The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-07
MORE OFFERINGS
FOR THE LIBRARY
Randolph Literary Society VIII Give
Three Hundred Dollars.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO ACT.
Captain Carlton Mccarthy Gives Some Timely
Suggestions Concerning the Establish
mcnt Of Library-No Site
Has Been Donated.

Interest in the library movement is
growing. All classes Of citizens are al
most ciarnoring for the City Council to
do something by which the library may
become 4 certainty, and the special tax
idea, as provided for by MIR. Patteson,s
bill. IS growing popular The additional
tax imposed by the bill can be met by
nuch less than the maximum amount or
one mill on the dollar. and will be such
a small item that it viii hardly be felt
by those who may have TO pay it
President J.. H. Morris, of the Cham
her of Commerce, has not determined
yet upon calling a special meeting OF
that body to take action upon the offer
made by the Passenger and Power Com
pany to see that for the first five years
the $1,000 required of the city is pro-
,-idcI He will do SO if it may seem
necessary. but the regular board meet
Ing is scheduled for next THURSDAY. ana
II will hardly be necessary to call a
meeting before that time. he says ne
will himself vote to accept the PROPOSE
ton made by the railway company
The Board of Aldermen VIII meet on
Tuesday night. and it is probapie some
action may be taken by that body Inc
original proposition is in the hands OF
the Finance Committee of the Council.
of which, MIR. James Caskie is chairman.
This committee will probably hold spe-
cial meeting, to consider the proposition.
MORE MONEY OFFERED
Mr. Casllie yesterday received the ioi-
lowing letter from the Randoiph Literary
Society in reference to the proposed
library:
Hon. James Caslie, Chairman OF the
-'-''~ March C. 1901.
.rDear Sir.-At a meeting of the Ran
dolpl, Society Saturday, March I'd, the
undersigned committee was appointed TO
memorabilia your honorable BODY uls-
ing the acceptance of the Carnegie oiiel
and 10 take such action as they deemed
fit as 10 recommending an appeal TO pop
1,lar support and making an otter OIL sun
stantial assistance
1--WE are apprised by the papers that
This course has also been proposed ana
,fhe-,1,1, s,,nnort ed by several OF our cit
liens.
I'VE, beg to ask if it be not feaslnie
from the city's point of view to comply
with Mr. Carnegie's terms by reason Oh
a depieted exchequer, that the people DE
given a chance TO lend hand.
while we do not presume 10 outline
2 plan. we desire to state. as an eFl-
dence of good faith. that the Rahooipii
Society will pledge itself TO subscribe me
sum of s1oO per year for three years 10
wards the necessary fund-
This society recognizes the need OIL
s,,c,, an institution, easy of access to all
aft reasonable hours, and. desires to so on
record as favorng this proposition ana
any other having for its END popular
education. j.,
we beg your honorable committee to
recommend the acceptance OF the olief'
and give to a large and deserving Paie
of tbs, population advantages otherwise
impossible for them to obtain.
Very respectfully,
..JNO. GIBSON, JR-,
Chairman,
IRVING Z. CAMPBELL,
..E. 3. SYpNOR.
.,wM. CRUNP TUCKER,
..W. E. BARRETT
This letter will be read at the meeting
OF tho Finance Committee, ana VIII also
90 to the Council in the report that may
be made to that body
MANY citizens We're seen in reference to
the proposition made by the faSsehsef
and Power Company, as printed IN Inc
rrincs Yesterday, and various OPINIONS
,,,a,,s cxnressed. Some thought that it
would he unwise for the city TO put 1t
self under obligations to a corporation
while others, in the realization OIL the
GOOD that would result, felt that the city
should ACCEPT such a proposition regard
less of the source.
HOW A LABRAR1 GROWS
CAPTAIN Carlton Mccarthy, the titE &C
countant, who is an experiences po ,,
wisely Expresses himself in the following
letter to The Times:
Editor Of The Times:
.s-rh. great value, after ALL OF the pro-
posed gift of Mr.. Carnegie may lie IN inc
fact that it starts an enterprise which
needs only TO begin in order to grow and
be great.
..1'he offer of the first gift has already
nroduced liberia! propositions. and who
can doubt that others Will follow Why
not the gift of a site for the building
III a public library is a good and desir-
able thing and the people want it, they
NAV have it by boldly making start az
1t. The beginning is what is needed.
"A public library fairly housed and
backed by the sympathy of the people
would grow, in size and value, so rapidly
as to astonish even thoughtful people
"Intelligent care and genuine interest
will produce steady growth even when the
actual expenditure of money is small.
ESperience the world over. demonstrates
the fact that a library, once established,
grows. The gift which creates the
nucleus Invariably leads TO other gifts
and requests of money and of books. and
of valuable collections OF BOOKS Inc a5-
of smaller Libraries, a frequent
and natural result of the establishment
OF enc well-founded library. unites the
useless small collections
and builds UP a strong and useful whole
I'm Richmond it would be possible to
unite under one roof many small collec-
tons now doing duty, in a limited sense,
as public libraries Societies. lodges, as
sociatonS. camps and other organizations
might readily be persuaded to contribute
their collections in return for the use Of
the larger facilities of the general collec-
ton and many private collections the
growth of years. would naturally flow to
the greater collection until departments
filing whole rooms would be developed
CARLTON ATCARTHY.'
NO SITE GIVEN
The report pat in circulation yesterday
afternoon that wealthy lady of this
city had offered TO donate a site for the
library was without foundation The lady
referred to was seen about the report
and said she had not even given the mat
ter a thought. /
O,N PATIO Enp CHAl;rhTIOMc