Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-02-16
ALEXANDRIA LIBRARY.
SEW -SEVENTH A n l.
BETTING.

tendance upon the meetings Of the Company
for many years were assembled III the new
rooms, corner Of King and Washington streets,
last night.
The meeting was called TO order by 5. Z.
Ncalc, upon whose motion Il l.. CARGO was
chosen to preside, Mercer Slaughter acting as
Secretary.
Immediately upon the organization OF the
meeting, President Neale presented and read
his report as follows:
PRESIDENTS REPORT.
TO the Stockholders of the Alexandria Library
Company:
AT mi: the seventy-seventh annual MEETING
of the stockholders Uf The AlcXandrla Library
Co.," held in accordance with il provision OF our
charter, for the purpose OF eecting officers LOT
the ensuing year, and for the transaction OF
other business, the duty devolves upon me rs
President OF submitting for your consideration
statement of the affairs Of the Company during
the past year On the 10th February 1874 the
board elected 1T the annual meeting, held on
February 10th, met for the purpose OF organlzs-
ton. Capt p B. Hooe, WAS elected Vice, Pres
ident, Capt NJ. Slaughter, Secretary, and geo.
Z. Shinn, esq Treasurer. Atthe second meeting
of the board, Miss Emma English was re'elecl-
ed Librarian. On May It'll, j. {. Mllburn, esq
rendered his resignation rs director and Col. b.
kemper was elected by the board TO ill the
vacancy.
Som after organizing, tho board proceeded to
consider the financial condition OF the Company,
and tie result WAS anything but satisfactory.
The Library was re-opened after the Wsr,
through the aous exertions OF some OF our
citize2s in March 1868 The first annual meet
ing was held February 18th, 1869. The number
of subscribers was fifty nine. In 40 II and
- the number OF subscribers increased out IN
L. eli off q n irth
ported ut the meeting held on the l7tn FEBRUARY
| 1874, being about 10. A feeling OF painful In
| difference seemed to exist III our community MS
| to tho welfare of the Library and all efforts 10
| increase its usefulness were almost entlrely
fruitless. The new board to provide for imme-
di.ta neces sites, determined to invite the Hon.
| S. S. Cox, mem Der OF Congress from the city OF
| New York, to give lecture for the benefit OF
| he Library. Mr.. Cox. although greatly press
ed by his official duties most kindly yielded 10
| the request, and on the 18th vi March, the lee
ture was delivered before one OF the largest au-
dences ever assembled in Alexandria, upon a
| similar occasion The cordial manner in which
| Mr. Cox WAS welcomed, WAS exceedingly graft
| tying to the board, and WAS lifting compliment
| to u gentleman who Is dese!ved!y recognized
as IL statesman Of ability and scholar OF rare
| culture. During The ln&nth of July an excur-
sion was undertaken through the active exer-
tons Of :. II. Janney, esq, to Occoquan, and a
delightful afternoon waS spent In visiting tnls
| beautiful spot: In December last some OF the
| ladies whose encouragement md assistance mas
sustained the Library, in the darkest days OF It's
existence proposed that calico ten party, SINH
lar to those that had been in@ugurated in New
York should be held, fol our benefit. TIE
idea was ut first thought to be impractlcable;
the ladies peEsey ered and The directors nhaliy
consented. The result, evidenced their ssgacity;
The ladies secured contributions which enabled
them to spread rs handsome supper as any one
could desire. The attendance was large, and
but one opinion was expressed Inc party
was a complete success. For detailed state'
ment of the amounts realized from the lecture,
excursion, and tea party, reference Is made to
tho Recommending report of the Treasurer.
Such have been the operations of the board
outside OF the regular business pertaining t. the
maintenance Of the Library. The small number
of subscribers WAS one oil the hrst ob,ects 20
which the board gave Its attention. In town
of the population OF Aleaandria, there should be
at least 4V to 50J subscribers. No other city IN
the Union with SO good Library, has Sd few
readers No where else are The advantages 10
be derived from books, go seemingly underrated
The Board through committees, canvassed the
town, and secured to date some l'o SUBSCRIBERS
This believe is equal TO any year since the war,
but is not whatit should be, and 1t is hoped that
next yesr, the list may be largely increased.
The small price of the subscription 500 per
annum, places it within the reach OF ALL and 1t
is una ccountable that so few avail themselves OF
the privilege. ~.
To render The Lbrsry popular tie Board felt
the necessity OF purchasing new books, obJec-
ton having been made TO subscribing, on the
ground that ali the books had been road Dur
ing the past year eVerv dollar tnas couid Os
spared from actual expenses was therefore de-
voted to this object, and almost double as many
books were pp chased rs in any previous
year. The Board in purchasing realized the
difficulty of catering to the various tastes to be
found among such number OF subscribers, snd
therefore consulted with the patrons, OF the
Library, buying in CONFORMITY Win Ihelr
wishes as far Us possible Finding that there
were number OF valuable works, useless from
their ragged condition. Capt. Slaughter, Secretary
had them rebound for small sum, and they are
now us good us new.
For number of years great complaint has
been made that there was no catalogue OF the
Library. The last catalogue Was puDiisned some
years previo-s to the war, and had become oy
reason of subsequent losses and additions, very
incomplete Many rare books in the Library
were unknown to the subscribers. members
who were unable to get to the Library on &C.
count of age or inirmity, had to have books Sc
lec,ed for Them by The Librarian, imposing ad
ditional labor upon her, and not always being
satisfactory to themselves. Recognizing the
Justice of the complaint, the Board selected IT.
Theo. West to catalogue and arrange the BOOKS.
He discharged the duty conhded to him IN Inc
most satisfactory and thorough manner-and 1t
before this annual meeting, but owing to crcum-
stances beyond control i: had to be postponed.
One Of the best means ofjadging OF the Interest
felt in the Library, is the number OF DOCKS taken
ont during the year. The Librarian reports,
that within the last year 9O79 books have been
issued, largely in excess of any previous year:
By reference to the report of the Treasurer 1t
will be seen that after the payment of bills to
date there remains in his hands to the credit OF
the Library Sl2 81
Since the last meeting of the stockholders the
loo. ton of the Library has been changed; No
tice having been received from the land. lord to
vacste the room at that time occupied, the Board
rented the present room: and had them prepared
for the reception of the books.
In conclusion, that we meet under such favor
able auspices, more favorable perhaps than any
annual meeting has assembled under since the
WAT, is mainly due to the ladie: of our city. we
ought to receive the most aid from our men
They it would be suppose: would appreciate the
benefits of frst-clss Library and would be
anxious for its continuance. Such, however
Tor