The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-10-05
CARNEGIE LIBRARY.
The Chances for Wheeling to Sc.
cure a $50, 600 Donation
ARE CONSIDERED VERY GOOD.
The Board of Educatlon's Committee
on Pablo Library VIII Take the
Matter up at It's Meeting This
sIonth-"A True Citizen" Endorses
tho Movement Suggested Through
che InteIlIgencer.

The suggestion made through the In
telligencer early this week by hir. w. P.
Campbell that Wheeling make an effort
10 secure one Of the $4,000 public libra
ry contributions being made by the
Pittsburgh millionaire. Andrew Carne-
gle, has been well received. and Chair
man Noble, of the board Of education's
committee Of public library, states that
he viii bring the matter up at meet
ing Of the committee to be held Tues
day evening. October II. and he hopes
to secure definite action looking toward
the making Of the effort.
A provision of these donations is that
the city shall agree to provide 5000 an
nually in support of the library. This
VIII be easy of fulhllment in wheeling's
case, a. the present library is support
ed by annual appropriations Of more
than that amount. In addition, 1t
would be necessary to secure site for
the building, and this might be done
through popular subscriptions. These
details, though, could be worked out by
the board of education and representa-
tives of other bodies including the
chamber of commerce, trades assembly
and others.
In this connection the following COM
munication has been received by the
Intelllgencer:
To the Editor Of the Intelligencer
sIR:-The idea suggested by Mr.. W.
P. Campbell In reference to Carnegie
library for the city 81 Wheeling Is a
good one, and there should be more ac'
tive measures taken towards Its con-
summation. But the amount mem
toned In Mondays issue Of your paper
Is not sufficient for building that Will
be an-ornament to our town and one
that will give the advantages necessary
TO tighten the work OF the librarian.
Fifty thousand dollars. the amount
given by Mr. Carnegie 10 SteubenVille
and East Liverpool each. was in pro-
portion TO the population; but unless
an amount so much greater In propor-
ton as the population of our town Is
greater. is given, no one ought to en-
courage the undertaking, We ought to
have 100000.
AS to the expense. Mr. Carnegle in
former donations has required that So
600 be given toward the running eN-
pcnse OF the library. Salaries pur-
chaSes OF new books, lighting and heat
ing now cost the city OF Wheeling over
5000 year Consequently, there
would be no expense in this regard over
and above present expenses. But there
will be the necessity OF buying lot
upon which the library building shall
be erected. There are many suitable
lots for this purpose.
Do we need new home for the
books? Yes. The present room Is far
too small. A population OF $4,000 and
seats in the reading room lor not more OF
than twenty-five people, outside OF the
places for reading the daily papers, Is
. monstrous dIsproportion. But. do
people use those twenty-five seats?
VI5i: the library upon winters night
ard you win find 1t crowded. The
lite fellows whose work at day pro-
hitlts them from school, visit the libra
ry at night and wher 1t is crowded It
is the duty OF the librarian and her at
tendants to separate them from their
delights and holy pleasures; for II any
Measure is holy, reading Is And fore
ed from the library they do not so
home: for being eager to read they lett
home, and there are no books Mt home
for them. Thcclass of people who use
the library are not those who have the
pleasure Of owning their own books anu
periodicals. Two evil results naturally
follow from the exclusion OF the boys
from the library: They roam the streets
and they learn to lie. For by telling
the librarian they are fourteen years OF
age they are allowed to remain: II Is
a true and praiseworthy desire the boys
have. who rather than be prohibited
from reading, will lie about thelr. age.
OF course It Is wrong for them to do So
nevertheless. rule Of this kind Is q
rnis-rule For any one Is capable or
reading as soon as he wants to read.
ut is natural and beautiful that child
hood should enquire and maturity
should teach" And not only Is there
a lack Of space in the reading room.
but also in the book department. BOOKS
are piled quite to the ceiling; anu ~.
though they are species OF DOCKS KS, tn iiit
are rarely called for, yet 1t Is dlihcult
matter to give them the proper. care.
II has been shown thnt q modern, ca
pncious. ornamental building can be
procured for the city OF wheeling; that
the ground to place 1t on Is the only
impedIment: that no extra expense be-
yond the purchase Of a lot need exist;
and. finally, that the present room IS
too small and that thus the taciitles
and the power for good Inherent IN
library are trammeled.
Hoping that this matter Will receive
greater agItntion, we subscribe our
selves, ImOE i"A'-''