The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1892-07-08
PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR CORVALLIS.

Twenty-seven citizens of Corvallis
describing themselves as "Active flie-
men of this city, have sent in petit
ton to the city council against setting
aside IL room in the new city hall.
"for the use of the W. G. I. u, library
and free reading room"
! F,om talking to several Of the sign
ers I find that they do not understand
the facts-as l felt sure was the case.
These gentlemen are not the men to be
unable to appreciate the advantages to
the city, as a whole, of having pub
lie library-nor are they selfish
enough to wish to deprive their fellow
citizens. young and old, Of the privilege
of reading good books just because
they, the signers Of the petition do not
care to read such books themselves.
Now, this proposed library is to be
free gift to the city of Corvallis for
ever-and in the original written
offer no sort of control, interference,
or management, is proposed to be re-
served to the ladies of the w. c. T.
u, or anybody else except just this
that after the library is turned over to
the city it is proposed that additions to
the library in years to come shall be
superintended, Or approved Gf that is
a palmer word) by committee CT
three-one member named by the
city council, one by the w. C. T. u,
and the third to be the professor of
English literature in the agricultural
college for the time being.
Is that a fair suggestion, in these
days Of impure, infdel, and worthless
books, to keep up the standard of the
city library to the high standard it will
start on = If it is not reasonable let
any ohjector propose a better one.
Now, the city council themselves
found this objection in the offer made
them-that to keep the library open at
reasonable times might cause some ex-
pense to the city, which the city char
ter did not authorize.
The council had three courses open
to them--eitlaer to refuse the offer
outright-or else, to fix the opening of
the library at such times that no addi-
tional expense to the city would be
involved-or, to tell the persons, who
made the offer that they would give
them lease of the library room, so
that whatever expense that was incurred
in keeping the room open would fall
ON the persons offering the library and
not on the city.
The city council chose this last alter
native, 10y resolutions.
Now, the w. G. L. u, ladi-s pro-
prose to act on this, rather than see the
city deprived of the library.
But, it was not their intention or
proposition; and they have not pro-
posed, or suggested, to devlate in any
one point from their first proposition
which is, to put the city of Corvallis
in:o the free, uncontrolled, and abso-
lutte ownership of the books to be
bought from 5l,e proceeds of the sale
Of the present library in reasonable
way and in good faitll-and that by
some means OF other further additions
to the library shall be Of good, clean,
standard books.
These statements are made AS the
result of a careful inquiry into the
facts. If they are true, and if no in
reference with the management of the
library in the future, is to be fetred-
OF hoped for, as the case may be-
then surely the grounds Of the "active
firemen's" opposition disappear-anl
the council should do all i'll their power
to aid the purpose of supplying the
city of Corvallis, not with "W. c. I.
u, free library and reading room," as
the firemen's petition calls it, but with
a Getty Of Corvallis Free Library" to
be handed down bv one city council to
another as one Of the city's most valu-
able and useful possessions.
A LOVER OF COOP Books. |
FOOD AND DAIRY COMMISSION.