The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-02-09

cry one uudeff1od hat the ten cents
They ARE nJDut 30 cxpoud fDr one 81
thoso would npt only secure the read
ing 0f N" mlmc story IN be,tsr print.
but would also swell n" income NJ the
public reading room. think Il would
fnDre often hnd SIS way 20 our I'LL. And
this year has nsen an unusual number
not only Of new magazines and papers
added 10 our reading room. but ~
new volumes u tn cilplo.sst authors.
IN various subjects 70 the cir.
culating library.
The whole number " new volumes
donated " ordered for the
circulating library this year IL about
1856 ~ cost Of about $1,000. OF these
books 7J are already received and are
IN our shelves ana rhe remaining vol
umes VIII be- received IA the near fu-
ture The total number Of bOOks In
the circulating library Is 1929. The
number Of periodicals this year. In the
reading room. by subscription and DO
nation. h &C.
wc have alSo made some important
improvements In the furniture Of the
room Chief Of which II a new stove.
one dozea chairs. another table. better
facilities for ventilation and I'VE new
wcisbanh gas burners. all Of which
add muoh 10 the comfort and cOnyen-
lence Of the room.
Our total income from all spurces this
year Il $3.50 Is. of which b43a Us from
the sale Of our city warrants and the
balance from the rent Of books In our
circulating library and from the various
entertainments under the auspices of
our board of trustees and from the sale
Of articles in our exchange Our total
outlay for the year has been S7s6iG.
Undoubtedly the CREATES, drawback
of pur library and reading room up 10
the present time " the lack of regu-
lar monthly income equal 20 our regular
usonihly current expenses II we could
only have this much Of a regular in
come. thus leaving US free 10 devote
tho whole Of the proceeds Of entertain
ments to the purchase OF books and
periodicals. II would put fresh insplra-
tim into such entertainments both as
regards the public and our board OF
trustees. FOR M rintter how great may
bc our interest In the library, II does
by,come very buINiensome and monoto-
nous TO both ourselves and the public
Ia give entertainment after entertain.
mont only to So the proc,eds nell
away in the monthly current expenses
And II we found Il sn difficult 70 NEE;
thea expenses before our approprta-
iion from the city was cut down. how
much more difficult will II he after q
reduction ~ one-iifth In our appropria.
I tinn. We all believe that during finan.
cial depression the utmost economy
should h. shown in the administrator
uf public affairs but all writer's Of econ
omlcs tell us that the truest economy
is the expenditure OF money to elevate
the character of the citizen and {,
prevent crime. rather than for its pun
lshment And. surely the cultivation
NJ taste for good reading and al
opportunity 20 satisfy such taste Il
one OF the best safeguards any mar
or woman can have against temptation
and vice We notice that our taxpay
ers have decided that 10 run even th'
risk II diminishing the efficiency Of GU
public schools by diminishing thei
appropriation would not be true econ
omy. We trust. therefore. that In th'
near future they viii apply this sam'
lprinciple to this sister educational in
stitution-public library.
II may be OF interest to you to know
THAI uhe influence OF this library is no
coniiussi to this city. one year ago
gentleman wpute me from Portland ask
ing the details of the organization an
maintenance OF IillS lAbltIN' aS ~ "N
desired to found similar one in Port
land; and soon after public librar
and free reading room were estabhshe'
in the present metropolis Of Oregon
Since that time, inquiries have come Z
me from different parts Of the state
on this subject, showing not only hoy
greatly strangers in our city have ap
: preciated this library and readin
} room. and have spoken Of It elsewher'
but also that its success Is acting a
leaven In other cities, And we fe'
, sure that the public-spirited citizens G
Astoria will never suffer this library t
, close its doors for want of finanoiS
) support, and as the months go by,
; win be more and more recognized a
: one Of the indispensable institutions
I the city. NARCISSA w. KINNEY
Al Presiden