was good turn out at the Board
of Trade rooms last night, all seeming to
be deeply interested in the matter of estab-
fishing reading room and library.
On motion Mayor Rule was called to the
chair and stated, SO far as he had examin-
ed into the matter, he thought the
object of the meeting was to inaugurate a
reading room in Knoxville, but as he had
not studied into the matter much, he would
be pleased for Mr.. Luckey, who seems to be
one of the principal movers in getting up
the meeting, to state what he considered
the object of the meeting.
Mr.. Luckey stated that his idea of the
matter was that the obj ect of the meeting
was to organize reading room exclusives
Iy at present, and a library would follow
in due season, and not, as seems to be the
idea of some present, to organize library
first. -.
On motion, Mr.. c. E. Luckey was unan-
| inously elected temporary chairman.
The chairman stated that the meeting
was organized and was now ready for
| business. 1 ..-.
| Mr.. Spence stated that Knoxville was
now city of no small merit and he
I thought it was very important that pu b.
| lie library be instituted, and he would be
one of tweDtp to give fifty dollars worth
| of books. .-.. ..r-i-.
Judge Andrews stated that, from what
experience he had had in the matter, he
| thought il would he advisable to start Ii
brary first. as it could be run with less ex-
| pense. Both would be desirable, but he
thought, not practicable, and as the run
ming expense of library would be the
least, he was in favor of commencing with
it.
Mr.. Charlton stated that as this was only
a preliminary meeting, he was of the opin-
ion that a committee on organization
should be appointed, whose duty it should
be to thoroughly investigate the matter
and report at next meeting as to perma-.
nent officers and other questions in regard
to permanent organization. He made
a motion to the effect that committee OF
five be appointed, with Mr.. c. E. Luckey
as chairman. Carried.
The chairman appointed Messrs. &. w.
Charlton, G.. d. McGuffey, James A. Lyon
and James Sonerville as associates on that
committee.
) Col. A. S. Prosser stated that he had
known of great many libraries being put
in operation by friends of the cause con-
II
money, and he was in favor of a library.
Dr. Bailey was in favor of a library las he
had often seen reading rooms fail but when
transformed into library they stood and
accomplished much good. He also was OF
the opinion that it would cost less to start
and run library room than reading
| room. .u. tt.
Mr. Woodruff thought it was of more
importance to have reading room first,
L - to
| vide place where the young men of the
city, particularly those who had no homes
| and stayed at boarding houses and hotels,
of which class there were perhaps several
| hundred could spend their evening pleas
antly and profitably and thus keep them
from visiting billiard saloons and other
places of similar nature. He knew that
considerable expense would be attached to
keeping up reading room, but it was of
| the highest importance to the young men
| of the city that it should be done. He was
| in favor of both, but first a reading room.
Mr.. Butler gave an illustration how great
sums of money could be saved the comnu-
nifty by having public library.
| Mr.. Luekey thought that the sugges-
| tons of the different gentlemen in regard
| to public library were very good, but he
could not see why it should interfere i'll
| the proposed establishment of reading
| room.
| Mr.. Charlton was Of the opinion that as
| the movement was rather for the benefit of
| the young men of the city, and as they
seem to desire reading room he was in
| favor of the older persons present giving
way to the wishes of the younger ones.
| Rev. j. Howard-Smith thought so large
meeting of Influential citizens should not
adjourn without some expression, and
made motion to the effect, that it is the
L |, ~. hot inro no M
| chief feature, but that reading room is to
| be connected with it.
| Rev. j. F. Spence offered an amendment
to the effect "that a library be establish
| ed.;'
| Mr.. Woodruff offered another amend
ment to Mr. HOward-Smith's motion, to
| the effect that it be the sense Of the meet
| ing that library and reading room be es-
tablished which shall be kept open every
| night.
| Mr.. Howard Smith accepted this amend
ment.
| Mr.. Spence withdrew his amendment.
Mr.. Crozier thought that the meeting
was called through the public press by the
| friends of a reading room for the specified
purpose Of establishing reading room, and
he hoped that they would not be interfered
with.
Mr.. McGuffey made some remarks GA
4 tue SuDJeCU, WueIl MI.
stated that he had been laboring under q
mistake and did not know that the meet
| ing had been called for a specified purpose,
| and would therefore withdraw his motion.
| After remarks from different gentlemen,
| Mr.. c. j.. Luckey renewed Mr.. Howard
| Smiths motion, as amended by Mr..
| Woodruff, and being put to vote, carried
unanimously.
| After some further remarks by different
parties, on motion a committee Of five wac
appointed on the library question, whose
duty it will be to report at next meeting
| the number of books that will be donated
to the library, provided it is established.
| On motion the meeting adjourned to
meet next Thursday night week. re
The meeting, taking it altogether, was
very harmonious and Interesting one, and
| all present showed that they were deeply
in earnest on the subject. We trust that
| the next meeting will be largely attended
| and the committees will be prepared to