Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-07
BUSINESS INTERESTS
Considered at the Board Of Trade
Meeting Last Evening.
CIRCULAR LETTER 10 MERCHANTS
Reports on the Schools and the
Public Library.
T E L E p Fl o n E r A I E s

T E L EPIC Ne r ATE S
The subjects discussed at the meeting of
the board of trade, which was held last
evening in Masonic Temple, we're of great
interest. In addition to two reports, one
on the public library and the other on the
public schools, series of resolutions were
considered and adopted which related to
the business interests of the city. The
president of the board, Mr.. Theodore w.
Noyes. presided, and the secretary, Mr..
George H. Harries was in his place.
Although the weather was not inviting
a large number of the members of the
board attended the meeting. The discus
sions were animated, and altogether the
initial meeting OF the year was highly sue
cessful.
Memorial to the President.
The executive committee reported favora-
bly, upon a communication from the New
York chamber of commerce in regard to a
memorial to the President asking for an
international conference to meet in this city
to secure the protection of private property
on the seas in time of war. The report was
adopted.
IRON the same committee was reported,
with the recommendation of favorable ac-
ton, a communication from Rathbone
Lodge No. %, Knights of Pythias of this
city. calling to the favorable attention of
the board the proposed visit here OF a team
from Lincoln Lodge of Cincinnati, to eXem
plify the third degree. The report was
adopted.
An amendment to the bylaws was adopt
ed, providing that the membership fee for
the first member of a firm or corporation
be SO, and for each additional Individual 50.
When there are two members of a firm. the
annual fee will be SO, instead of $50, as
now.
Public Library.
In the absence of Mr. ]. W. Babson, the
chairman of the committee. the report on
the public library was read by the secre-
tary. and was as follows:
The project of establishing a free public
library for the use of the people of the
national capital, in which the board of
trade has been so deeply interested for
many years, has at length reached a sue
cessfui elimination.
THE library has been started a firm
footing under the auspices of the Congress
of the United States, and is established at
No. 1876 New York avenue, with upward of
10000 volumes upon its shelves.
lit has been gratefully received by people
of all classes. h is justly styled and re-
garded as an adjunct of the public schools
and has awakened Widespread interest
which your committee is sure will result in
large number of private donations during
the ensuing year.
1T is purely municipal institution under
the direct supervision of the Commission
ers Of the District of Columbia, who have
appointed as its trustees: Theo. w. Moves,
B. Fl. Warner, A. r. Spofford r. Ross
Perry, r. II. Thayer. S. w. Woodward
John b. Larner, James T. Du Bots, c. j.
Bell.
IAN, with but one exception are members
of this board and are warmly eXerting
themselves for the prosperity of the library.
The first estimate of the Commissioners
for this library was for ST.. 800, and was for
the current year. They, have asked that
Congress appropriate for the year ending
June 30 1899. SIG, $50, which includes IS 900
for the purchase of books From present
indications We believe private contributions
for the same period will fully equal this
amount.
Pollok Contribution.
Your committee is informed that the
American Security and Trust Company. as
executors of the will of the late Anthony
Pollok, have just decided to present to the
library a large portion of Mr.. Pollok's
library, numbering about 1900 volumes of
valuable works. This is an example well
worthy of imitation.
The library is peculiarly the child of the
board of trade, and ii should now have the
support of every member of it in the most
energetic way. To the president of this
board, more than any ouner one citizen of
the District, is due the credit of the crea-
ton OF this most important addition to the
attractions of the capital city; for it he has
worked early and late for years with indie
fatigable and undiscouraged energy
Your committee asks that the members
OF the board do everything in their power
to supplement the work already done
Branch libraries will soon be called for in
different sections of the city, where they
Will be more readily accessible to the peo-
| pie We are sure that in the future many
of our citizens who have accumulated for
tunes will be glad to make generous donna
| tons to advance the interests of this i'm
| tan nf.s,t ;aet;
culated to help all who seek self-improve-
ment.
Resolutions Adopted
The following resolutions were read by
| Mr. j. D. Croissant, adopted by the COM
mittee on public library:
THE Washington Public Library has
been established and is in operation
| as an important and invaluable aid to the
| educational system of the District of Co
! lumbia Therefore, the board of trade
| committee on public library having care
| fully inspected the Institution commends
| the library to the board of trade and the
| public generally as worthy of considera-
| ton, especially in the matter of contribu-
| items of books and money to buy books,
and urges that suitable appropriations be
made by Congress for the maintenance and
krowth of this great educational factor.
THAT the board of trade be requested
| to authorize and empower the officers and
make immediate presentation of the Ii
brary's needs to Congress"
| In the course of some remarks Mr. Crois-
SAINT said that in asking for public aid for
| the library the example afforded in the
states of this country, well as In Europe,
had been followed. He said the dissemina-
| ton of intelligence fostered patriotism and
| for this, as well as for otter reasons the
| public library was a worthy object of pub
| lie aid. He referred to visit he had made
| to the library in this city. where he saw a
1 1,r ,,f
| the president of the board, and he said it
| was desired that other citizens should
| make donations.
| Mr.. Noyes explained that the donation
| referred to by Mr.. Croissant was not from
him personally but from The Evening Star
Pertinent Incident.
| Mr.. w. A. Meloy, who spoke in favor Of
| the resolutions, referred to an incident re-
lated by Mr.. Andrew Carnegie of man
i w Q Nlrad Mr al