The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-08
SHOULD BE A FREE LIBRARY.
MAYOR MYERS URGES HIS PLAN Up
ON THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

Mr.. l.. p. Hart Approves His PrOpO-
sltiOn and Offers to Become One of
the Annual Subscribers for This
Purpose or to BE One of Fifty to
Subscribe $500 Each for the Same
Purpose COIored Population No
Far TO Free white Library, Says
the MayOr-The Members of the
Society would Continue to Control
Its Affairs Just as They Have Done
in the Past.
Mayor Herman Myers feels satisfied that
if a determined effort is made a sufficient
guarantee fund can be secured to justify
the placing of the Georgia Historical So
c1ety library on an absolutely free basis.
1t is his belief that by retaining member
ship as at present, with IS annual fee
for the library privileges and the right of
a voice and vote in the proceedings. and
providing for the opening of the library
free to all other respectable white resi-
dents, without comforting on them the vot-
ing power, it will not be difficult matter
to get 100 annual subscriptions of $50 or
more each to secure the library for this
purpose.
People will not give to library which
is NOT public except in a very limited
way" said Mr.. Myers yesterday. That
l believe is one reason why one hears
of no donations to the library. AS it now
exists the library is for the benefit of
comparatively few of the population Of
Savannah No one seems to care TO give
money to perpetuate or strengthen il as
such. Put it on a broader and more lib
eral basis make il so that it will rebound
to the good of the greater public, and l
feel that it will soon be found that per-
sons of means will not be averse to as
sisting in the work. AS some evidence of
this, l received a letter to-day from Mr..
Louis p. Hart Of New Orleans, president
of the Crescent and Gorrie Ice Companies.
Mr.. Hart writes as follows:
II have read with much interest your
letter to the Georgia Historical Society in
relation to establishing a free public IL
brary, and in this connection l wish to
say that | am heartily in sympathy with
the movement and stand ready to sub
scribe yearly donation to a free library
or l will pledge myself 10 be one of fifty
to subscribe 500 each to raise a fund
of $4,000 if the Georgia Historical So
ciety will make their library a free one.
IF steps are taken" continued MIR.
Myers, 81 have no doubt that in addition
to the assistance rendered at home there
nah who feel as Mr.. Hart does, and who
would be willing to contribute yearly to
library fund. feeling that their money
is being we'll expended
Mayor Myers does not believe that the
presence of a large colored population in
Savannah can in any way interfere with
the members of the society, constituted
as is the Georgia Historical Society, ex-
tending its privileges under such limits
as Ii sees fit to imnose
4 saw reference in a communica ton,
l believe, in one of our papers, he said,
to the impossibility of making a library
free owing to the coAored population.
This. it seems to me, is a wrong idea, If
public monies were being used for the pur-
pose such an issue might be raised.
But private individuals, contributing from
their personnel means, can certainly pre-
scribe the conditions, and it seems to me
that if our citizens are willing to donate
the necessary amount yearly, the library
could easily be made free to the white
public.
The statement has also been made in
print that there is no use in making the
library free. that those who want to read
can afford to pay the $500 required from
members yearly. The time for such a
feeling has passed In other cities all
over the country the pubic libraries are
the pride of the people and large sums
support. They are regarded as second on
ly to the pubic schools, and there is no
doubt but that they are of vast useful
ness in the education of the people. If
the library were made free in Savannah,
IL would not be a year before the public
would wonder how it ever did without a
free library and there would be no fear,
| am convinced, of the city ever being
without a free library again.
Il believe" said the Mayor, that in
Savannah there are enough men of means
to carry through such project. The
amount of the annual donation need not
be great and l am hoping that the officers
of the Georgia Historical Society will see
their way Gear to make the effort to
raise such fund. For one l stand ready
to work with them, and there will I'M
doubtedly be found many others equally
as willing"
Mayor Myers is in earnest in his desire
to see free white library established in
Savannah. In tact he is so thoroughly
imbued with this desire that he states
that he believes unless the Georgia His
torical Society takes advantage of the
offers which have been made to ii that a
move will shortly be set on foot to es-
tabish free library Independent of the
Historical Society.