The Washington times., 1894-11-22
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
on a Permanent Footing-Gen.
GreeIey's Rcport

The proposition to establish a free public
meeting of the Washington Library Associa-
ton. President Spoford was absent to lecture
at Carroll Institute. DR.. Cyrus Adler, Hbrar-
ian of the Smithsonian. took the chair.
Gen. A. W. Greeley, chairman of the COM
mittee on free public library, was present, but
was forced to leave for Pittsburg in half an
hour, and his report was heard at once. AS
read its essential parts are as follows:
''There has been one meeting, at which the
chairman was authorized by the unanimous
vote OF the full committee to ask in the name
of the association additional subscriptions to
those already obtained by him in an individ-
ual capacity. u So far the prospects
are most favorable for placing the library on
have been offered as nucleus for the library
itself
''It has been considered that an annual in
come OF $4,000 for five years is the sum that
would be necessary for the care of small
library and reading room, but it is hoped
that the sum of $4,000 annually may be
secured. II. has been determined that no sub
scription shall be payable until an annual in
come of 81 900 shall have been guaranteed
and a responsible treasurer selected by the
contributing citizens. The sum of
81, ,385, payable in five annual instalments, has
been secured, and $500 TO $500 were promised,
thus insuring an annual income of nearly
5000.
There has been no plan formulated. no
room selected, no steps taken to advance any
partial or imperfect scheme; but the whole
question of organization, location, and ad-
ministration is left to the action of the CON-
mittee to be hereafter selected by the sub
scribers Such Of the members as are willing
to ask subscriptions are requested to SO in
form the chairman OF this committee, sending
him lists OF the individuals they are willing
TO approach, so that there may be no dupli-
cation of work or confusion of action"
Gen. GreelY's report was made the special
business for the next meeting, which will be
December 19, instead Of December 26, the
regular date, which conflicts with the meet
ing OF the American Historical Association
The report of the committee on lending books
will also be considered at that meeting.
Secretary Fassigs report showed new
members DR.. J. NJ Toner Gen. A. W. Greely.
Mrs. A. F. Stevens, Irene Tyler, Rev. Mr.
Coppins, OF Georgetown, and DR.. Cleveland
| Able.
Committees appointed by the executive
committee were reported as follows: Free
public library, Messrs. Greely, Spofford, and
Allen. Formation of a union list of periodi-
Gals in Washington Libraries, Adler, Cutter,
and Fassig. Care of maps, Darwin and Par
sons. Lending books, Prince, CoppiH, and
Preswell. Public documents, Armes, Lowder-
milk and Church. Exchange of department
books, Farquhar, Fitzgerald, and Fuller
A discussion followed, in which partici-
| pated Messrs. Dubois, of the board of trade
| committee, which is working for the library;
J. G. Arms, Col. Flint, Mrs. II. L. Mel. Kim
| ball, of the Treasury Department; Messrs.
Lowdermilk, Fitzgerald, Thayer, and the
chairman. 1t was made evident that not
many books could really be expected from
| departments libraries. 1t was agreed that
expectations of this help had grown too high.
1t was pointed out, however, that a small tax
would raise all the money necessary
| Mr.. Fitzgerald said citizens of the District
should furnish the money for its own library.
Others agreed and it was suggested that the
bill before Congress should be modified so as
| to make the District pay the whole cost.
| DR.. Adler then gave an interesting talk on
the libraries of Europe, in which he spoke of
tho British Museum, Bodleian, Atheneum.
Leipsic, Milan, and Athens libraries