The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-04
VOL. 9-NEW SERIES, NO. 2O4.

Mr. po,n6exter said that he coasl Iced
IA. question OF the value OF the oooh7
purely matter o! ia op,lIo .ppea himsef p To- be
otiaii6cd 10 give an opinion on the sud
jecl from an intimate kho"lelse Y'tn u,
the state Librgry, covering peilo' oi
tsn vears. besides having been IN the
habit Of visiting the library from ms
earliest youth. -. -.i.,,,a-
works there were ia the coil 5cI J- OF sfc-
clal value, Mr.. POindexter san thal iEeie
vye mater for reference IN writing a
school history, which would nave Deeh
written before l)ng Dy southern man,
and that ire material needed cOul1 only
be found in tie mass OF books "nlcn had
been purt nased by Mr. !. &. smith.
There was also much matter. said Mr..
Poindextcr bearing upon geological sub
jccts which was OF siecial interest ana
value aud which could absolutely not
be obtained elsewhere, should these works
BE- destroyed.
so DUrLICATis.
"Tho second point made by Mr.. Scott"
said Mr. POinCcxtcT, is that there are
duplicates In the state Library for
every book OF any value sold as junk 10
AIR. smith. Now, said Mr.: PoindeNter
tmphatltaHy, Il 90 not hesitate to say
thar unless these books have been auded
10 the collection in the State Library
Snce January lst, l@i. there are not
iu the whole library duplicates Of one
hundred books IN the twenty tons which
have been sOld'
sir. PoiI dexter went on 70 say that
Ga addition to historical ana geological
matter. there were numDcriess valuable
House and Senate Committee records.
which could only De secured i'm Washing
ton or New Ork, outside of this pile of
Junk.
Among these twenty to1es OF old
books one iu particular is specified as of
great value 10 is that containing the
HE.rs a. f.l4tr NON G
the Senate Finance Committee. OH which
the act OF Congress OF 1913 was based
which made two silver half-follars and
four silver quarters about seven cents
less valuable than the silver dollar. This
is one Of many volumes which are said
to contain invaluable reference matter.
Mr. PoindeXtcr stated tnat while the
pile of old books which are 20 be sold
mad been Kept on tne HoOr ln par- during
his administration, yet they were 50
piled that he knew exactly where TO find
any one OF them which might be called
for. and that the covers I'm which many Of
them were mailed were allowed 10 re-
main upon them as protection from
dust.
a HISTORIANS oPINIcN.
Historian Robert a. Brock. of whom IT
may be said no man Is better able 10
estimate the value OF books, when seen
last night boy Times reporter, was very
decided I'm expressing his views regarding
the action OF the Library Committee.
Those books" nc said, should never
have been sold. 1ncy are public trust.
and j cannot see by what authority the
committee have disposed Of them. i
have personally examined many OF the
books and / know positively that thcy
are of great value. one niue DoOk IN
the conection-i think it Is "a record OF
the State Senate-is alone worth 30 Many
of these books cannot be duplicated,
and they are OF great value to the state.
Take the national and state iecOfds-sup-
pose YOU wanted them. where would YOU
find themf You would not 90 10 pri-
vatc house. No. you would 20 TO the
State Library. and II you az not ma
them there your search would De lIull-
less. The sale of these books is 10 DO
geterely censureI Thcy are pubic
property and the public nave a rlBht 10
expect that their property shall be pre-
served. The books are worth much
more than any money value that can
be placed upon them.
~. T.. .. BRUCE TALKs.
Alr. Philip "A. Bruce. corresponding
secretary OF the Virginia Historical So
clcty. wher asked for his opinion reg ard
ing the action of the Library Commit
toe in disposing Of the books Of the
state Library at auction said;
Il believe the Committee nave taken
quite a liberty % disposing or these
looks. There is no doubt that there are
many valuable records among the COLI
lection that should Poe preserved There
were National and state records that
do not believe can be duplicated, and
the derrution of these cannot De too
severely censured. ] ur-srstand from
Librarian Scott, that the books sold arc
duplicates. OF course II that IS the case
the seriousness Of the matter is SOME
what initiated. but yet / believe the
Library Committee have assumed an au-
thority which is not theirs. The books
belong properly in the library. IL was
built Tor the purpose of their preservation
and there they should be kept
Pi0E. e.. u. INLAND PlOIEsTs.
Prof. Charles A. Ryland of Richmond
College, has vlttcn the following letter
10 The Times protesting against me sale
Of the books and applauding the action
of Ar. PO!ndeXter.
10 the Editor of The Times:
~ir,-l know nothing of tho merits OF
the controversy over the recent sale OF
books from the state Library by the
J. hrary Committee except what has ap-
pc1red in the Times, but in common
With every citizen OF Virginia. am
greatly inter,sted in the preserva ON or
public documents. 1 applaud the action
OF Ar POinlcNter In calling attention TO
The matter When the announcement Of
the sale was made j lOticed it. and con-
eluded the books were duplicates, and
badly damaged.
II they are state and General Govern
mcnt publications. and the Library of
Virginia does not contain them. then not
one ought 10 be- sold. Private Libraries
cannot be expected TO carry such pubii-
cations. but Tie state Library should
preserve them carefully.
Such books are compiled at great cost.
Every one OF Them contains the latest
research on special lines for "a particular
period They mark the growth Of the
country. They are invaluable TO the his
tOrian and 10 the publicist
Apart from this, let me suggest that IF
10 he known 20 the United States Govern
ment that iis gifts - the State of Nir-
gnia are sold as waste paper. sucn gifts
Will not De repeated This would be a
great loss. As / have not been able 10
examine into this matter. / DO not wish
20 Dee regarded as uttering any criticism
OF tho action OF the Library Committee
or the state Librarian. N1ty are inter
ested and intelligent gentlemen. But as
q somewhat experienced librarian ] would
urge that steps be taken 10 redress the
mistake II one has been inadvertently
committed. q. II. RNLAND.
Richmond, Va, October 81.