Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-07-24
WEEKLY CHRONICLE.
The Puhlic Library.


Mr.. Samuel Watkins has given one
hundred thousand dollars for the es-
tablish ment of public library in
that city. This act of generous public
spirit and philanthropy, which, $50
far as am Informed, is unprecedented
in the history of Tennessee, is full of
encouragement to those who are in-
terested in similar enterprises in be-
half Of the enlightenment and educa-
ton of our people. The utility and
benifcence Of institutions such as that
which Mr.. Watkins proposes to estab>
| lish are too obvious to need the assist
ance of argument. Notwithstanding,
I venture the assertion that there is
not in Tennessee single well
| equipped library. The statistics to
which 1 have had access are incom-
plete, but it is safe to say that except
| ing the state library, the athense I'm
library of Columbia, which contains
| - 900 volumes, is the largest in the
state.
The principal libraries of Memphis
and Nashville have respectively nine
and six thousand volumes, while ours
contains three thousand and is even
more limited in resources than in this
respect.
The cause of our city library has
been very frequently and ably pre-
sented to the public, but the subject is
| one which should not become old or
cease to be interesting, and in view of
the example afforded by the munifis
cence of Mr.. Watkins / regard this as
| iofa ct
| tention to it again. We have hereto
fore had occasion to express our obli-
cations to gentlemen in the city for
contributions to the library, but the
number has been limited, and it is
undeniable that very large majority
| Of our people do not appreciate the i'm
portance of the undertaking, or render
it the encouragement which it de-
serves.
This very clearly appears from the
fact that notwithstanding we magnify
The census takers estimate of our pop
ulation to nearly fifteen thousand. our
library, after an existence of nearly
ten years, during which it's manage
ment has labOred earnestly and per>
sistently, contains only three thousand
volumes, q large proportion of which
are valueless for any purpose, and is
not self supporting. Our annual in.
come has never been sufficient to
defray necessary expenses. We are
compelled not only to practice rigid
economy, bat frequently to lay aside
private business and undertake the
most incOnvenient and disagreeabie
work. To become vendors OF lecture
tickets on the streets, solicitors of
private donations. aud to exc
out our scanty income
by repeated contributions of
the directors would be endurable,
however, were it not for the discour-
aging illberality and Indifference
which we continually encounter. The
citizens of Knoxville do not seem to
realize that in the education of the
people the public library, we'll supplied
and conducted, would be an instru~
ment scarcely les important or
efficient than the public schools. This,
as potent, we have repeatedly and to
little effect urged in aid of.our work.
do Lot wish TO appear censorious,
and certainly do not charge opposition
upon any one. The great difficulty
which we have unsuccessfully encOun.
tered for ten years is an almost uni.
versal apathy. The same indifference
upon this subject prevails throughout
the state, but the reproach does not
apply 30 forcibly elsewhere. Tt {
recent census will show tina
Knoxville is third in population and
wealth among the cities of the state
she has the state university, the state
asy lum for the deaf and dumb, Knox.
} Vile college, an admirable system o.
public schools, and is the commercial
; political and intellectual center O.
Eastern Tennessee. To such q city 6
we'll provided public library is inva,
liable and Indispensable.
/ have been investigating library
statistics and few items may not be
uninteresting. In Tennessee, which
according TO the census of 1870, had 6
population of .258 $50. We have, in.
GLIDING the state library II public H.
braries. In Massachusetts, which &C
cording to the same census, has q
population of 1,457 1862 there are
454 public libraries. In the city OF
Boston alone there are 70 pub.
lie libraries. The number O
volumes In our II libraries approx
mates ore hundred thousand. In
Boston there are three public libraries
which aggregate 1913 500 volumes
taips 200 600 Allowing for annual
increase these four libraries doubles.
contain six times as many books as al
the public libraries in Tennessee.
The state Of Rhode Island having
about the area of an average Tennessee
county and little more than the pop
ulation of q congressional district has
t Sc public libraries.
The public libraries of the northern
and eastern states are the outgrowth OF
the general education of the people
r and st the same time one of its most ef.
ficient promoters. These statistics show
J the esteem in which they are held,
aud it does not need argument tt
prove that the people of those states
are right in believing that as sources
OF enllghtening and beneficent ipfiu-
g ence they are but little inferior to theil
!. schools and colleges
g 1 DO not intimate that our peopl.
Il 10 not appreciate the importance o
o puuhc libraries or the benefits to b,
g derived from them. The trouble il
tnat their belief is passive and not &C
i've. we have called upon them
9 again and again to give our enterpris,
: support proportionate to the meri
Z which they concede to it. We hay,
q not asked as for charity; we bav,
: simply presented the cause of publ,
d Institution, which is capable of con
terrlng the greatest benefits upon tn
city. ~
We repeat the call to come to its as
slstance. The generosity of Mr.. Wat