Daily camera., 1901-01-22
PEOPLES FORUM.

HEUPLtO fUnUW.
Is Money snf Can the Athens Of Co'ora-
do Measure Everything by the Dol.
- lar Yard stick!
Editor Camera
Allow me to point out the fact, pre-
sumably overlooked. that it is unfair to
leave the decision Of the reading room
question to debate through the columns
of your paper, because, while the oppon
ents of the reading room are OF class
who will readily avail themselves OF the
chance TO place their views before the
public, its supporters, owing to the tao,
that those benefited are not those who
feel inclined to air their views in print
will seem so few as to at once proclaim
them a hopeless minority. It's case of
everybodys business being nobody's
business. and, for this reason. it is very
I'm probable that many who hope for the
continuance of the institution will be
heard from
In repl to the arguments of Xxx |
will say that am almost positive that, in
i the highly improbable case that Xxx"
has any data on which to base his esti-
mate OF cost and manner of people bene-
fitted, he has allowed his prejudices great
scope in the making Of that estimate.
Personally know that the institution in
question has, not once but many times,
had Its every chair occupied, and, from
opportunities embracing several years OF
attendance at the reading room. should
say that twentyf FIVE per day is more
nearly the correct estimate of attend.
ance than is "XX's" ridiculous seventy.
FIVE to one hundred per month.
Xxx" also says that books are the
only articles OF real value the reading
room has bought. Possibly he regards
the newspapers and the various weekly
and monthly periodicals as a waste of
revenue. The drift of his article would
indicate that he acts his belief.
He says also, that those who visit the
saloons never visit the reading room and
vice versa. He is mistaken. have
often seen men and boys 4, the room,
rooms.
| In one point, only, is "XN" correct.
The location OF the room might easily be
improved.
Allow me 10 point out few weak
poin in Mr. Klmbali's article or the
same subject In the first place. he
speaks of the $500 as "a do lation" to a
"corporation." Outside of the salary e.
celved by the care taker Of the room,
not one dollar Of the revenue. am al
most sure. goes into the pockets OF any
of the company.
There is nothing surprising in the
ignorance OF -four business men" In The
existence OF the room. except. Perhaps,
that lack ot public spirit They are not
the ones who profit directly by it.
Nor are taxpayers" themselves ex
pected to be interested in an educational
| institution, unless it calls itself a school.
The persons who profit by the room are
the young men of the city-the men and
boys WHO would 90. If not to the saloons,
to the pool rooms, billiard halls, or per.
haps TO other dispensers of liquid re
f1eshments" than the saloon
Gentlemen of the council, the ques
ton before you is not, "Shall the read.
ing ioon. be abolished The Question
you are to decide is, Shall we put the
dollar so close to our eyes as to shut out
the great good that that dollar. wisely
spent by intelligent. dislnteres ed men,
Can do" If you abolish the reaolng
room. there will, apparently, no changes
take place. and you will, apparently, be
just 5000 per year ahead. But you will
have lost the opportunity to demonstrate
that city of at least 5000 population,
an educ c4tional Center, cisy whose peo
pie are proud of its culture. has not suf
hcient progressive foresight. sufficient
insight into other than physical demands,
to support public library. Mr. Kim
oalls suggestions as 10 yourselves con.
trolling the institution, seem good. Only
in this case be sure you do not starve the
institution to death with insufficient
revenue. Respectfully yours
KQ.