, 1873-01-02
MR.. HOYNE's ADDRESS.

Chicago Public Library have thought the New
Yours Day Of 1873 m appropriate timo upon
which thoy might congratulate tho "Oity
Fathers" and tho gonoral public, On go lmpor-
tho people, for the .firat, timc-the Reading
Room OF this new municipal Institution. ThoBo
among uB who-einco tho year 1857, when tho
city was first organized untlor municipal char
timo marvellous development. Tho city, from
d population Of some three thousand souls, has
toachod fourhundrod tIousandl It has advanced
from village sito to great metropolitan city.
During this interval we hare boon frequently
called upon to witnosB or inaugurato aomo Of
tloao single enterprises through Or by means Of
which ali Of this has come to PASS. We have
soon milo upon milo of level swamp and prairie
land raieod up to town grado, many feet aboVo
tho original lovol, transformed into miles Of
paved streets; tho Waase places covered with
palace shops, costly mansons, and mammoth
storos and warehouses. Ton thousand miles OF
railroad hayo boon rapidly concentrating at our
doors tho commerce, tho traffic, aad the pro-
territory which the commercial position Of the
city so naturally commands. Along al tho great
rivers to tho two gulfe, and upon our great
lakes, botweon tho two oceans OF our Ocean
bound Republic" tho very spirit Of the droat
Wost (uBing THO Language Of late number Of
tho Ffnancier), "Hke morning light, is polar2ed
at Chicago"
THE GREAT LOCAL CALAMITY
which, little moro than a year ago, drove into
tho street moro homeleBa families, and destroyed
moro property In buildings, than had ever be-
foro BiEnalized tho occurrence of 80 fearful at
ordeal, aoems to only demonstrato how this ver-
table spirit OF tho great West eau rebuild a bot
tor city now, within o year after the calamity,
! than had been built within the thirty years Of
municipal existence that preceded that ovent.
And yet. gentlomon, in Wow Of all the mate-
rial and commercial progreas, I venture to say
that, in inaugurating thia enterprise Of q Free
Public Library md Reading Room to-day, VIC
are introducing more powerful and important
agency Of moral and intellectual progress, aud
adding moro to tho true advancement Of our civ
ilszation as poople, than we heyo jet done by
auy SINGLE 1t may bo all tho works in which tho
city has yet been ongagod. It may be well for
TO Rtt1AprTu1aTE Bn1EFLY
the ateps Of our progrosB In this enterprise: It
is noarly yoar since fow gontlomon aldrossod
a request to our Mayor in writing to call pub
lie meeting Of citizens at Plymouth Congroga-
tional Church, On Wabash avenue, with Wow
to the Immediate adoption Of some moabures to
establish FREQ Public Library in Chicago.
A1r. Medill tho Mayor, at onco called tho
mooting, through tho newspapers, tor tho oven
ing OF The 9Th OF January, A. .. 1872. At this
Mayor 70 appoint committee Of at least tiftoou
persons to prepare tho necessary legislation for
tho purpose, and, ae soon Us practicable, call an
other meeting, At which tho Committee was to
report.
some "a persons, and after maturing tho plan
OF a law or bill, by modifying ono which waa
then pending before the Acneral Assembly Of
the State introduced by tho late Mr. Caldwell,
from PEORIA a)-roported the draft Of q bill, as
amended to 4 noeting of citizens called at tho
present City ball, on tho Goth day Of January,
1879. Tho Chairman OF that meeting {hIr.
Hoyne), who WAS also Chairman Of the Commit
tee that had boon appointed, was authorized to
sond Committee to Springfield to secure the
passage Of the bill into o Law as soon rs posBi-
bio.
Tho bill mnturod lin concort with tho Commit
too On Education Of tho Lower House Of the
Legislature, and the Chairman ST tho Committee
Of oitizous, who made a, journey to springhold)
which took OBJECT on tho 7th day Of March last.
On tho 7th day OF April, the Common Council,
upon a report OF the Mayor, adopted an oEdi-
nance declaring, in accordance With the act,
tabliBhed d Free Public Library and Reading
Room for the uae Of tho inhabitants of tho City
of Chicago, to bo known as tho "Chioago Public
Library" and that - there should be provided
and set apart, under the direction OF the Board
Of Public Works, room for tho reception OF
any books that may DO donated or procured for
such Library. until permanent location be
otherwise provided"
Or tho sth day Of April. 1872 at the next
pointed tho first Library Board Of ninc Directors
undor the act, in which appointment the Council
ooucurred, and they at once entered upon the
discharge OF the truhts asnignel to thctr caro- by
law. On tho 11th of April, the Board assembled
President, and h1r. sheahan was appointed Soc.
rotary, to act until permanent ono could be
paid and selooted. Az may be supposed,
THE VERY T1RsT DIFFICULTY
with which they contended WAS the noed OF
proper rooms or funds to provide even tempo
n1JRrfAFA- An thu net 611thGr-
i2ing cities aud towns to establish and maintain
tree public libraries aud roRdlng-rooms, provides
that tho Council may layy tax Of not to excoetl
one:afth OF mill on dollar annually, In all
on all tho taxable property Of the city, to be col.
lectel In like manner at all other taxes OF enld
oity, and to DO known and set apart hs the
Library Fund.-" to he exclusively unaor Tho
hut it required year to e1apso before this loyy
OF the filth Of = mill could BE- mado available by
collection. The annual lists Of 1872 aro only now
begiuntng to resilzo eome portion OF this fund
IN Tho Oily Tr8Rsnly.
entirely without 1esourceg. The invention Of
the Mayor came to our aid. And II was found
that by his corporation. With tho Boara Of Pub
llo Works, library quarters might. bo improVtaed
out of tho abandoned, and, tor aomo goars,
useleea
IRON wArER-TAsz.
built some years ago on thin lot 81 distributing
RESERVOIR for the South Division Ut the city.
Netng 10 faet In diameter, 80 feet tn height, cir
culat In shape, and constructed OF iron, It was
capable Of becoming . Rre.proof ro.nnda, with
room to arrange 1900 yolumes OF books on
shoiyes; and, as nuch, 1t has been translormed
Into library by roofing and ahelying: II tho
objeotion be made by s0me that IT is placed too
high up into tho air for Notwithstanding
as 1t docs upon q solid brick and
stonowork OF rather outontatlouh masonry !;
the City Ilall, atofn aud dnrk.loohing dome Of
no mean proportions. aud, when considered In
connection with ttB object, IT may be regarded
~ h beacon llRht upon D hill new reservoir Of
knowledge, Iustehd Of water, shedding light AMI
wisdom upon tho counaols OF the City Fathers.
Taking It, however, Oh 1t iB--a really safe fro
proof receptacle or vault for tho koopiag Of
booka, and in connection with this largo room Of
6l1b0, also constructed for uB by tho Board OF
Works-wo have every reason 10 be thankful for
the present temporary quarters.
1ndoed, wo may congratulate ourselves that
within year after tho Qrst laeQtl9g Of tue oti'