The Newtown bee., 1894-03-09

Accordingly 1t was agreed that there should be two reports, and another meet ing was named for the 24th inst. At that meeting it was finally decided to make both a majority and a minority report.
 These recommendations embody the judgment and convictions of the writer and in presenting them to you I am re- deeming my promises to the secretary of the state library committee. Whether CT not this library is made the basis of free town library the question of location is evidently the vital and difficult cons id eration. The sum and substance of the whole matter is this: Will the people of NewtoWn Street make the necessary sac rifice of personal and local convenience for the greatest good of the people of the whole town, for the great future? The few arguments I will make at this in- stance are simple statements of facts More than half the population are on the east of the Housatonic railroad, which divides the town into nearly equal parts. majority of the 742 school children are in the districts east side of the town. A much larger number of inhabitants will be found in Sandy Hook and vicinity than in Newtown street and vicinity. There are 225 school children in Poh- tatuck and Sandy Hook districts as against 120 in the two schools at New town street. It is l 1-2 miles from San dy Hook bridge to Newtown Street, and 1t is about 2-3 of that distance to the Newto.wn Academy. The distance from Sandy Hook to the present location of the library renders it practically impos- sible for the people of that part of the town to draw books. If the people of the Street are not willing to go a half mile to get books to read, why should it be expected that Sandy Hook people ought to be willing to go one mile and a half for the same purpose. Would not the west side of the town as whole be better accommodated with the library located at or near the Academy? The Academy itself might easily be the medi- um of distribution of books for 50 to 75 families; and the railroad station might serve convenience for as many more. Not only this, but we must look ahead to the future development and growth of the town, which will doubtless bring an increase of population located between the two villages and near the railroad. It is useless to argue that people do not care to read and that if they did they would come to the library where it is. | The work to be done by the public li- brary, everywhere, is missionary work and speak from personal experience.
 We must go to the people with good books, and by every means in our power cultivate the habit and desire to read. If the people of this town had been hunger ing and thirsting for a free public library they would have had it years ago, and l located it to their convenience.
 Therefore, because of these and other 1 considerations which [ will not now men. tion, must regard this as the grand op- portunity of this association to confer a great and lasting good upon this town, by moving at once for the establishment of free public library. Now is the ac- and mal an epoch in the history of New town. To use again in this connection that far fetched quotation from the elo quent peroration of the Grand Old Man; I say before you reject by any motion, oI
 refuse to consider carefully these recon
 mendations, looking to the future wei
 fare of this town "Think, I beseech
 you; think well, think wisely; think not
 for moment, but for the years that are
 to come, before you take this step." Re,
 spectfully, [O.i0. Wright.