The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-03
VALUABLE BOOKS AS JUNK.
The State DiSposs Of Historical Ileasul6
for a Mere Song.
xR. CHARLES POIuDEXIER PROTESTS.
He Regards Many Of the Volumes m OF In
calcufable Value to the State-Has
the Committee the
Authority?

For ten days prior To last rf.day, sep
temter 27th the following advertisement
appeared In the Richmond papers:
Books of the State Library at Auction
BY direction OF the Joint Committee on
the State Library. | Will sell at pupuc
auction, at the State Capitol, commencing
at 1880 A. NJ, to-day ,rrids,l, s'pten-
ber q, 1885, very large number or sur
plus books belonging 10 the state, consist
ing OF United States Senate. House, anu
Executive documents, Reports. SonSf.s-
sional Journals, United states statutes
sc: Virginia and Other state, i.egisia-
tive. ana Executive Documents, annuai
and special reports, from the carry puoi'-
cations to the present time.
There are thousands OF pounds oil thesc
books, and they will be sold In large iots
by the pound TO the highest bidders;
Terms: Cash; and books to be weighed
at the city scales. j: I. LAW Lrssni
Secretary of Commonwealth.
ON the date named In the above adj
vertisement the books referred TO, some
twenty tons were duly sold, Mr. y. =.
Smith becoming the purchaser, ana the
price paid being SO. 4.
ended, but Mr.. Charles foindeNter, VINO
was for ten years State Librarian, az
soon as he saw the pubhcauoh snat
the sale of the books had been consum-
mated. wrote Governor O'Ferrall a letter
protesting strongly against such dis
position being made of these works ms
letter was followed by formal written
protest, and on Tuesday, Mr.. poindeNter
called upon Governor OFerrall IN per-
son and urged him to see that the action
OF the Library Committee was reversed.
lie also called upon Secretary or the
Commonwealth Lawless, ana put the
case strongly before him. stating that
the destruction OF these hoohs would De
an almost irreparable loss to the State
of Virginia.
The Governor is understood 10 have
replied TO Mr.. Poindexter that he had
no authority whatever I'm the matter.
that the disposition OF the books lay so.ely
with the Library Committee, aud that
their action in the matter was nnai.
Secretary LAwless, IL Is said, told
Mr. Poindexter that the Committee hal
fully considered the matter. and that IN
their judgment the books were not worth
the space thy Occupy
MI. rolNDl xrFL's OPINION.
Desiring TO get at the bottom OF the
eagerness OF Air. Poindexter TO preserve
these books, "A Times reporter called upon
him last night at his residence ana asked
for a statement from him concerning the
affair. In answer 10 questions. he said;
Il consider these books which have
been sold from the Library TO be OF in
calculable value to the State. They en-
brace among them publications from the
time OF the foundation OF the Government
books which cannot be replaced. so
important did | consider the matter that
| addressed a written protest To the Gov
ernOr and Secretary OF the Common
wealth. and Tuesday | called upon the
Governor in person In relation TO the
matter.
'The books seem to be mainly the Of
fetal documents OF the United states
and State Governments. congressional
and legislative journals and reports and
"A collection OF this class OF books Is the
characteristic feature or State library.
1 think the sale Is an error or Judgment
that will deprive the Library or very
valuable collection OF books, the replace
ing of which would be very difficult and
In many items the loss would be irre-
parable"
Mr.. Poindexter went on to say that
this sale ought To be reversed IN some way,
that it was not right that the rising
generation should be deprived OF volumes
30 valuable as an aid TO historical re-
search While the books were not often
required. he said, there were times when
they were absolutely indispensable, ana
ere they thus destroyed couli not pos
silly be replaced.
Several other wcl-known literateurs
with whom ! talked yesterday colncldei
with Mr. POindf Xtcrs opinion. one or
them said that 1t was mis- opinion that
MIR. Smith had secured books TO the
Value OF S25.0D for the small amount
Oh 500
10 H, MOVE TnE BOOKS TO-DAY.
Mr. smith. the day after concluding
the purchase OF the books and documents.
sent his draws up 10 cart them down 10
his place of business but Mr. Poindexters
protest had meanwhile had some weight
with the committee, and he was asked
to wait for several days. lie expects
to haul the books away this morning. AT
which time man appointed pS Llpiaian
Scott will inspect each volume before IL
is removed.
II was stated in several quarters yes
teiday that since Mr.. smith had made
the purchase Of the books he had sssn
Offered q price running way ny into the
thoI sands for them, and color Was lent
to this assertion by the fact that Nr.
Smith Is now on a trip 10 the North.
where those who profess TO know some
thing about the matter. say ne Is en-
gagged In completing the deal. Alr. Smith's
clerk, when seen yesterday SAID that
80 far as he knew the books hsd no
Intrinsic value. He, however seemed
10 be Of the opinion that his employer
had not made a bad bargain.
QUESTION on AUrHortfY.
Another question IN relation 10 the
matter was raised yesterday by lawyer
OF high standing. He ~ quoted as soy-
Ing that the committee has not the right
to sell this property. II can onl. De
done. he said, by joint act or the Legs
afure. that the Library Committee has no
authority in the matter unless acting by
direction OF the Legislature.
In addition to his letter and protest sent
the Governor. MIR. Poindcxter has lust
written another communication. which.
hc says. brings out aOmc much stronger
points, and which, he thinks. should BE-
"a conclusive argument against the re-
lnoval Of tho old volumes
Thus the matter stands AT present. and
unless some action is taken early this
morning what competent authort-
ties regard as worth $1,000 ard
he Library Committee considers
mere rubbish, VIII Ind rest
ng place with scrap iron and an