The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-12

written Tor the STANDARDS Library
Edition
In November. 1880. 1t was announced
60 the citizens OF Butte that a deposit
OF slo.ooe had been made in the bank
OF Hoee. Browniee 4 Co. to serve as
. nucleus Of a public library fund.
For several years before this date a
collection Of books and periodicals had
been accessible to the people of Butte,
through the efforts of the ladies con-
nected with the w. c. I. u. and a few
phiianthropic business men. The pat
ronage of this reading room and the
enthusiasm OF the ladies nae attracted
the attention of Charles X. Larrabee.
q former resident, who has kept up an
interest In h community in which
was the beginning of his business sue
cess
His Arst intention was to increase the
Y OF the ladies. and, with
Characteristic modesty. he made the
deposit subject to the check Of Hon.
w. w. Dixon. when the conditions
should be met. n for some years IL
was not known to the community that
Mr.. Larrabee was the donor.
The important conditions were that
. second SO. 900 should be subscribed
" tmS SlNlkSAS "a DoAlCs ~ tuat
sunacient income should be guaranteed
% hat the total fund OF $40. 900 could
Be expended for books.
Thu ladies at once appointed a COM
mittee to raise the necessary. money
Comfortable progress had been made.
when they became convinced that the
library would be better supported and
fts usefulness greatly increased IL 1t
were maintained by the city under the
conditions allowed by the statutes of
the state. The consent of Mr.. LARA
bee being secured. the board of trade
Dol the matter in hand and appoint
ed . committee. consisting of M. Kirk
patrick. #. E.. Sergeant and ID. j. Hen
Messy. to obtain subscriptions from the
citizens.
The success of the committee was
immediate. The following subscribers
- each $500 or upwards:
Baker & Harper. $500; Anaconda
Mining company, $1,000; Boston K
Montana company. $1,000; w. A. Clark,
$1,000; Davis a Talbot, $500.
Over a dozen persons or firms CON-
tributed $3.50 each, and the total num-
Der of subscribers exceeded $50. OF
whom Q large majority were workmen
In the mines. The total amount SUBJ
scribed exceeded S11 900. and together
with interest Flowed by Hoge. Brown
lee 4 Co., the total o fund at the
tim the first trustees were appointed
was SO, 054. This amount has now just
about been expended and. with the do
nations which have been received from
various sources. has secured the pres
emit collection of 5000 volumes.
In April, 1892. h library ordinance.
drawn by City Attorney Cotter and
approved by the city council, was sub
mitted to the people at the regular
municipal election N adopted. This
was. perhaps. the final act OF the ad-
ministration of Mayor Mueller. On the
new administration, headed by Mayor
(now Senator) Mantle. devolved the
duty of organizing and developing the
institution.
The fret board of trustees of the IL
brary, consisting of Robert II. Paxson.
president; DIR. J. w. Howard secre-
tary; 4. O. Dugan, NJ. Kirkpatrick and
Clinton HI. Moore. gave careful thought
and unselfish devotion to their trust.
Within q short time after their ap-
pointment they presented a report to
the city council, recommending the
rental of rooms on the top floor OF the
Owsley block. and expressing the opin-
ion that the library could be opened
early in the fall. This report. not meet
ing the views of the city council. was
referred back to the library trustees
. special library building.
In July. at a special election, IL was
voted to bone the city to the amount
Of $50. 900 for the purpose Of construct
Ing . library building. A special IL