The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-09-27
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
AWAKENED BY THE
LADIES' LITERARY CLUB.
Mayor Glendinning's Appointments
Hung Up-Question of Quarters
The Library Fund

Public interest in the esq library mat
ter has re-awakened s!nce the Ladies
Literary club adopted a resolution earn
estly requesting candidates for The
ma yoraIty and councilmanic honOr6 at
uhe various conventions 10 declare S1elr
positions respecting the immediate fur
therance of the public book repository.
1t is doubtful il any ante" Convention de
Carnations, either for or AGAINST the II
brary. will have any bearing on the tri-
umph or defeat of any candidate, but the
result of efforts made by THE friends of
the city institution ON election day IS
likely to determine the number of votes
received by several aSp.rants for 6fficial
Positions.
MAYORS APPOINTMENTS HUNG UP.
AS the matter stands, nothing can be
accomplished, except IN preliminary
way, toward putting the Pioneer or old
Masonic library. with its 10000 volumes,
in satisfactory condition such as TO rem
der the best service to the largest num-
Der of people. On July 18th last, Mayor
Glendtnning submitted TO the council the
names of George NJ. Scott, EeV. a. Il.
Hudson. 7. G. Weber, Boyd Park II. q.
HIN Mrs. j. NJ. Dart Mrs. Rachel MlIer,
Mrs. d. B. Hampstead AID Mss Emma
Mccormick to constitute the board of trus-
tees, in pursuance of the law empowering
the city 10 levy a tax 10 .!aintaln tine
library. The appointments were referred
TO the committee on municipal laws, with
whom they have languiSAed and are
likely ITO remain Until the end of the adj
min.strat8on. II is generally understood
that The objections ito confirming t3le APP
pointments are based on the contention
that the names. while acceptable in the
main, are not representative enough. AND
also the slight the mayor gave no chris
Diehl in not appointing him a trustee af-
ter rendering him the place and request
ing his acceptance. Several Of the coun
c!.neH are inclined TO resent the indignIty,
although it is said Mr.. Diehl himself is
not seeking any yind3catlon and is per-
fecuy willing to waive ANY objections
that his collea CUES have advanced i'm his
behalf. But Mr. Dlehls colleagues and
is really the father of the Pioneer library
and that his long services in <1half of the
institution would make him ~ Invaluable
member Of the board.
A GROUNDLESS FEAR
Even if the library trustees were now
qualified to act, they could accomplish
nothing tangible unttl the 0le-uhird of
mill tax is collected. Along toward the
end of the year the library fund created
by taxation Will haYe reached about or
little in excess OF Sll.WO. but the proba-
bilMieS are that unless the mayor with
draws his list of appointments for amend
ment. the new administration viii have
the naming of the library trustees, who
serve without compensation. A very few
who are foolish enough to pin their faith
TO the success of the ncn- partisan ticket
fear, for apparently good reasons, that
the incoming city officials, If they are Of
lprt to divert the library Ilnd from the
intended purpose to the maintenance of
other branches of the city government,
thus Gripping the library and thwarting
the intentions Of its benefactors.
QUESTION OF QUARTERS.
Upon the confirmation and qualification
of the appoinfees, WAscaver they may be,
and THE receipt of the fuud from the tax
collector, the board of trustees Will need
to begin planning for the rejuVenation of
the Pioneer library. VIZ ich will fecOme
the citys property aud urge. 4 mOOted
question is the most suitable location for
the books and reading rooms. Those who
wish to see the largest measure OF bene-
fits dccruIng from the new order of things
favor the occupancy of the northeast sec
ton of the fourth floor in the INT build
ing, where There would be - expense for
lights, heat rent or JalitoF service. These
quarters would be as convenient and
service2ble as amy To be had without
charge until batter arrangements could be
made and the saving in expense would
he sufficient for the purchase of several
thousand additional volumes and L fun
stock of current magazines. etc. Those
who are opposed to the quarterinS of the
cityS free library in the joint building
advance the clam that slore desirable
quarters could be obtained nearer the
business center but the decreased eX-
Dense would be such that the number of
new books purchased would be so much
lesS than the libraryS facilities for srV-
ing ,the public would be greatly minim-
lied.
If no unexpected obstacles arise and
ready appeared, Salt Lake City Will with
the beginning of the new year have a
very credHtable nucleus of a soIendidly
equipped and properly maintained public
library, something within reach of the
poor and boon TO students, readers and
the people generally.