The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-06
OFFER TO GIVE
TEN THOUSAND.
Passenger and Power Co.
Help Library Scheme
GENEROUS PROPOSAL.
Five thousand for Five Years, and
$4,000 Guaranteed.
OFFER FOR SCIENCE DEPART MENT
A Public Spirited Citizen Expresses VIII
iinrncss 10 be One Of Fifty TO Give
Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars for
This Purpose = The Offer
ST Mr.. B. F. John.
on.
oFFERFOR SCIENCE DEPART MENT

The Richmond Passenger and Power
COMPANY. through Major James u. Pat
ton, president, has agreed 10 donate 1ive
thousand dollars yearly, fer five years, to
help meet the obligation Of an annual
appropriation of $4,000 imposed upon the
city by the te.Tns OF the proposed gift
OF slea.0oa BY Mr. Andrew Carnegie to
establish free public library in Rich
1nond.
The company goes futler ard under
takes TO guarantee that the remaining
$1,000 a year for five years will be made
UP by private subscription, ard that SO
much thereof as may not be subscribed
will be paid by the company.
MAJOR PA,rTON'S LETTER.
The letter making this most generous
offer is addressed to the president OF the
Chamber of Commerce, Mr.. L. L. Morris,
who received it yesterday afternoon. 1t
Is as follows:
'Richnond Passenger and Power Co.
March 5th, 1901
Mr. l. T. Morris, President Chamber
of Commerce.
Dear Sir.-lNe believe that the estab-
lishnlent of a. pubic library in Rich
mond as proposed by Mr. ANDREW Carne-
sia. who has generously promised 20 con-
tribute 100000, upon condition that the
city of Richmond or its citizens will con-
tribute $1n, 900 a year for its support, is a
matter OF great moment to this city and
will cpnduce greatly 10 the welfare of its
citizens.
W.. learn. however. that there is a
question as to the ability Of the city at
once TO meet Mir. Carnesie'S conditions,
and that il has been proposed that PR
Nate citizens should assume that obli-
CATION for five years until the financial
condition: of the city is such as TO ena-
BID. il TO assume il itself without embaT-
i:issmeui: and feeling that there are few,
IL any. individuals OF corporations more
Interested in the welfare OF the city OIL
3;icllmond than the Passenger and Power
Company, and desiring to give some tan
sibie proof OF our interest in the city, ana
assurance that this company is ready on
All occasions to do its part TO promote
the welfare of the community, We hereby
offer to pay $1,000 a. year for five S-ears.
towards the support OF the public library
when established, and will further guar
antet. that the other $1,000 q year. Tor
five wears Will be made UP by pil@2te
subscription and 50 much thereof as may
not be subscribed by others this company
Will pay, and this subscription Will De
guaranteed in such way as may be satls-
factory 10 the proper duti1"i LUIS oh
nlond.
Trusting that this offer may be ac-
cepted. and thereby the construction OF
the library be secured, We are
yours very truly,
..EICHMOND PASSENGER AND
POWER COMPANY. :
..Ey j. D. PATTON. President
THE BOARD TO MEET SOON.
Mr.. Morris, as president Of the Cham
ber of Commerce, viii in "a few days call
the Board of Directors of that body to-
getiler for the purpose of taking action
on The foregoing offer. There is not the
slightest doubt that the board will COM
,nunica1e the offer to the Council at once.
There is probably as little doubt of its ac-
ceptance.
The most intense interest is being man
ifested in the movement for a public
library for Richmond. The Times yester-
day printed the offer of MIR. Willie Meyer
to be one of one hundred citizens to sub
scribe $500 for five years, provided the
city would appropriate the necessary
SID. 900 yearly after that time.
4 SCIENTIFIC DEPARTMENT..
Hon. S. S. p. Patteson said yesterday
that well known capitalist of Richmond
had declared his Willingness to become
one of fifty persons to subscribe $500 for
the endowment of q, scientific department
TO he added 10 the library.
All these offers but indicate the trend
of popular sentiment. The offer of Mr.
Carnegie is very generally discussed. 1t
is the rarest exception that an opponent
Of the proposition to make yearly ap-
preparation of slo,ooo to support the
library is met.
MIR. JOlINSON'S PROPOSITION.
\ letter from Nr. +. f. Johnson, the
We'll known publisher in reference TO the
matter. has also been made public He
states that he will gladly become one of
one hundred citizens to contribute 500 a
Year for five Years. provided the city will
continue the $4,000 thereafter.
HON IT CAME ABOUT
Mr. Robert Whittet, Sr., is Very anx-
ious that the proposition of his friend,
Mr. Carnegie, shah be taken up
II have been in correspondence with
Mr.. Csrnegie in reference to the matter
sor more than three years. he said to a
Times reporte;. last night.
"A few years ago was in correspon-
dence with him in reference TO a dona-
lion for the Neuchanics' Institute He
agreed TO give To that institute the sum
of sIc.0oo, provided $4,000 We're raised by
the citizens. This proposition was i'm
practicable at that time. Finally he did
give the Institution S1.a10 for its library
fund. Then 1t was that the idea OF 4
pubiic library came TO me. and knowing
MIR Carnegie's liking for such things, I
wreie him and made the suggestion. He
half way promised to make the PROPOSE
ton last year. but. as he stated In one>of
his letters to me. as he had given his
usual amount Cor libraries at that time,
lie would think further about it this
year
When the time came I reminded him
of the promise with this result
A wide-awake firm of New York archi-
tects has already written Mayor Taylor
for information concerning plans for the
proposed public library.
Ordered to Jail.