The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-16

A Further Statement Of Its Affairs by
the Committee authorized to Solicit
subscriptions for . New Library
Building.

sho Pupiic unttT tHt pitorui' "a
absolute need of increased room for books
and proper security from fire, undertook
To erect certain portions Of new library
building These were the stack or fire.
proof safe for books, and some adjoining
reading and delivery rooms for the public.
so much of the complete structure as
planned by their architects could be used
separately for time, and so much with
out too serious impairment of their re-
sources, the trustees under compulsion
decided To venture upon. Their resources
were already seriously diminished by the
expenditure of sSs 600 upon the site for the
building. The erection of the whole
structure would require at least $780, 600
more, and for that sum the trustees made
an appeal TO their fellow citizens. They
were quite aware that the time was un-
favorable, yet it still seemed best TO take
the public into their confidence.
AS the year went on The times grew
worse, and the prospect of improvement
seemed less and less secure. Except for a
gift OF one thousand dollars and several
minor sums amounting in all to but sixty
one dollars, there was no response to the
appeal. From week to week the COM
mittec ON subscriptions waited and post
poned further action Happily one public
spirited citizen did not wait Tor better
days before making n donation Of un-
parallelcd magnitude in this community
A few words in telegram from Mr. John
Nicholas Brown in France, followed u few
dux 1at. 1... g. n
TO the library resources the sum of 500,
OOO, to be expended upon library build
ing. 1t is noble benefaction. It's aim
Is limited to single object, for which the
sum named is believed to be sufficient,
namely, the erection of the bare structure
without plumbing heating, or lighting
apparatus, and without interior furnish
ings such as counters, desks, and shelv-
ing. These added needs call for the other
one hundred thousand dollars, specified in
the appeal Of the con lttee. III that sum
be secured the resources of the library
will still be reduced by the SIS, 600 ex-
pended upon the site. The apparent saw
Ing of $1,000 annually in rent will be at
once absorbed in the increased expenses
of administration in the new building.
Nor is the library now able to live within
its income Each year 1t is found neces-
sary to encroach on the principal if the
library is to continue i IS work.
The resources of the library are invested
funds amounting to about 1865, coo. The
annual income is about $l5, 600. To this
the City Of Providence added last year
10000 more. Between five and six
thousand dollars are spent upon the in
crease of our collection of books 1t is "a
quite insufficient sum. The rest goes for
rent, heat, light, insurance and the cost,
at very modest salaries, of our valued staff
of officials.
At any moment the city may withdraw
OF reduce its annual appropriation. Nor
have we any ground for hope that it will
speedily increase Ii. The need therefore
or holding our funded property unim-
paired Is very pressing and evident
There is indeed very great occasion for an
enlargement of It,
There should be no mistake then about
the measure and bearing of Mr. Browns
inunificent gift. Not one dollar of it can
be devoted to anything but the mere shell
of the Library building. Nor can this be
brought into use without the expenditure
of one hundred thousand dollars more. In
the present state Of business your COM
mittee do not deem 1t wise to solicit from
individuals the sum needed for the COM
the sum required to cover the cost of the
land, or the further sums that will event
ally be necessary for the increase of the
library endowment. Yet we must repeat
that one hundred thousand dollars must be
had to render the new building available
and eighty-eight thousand more IL the
funds Of the library are to Lc held unim-
before the new site was purchased. The
trustees state the facts and for the present
leave them to make their own impression
inviting men Of means to consider them
and, II they see fit, to act upon them with
out futher solicitation.
1t will be public misfortune IL the
notion goes abroad that since Mr.. Browns
great gift, the public library is amply pro-
vided for, that Is now fairly out Of the
woods and that its friends may fall to
shaking hands and congratulating one
another. We are by no means out of the
woods; we only begin to see daylight
along the edge OF them.
In "a community such as this, "a great
bencfaction should be but spur TO like
beneficence. y. 1t will not do to take 1t as
a pillow upon which all beholders may
settle idly back and lull themselves TO
sleep, and dream that they have done the
fine thing they admire. There still re
mains one hundred thousand dollars TO be
had for immediate use, and nearly ms much
more To restore the cost Of the land. Who
will give these sums, or any part of them?
That is the urgent inquiry of the commit
tee upon subscriptions Of the trustees OF
the Providence Public Library Their
treasurer listens for answers
G. A. u. RICHARDS,
HENRY B. GARDNER,
ID L. ID GRANGER