The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-06-01
LIDRARY'S ANNIVERSARY
LADIES or BOARD RECEIVED
GUESTS LAST NIGHT.
Generous Response to Appeal for
Funds-Interesting Account
OF Library's History.

library where the ladies' Of the board
Ot directors received the guests.
During the evening DR.. A. A. Finch
| entertained the audience with the ola
| nlatist. kindly loaned by Mr.. Spexarth.
and Mr.. and Miss FredericksOn render
ed a delightful violin duet. accompanied
by Miss Elmore.
During :he evening seven new yearly
| subscriptions were received and when
the boxes scattered about for cOntribu-
tlons were opened Il was found that
more than $50 had been netted from
this source. There was constant
stream OF people during the evening
and the ladies OF the toard were con-
graduated on the splendid progress
made by the institution under the ad-
verse circumstances II has been oblig-
ed TO overcome.
The history NJ the trials and tribu-
lations Of the ladies who stood Sponsor
for the llbrIry's continued existence Is
succinty related IN the following paper
which was read by Mrs Samuel FL
more:
On this. the ninth birthday OF this
child OF many cares and trials. the As
tOria Public Library. we. It's fifteen
sponsors, thought that brief history
Of the years hat have meant 50 much
10 US. AMI we hope also 10 the patrons
and friends n the association. would
BE- OF Interest 10 you all. for we are as
sured by your presence that you are
also friends TO this enterprise that has
claimed more OF the time. earnest
thought. work and anxiety Of the man
ayers and financial supporters than per-
haps you think possible
f.F s.aNtn -
preached first BY the Young WOmen's
Christian Association in October 1890
At a called meeting, February s. 1892
the public library was duly organized
and incorporated under the title II the
Astoria Public Library. The following
officers were elected: Mrs. A. L. Full
ton, president. Mrs. ]. F. Rogers. vice
president: Miss Br1dle. secretary: Miss
BadOllet, treasurer The first board Of
directors were the Misses Powell. Sayre.
Campbell. NickersOn. Brolie, Mexican
and Badollet. and Mesdames Fulton.
Wingate. Warren, Ross. Rogers and El-
mora. The Y. W. G. A transferred 10
the A. p. l.. assOcl alton the sum OF
sSl3.3s. monies raised by them for IL
brsry purposes.
During February, March and April
meetings were held in the Y. W. c. A
room and in the Chamber Of Commerce
room. On May 2s. 1892. Just nine years
ago, for the first time We had a H.
brary in eTdence-not on paper-In the
room back OF the bank In the Kinney
building on Commercial street; 537
books were in order or the shelves and
thirty.sev,n yearly subscribers on our
record book. In June the executive
board vas HE'D to the requisite num-
her OF fifteen by the addition Of Mrs
T. A. Stokes and ever since the num-
her has remained the same Several
very efficient members from time 10
time have. for various causes. found II
expedient 10 resign. their places being
filled by others equally efficient.
From the very beginning we have had
many donations OF books and money.
the first year from the football club. $50:
Bay Railway Company, s92; Mr.. Chut-
ter. $lO.5O; $50 worth Of printing for
life membership from the Astorian Pub
l.sning Company, stove, chairs. tables.
curtains and other small furnishings 10
aid in belutifying and making com
Portable our library room. February |.
1898. We removed to our present room
where we entertain You tonight. In
these nine years We have had only TWO
Librarians. Mrs. Sturgls, who was oblig-
ed 10 resign on account of i'll health.
July To- 1898, and Miss Geary, our pres
ent very efficient librarian.
Our reading room was made free in
April, 1898. In June, 1898, the reading
room was opened on Sundays, a most
excellent move On our part and one
that has given great satisfaction. In
the same year the result Of book re-
ception given in our room was the ad-
dition Of 1s6 books and quite sum
of money. The treasurer's report on
March 3, 1894, showed the finances Of the
association to be in a most distressing
condition. reserve fund exhausted ex-
penses greater than receipts. and finan-
cial affairs very appalling, but our
friends came to our aid by many unso-
llcited and solicited donations. notice
ably $7S from Grace church guild. our
diminished 'unds Gained a most de-
lightful weight and we weathered that
storm.
Three years of these continued efforts
brought to us their reward In a library
of 1868 volumes, valued at $500 and q
list of thirty yearly subscribers May
1. 1895, the council passed an ordinance
allowing us $40 a month for current
expenses. but as the warrant was dis
counted for cash we only received $36.
In 1S9S the amount received from the
city warrants was cut 20 S27 80. As we
had relied on this to cover the expenses
OF the free reading ROOM, we had to
draw on the reserve fund every month
to provide for monthly deficit of $50 65.
We have reduced our current expenses
to the lowest possible amount, an aver
age of $50 per month AS We at pres
ent receive only $25 from the city our
monthly deficit is $S5. To meet, this
We have. am sorry to say. only thir-
teen yearly subscribers, making about
So a month from that source and we
must make up the balance of $50
month in some way Do you wonder
that We have all sorts and kinds of en-
tertainments TO coax the necessary
funds from Astorians without resort 10
direct begging.
To date we have yearly subscribers
only thirteen. eight three-month sub
scribers and an average, very small, of
single book subscribers. The number
of yearly readers in the free reading
room has increased from 65SS the first
year. 1898. to Is, ,109, in 1900. The total
number of readers for the nine years
amounts to 106,669. The money received
for that time was $S,6106S; expended
for books furniture and Necessary run
ming expenses. $S59029. We have posi-
bound volumes; of these 2S9 are free ref
erence books, between 200 and 800 pa !
per covered books, twenty-one monthly |
and weekly magazines and twenty-five |
daily and weekly papers and perlodi- |
Gals
We have been many times cast down |
and badly discouraged but you know |