The daily gazette., 1875-01-21
FIRST EDITION
The State Libr0rU.
IT'S CHARACTER AND ExTENT-RARE AMI
VALUABLE WORKS.

IT'S CHARACTER AND ExTENT-RARE AND
VALUABLE WORKS.
Few persons, we opine, outside OF DO
yer, have any idea Of the. charaeter and
extent OF our State Library, which IL To-
Gated on the north and east sides of the
Capitol building. Some even who have
visited the library, simply glanced at
the imposing array Of law reports, and
retired with the impression that the in
stitution was paradise for the lawyers
and nothing more.
Butsuch people were greatly mistaken,
AZ a brief glance at the contents Of the
library will show. In the first place there
are the law reports OF all the States in
the U mon, 50 classified, arranged upon
the shelves, and labelled, that the re-
ports from any particular State can be
obtained without the slightest trouble,
ut moments notice. These books are
not rare but they are valuable.
In the rare and antiquated line we
must first mention the old Latin Bible,
printed in 1923 1852 years ago. which is
still in an excellent state OF preserva
tion, and is certainly noble piece OF an :
cient typography.
In this line we must also mention some
volumes Of Aristotle, and about twenty
volumes Of The History of the the Peo-
pie OF God, all in the original Latin,
and nearly three hundred years old. Also
Latin, Greek, Hebrew and Spanish Lexi-
con, and Pliny's History of the World
in French, both about two hundred years
old. There are also number Of other
rare and ancient works.
In the list of modern valuable works,
conspienously appear the plate maps lin
several volunIes) representing the birds,
animals and reptiles discovered by re-
cent U. S. Exploring Expedition; (these
plates are quite rare, as Congress ordered
only asnIall number to be prepared }
the descriptive works accompanying the
plates Schoolcraft's great works OH the
Indians and Indian countries, illustrated;
works on Zoology and Natural Science ;
Life and Writings Of Adams, Jefferson
and Madison, and II host Of other politi-
cal works; last but not least, fifty vol
umcs Of Niles Register, for which the
Librarian has IL special affection, and
which he guards with jealous care.
The above works are only mentioned
to give at idea Of the extent of our State
Library and its valuable character. Its
money Vaiue will approximate 500, ,000.
The State Library has been in exist
ence since the organization OF our State
Government. but was not officially es-
tabliabnd by Legislative enactment until
1882. For many years it was combined
with the office Of Secretary OF State, who
was State Librarian er-o6iciO. .,..I-.
Until recently no great care was taken
of the library and it degenerated into d
sad state of confusion and disarrange.
ment. BIT under the energetic super.
vision Of the present librarian, Hugh J
Enright. Esq, order was restored, and
the entire library re-arranged in a regu
lar and systematic manner. Mr.. I'm
right Is II student as well as mechanic
and takes great pride in exercising fos
tering care over his charge and making
its merits known to the outside world.
The election of u Librarion will de
volve upon the Legislature in few days
| and we hope Mr.. Enright will be re-elect
ed, us better OF more capable person fol
the position it would be hard to find