The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1889-12-14
"A SHOULDER TO THE WHEEL. :,
Letter From IA Citizen Concerning
1.-THE Library"
PIocHE, 10th Dec. 1889.

n y
unfounded library in the local columns O
, your last issue, you use the common
.hough somewhat mixed metaphor sIt
only remains forsome one to put his shout
, der to the wheel to set the ball rolling
, 1t appears that several shoulders have
already been applied and that the bal
} has already been rolled some distance, a:
you have stated that about $50 in cash
mas been raised by subscription, presum
: ably Tor furniture, and that the use of an
excellent building has been offered free
OF charge. So we have the books, VIC
nave building, and we have money. In
many communities with these in pos.
session it would be thought that the mos,
important obstacles had been overcome.
and that what remained to be done was
easy. But in Nevada mining camps we
reverse the order of things in MANY res.
poets, and thus we stand to-day hardly
any nearer to practical library than we
did before Mr.. John Clanin. as he
thought, perhaps reasonably, laid the
foundation for one by generous gift.
Why?
We do not lack intelligence to appre.
ciate books, for among us there are
known to be men and women of broad in.
telligence frightened by book learning
and matured by years of contact with
the world. The inhabitants of Nevada
mining camps are high in intelligence.
dare say the percentage of illiteracy in
Phoebe is not one third that in New
| York City, nor even one-third that of
the average of all the towns in the
United States of the same size and popu.
lation as ours. This statement may be
startling, but it is true, as any observing
person of experience in Pacific Coast
mining camps can readily believe.
We have, in numbers also, sufficient
population. Many eastern villages with
population not more than double ours,
have at least Lyceums or other associa.
tions for mental culture or recreation if
not Libraries; and, in state where
population of fifty thousand souls spread
out over desert large enough to make
half dozen states, can and do run a
state government with credit above par,
and million dollar school fund,-a
town of one thousand inhabitants ought
to, and can, do what an eastern town of
five Thousand inhabitants does.
Where, then, lies the trouble? | be.
lieve it to be in the fact that most of our
population feel that they arehere but for
short sojourn, and therefore have no in.
terest in local matters of a permanent
nature such as public library would
naturally be. The support of library
usually requires large and permanent
population. Our population being small
and to great extent transient the first
necessary condition seems absent.
Yet here we have-assuming that the
books are offered to ithe people of the
town OF Phoebe, -anumber of books, said
by those who have seen them to be well
selected, we have a room, and we have
$3.50 in money. Are we to throw these
away F! Can we not make of them some
use commensurate with their value?
believe that much use may come of them
and as no plan seems at present on foot,
and none has been publicly proposed,
suggest few thoughts with due respect
to the opinions of others who may differ
with me.
Let any reliable two, or three or more,
persons call meeting publicly, and
with ample notice, inviting all who de-
sire the advantages of a library to par.
ticipate. BY the way understand that
half dozen most estimable and among
our best known ladies, held an informal
meeting some time ago and resolved to
do that very thing and-didn't do it. 1t
must be said for their sex however that
they began the agitation and that what
ever has thus far been done that appears
of practical benefit in the matter has
been done by them. The meeting being
convened, and the terms and conditions
of the gift of books, if any, definitely
stated, there should be appointed a com.
mittee on organization with the duty of
reporting at an ensuing meeting a de.
tailed plan of action, such as might be
proper, especially considering the pecul-
lar circumstances of our situation. The
report could be read, amended if desira.
BILE, and adopted, and the most import
ant steps would have been taken. Both
meetings should be we'll attended. The