Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-25
Hopes Institution Will Remain
Noble Influence.
is GREETED BY A LARGE AUDIENCE
Iowa a State Where Books Are Read
Development Has Continued in a
Natural Way Since the First Settle.
ment of the Commonwealth.
IFrom Wednesdays Dally.I

[From Wednesdays DaIly.J
We are about to dedicate this build
ing, and in doing SOL venture to in
terpret your confident expectation that
1t will become and remain forever an
influence SO clean and noble that it
may guide the studies and inspire the
moral aspirations of countless genera
tons" Thus Jonathan p Deliver of
Fort Dodge, Iowa's junior senator,
spoke to large audience at the Mar |
ket street theater this afternoon in ex-
pressing his hopes for the future of the
Ottumwa free public library, the dedi--
cation of which was carried out this /
afternoon with appropriate ceremon--
les. Mr.. Dolliyer spoke at length up
on the good of public Libraries and the |
history of the public library movement |
in America. His address is at once an
admirable and mastery treatise upon
the subject so appropriate at this
time, and an encourag cement to the
people of Ottumwa to realize that in
their splendid public library building
they now possess the means OF making
of their youths and children men and
women, we'll read, well educated, and
therefore the more able to encounter
the hard knocks which they must meet
in this world of business Mr.. Dolli--
ver's address follows:
Address of the Day.
Ladies and Gentlemen:-I appreci-
atest honor of participating with you
In the exercises of this day. We have
come together to witness the dedica-
ton of the public library of Ottumwa
and | have been requested to speak
a few, words appropriate to such an
occasion. | have accepted the invita-
ton to do SO, partly on account of the
pleasure which | always have in visit
ing this hospitable city, and partly on
account of the interest which | feel in
the public library movement which has
been stimulated throughout the United
States by the unexampled munificence
OF Andrew Carnegie.
This city is only one among many
which you have received at the hands
Of this princely giver, fund for con-
structing library to be donated to the
free use of the community. 1t is Pc
culiarity of Mr.. Carnegies plan of OPP
erations that his donations are availa--
BILE only for the building and are in.
variably paid upon the condition that
the city accepting it shall forever
maintain it by a tax levy equal to ten
per cent of the amount of his contri--
button. This condition is obviously an
important element in the value of his
gift because it requires the commun--
ity to make an investment in the en-
terprise SO much larger than the orig
inal contribution as to take away the
disagreeable feeling of dependence
which is associated with all forms of
charity.
There is a sense in which a flourish
ing community like this could afford
to build a library out of its own means
rather than to accept one at the
hand of strangers. Mr.. Carnegie has
not asked the people of any city to
permit him to take the expense of the
public library off their hands. He has
asked simply to cooperate with those
who accept his benefaction in laying
the foundation of a public library, they
themselves undertaking to maintain it
by the annual appropriation of sum
Of money representing the interest on
an amount many times greater than
his gift.
ut Is altogether fitting therefore
that this city should take advantage
of the generous offer which secures to
your people the benefits of public Ii
brary The committee which has had
the enterprise in hand is entitled this
day to our congratulations. Archi-
tects and builders and workmen alike,
have done their part we'll, and the re-
IL 1.1,< Z. m
superb in its beauty, and admirable in
its adaptation to the use for which it
was designed
eve are about to dedicate this build
ing and in doing so venture to inter
pref your confident expectation that ii
will become and remain forever the
center of an influence so clean and
noble that it may guide the studies
and inspire the moral aspirations OF
countless generations.
st is just fifty years since the first
free public library was established in
the United States. 1t was a down
east idea, and has developed until to
day the public library of Boston is the
center of circle which includes every
city and nearly every village of New
England, Like all other permanent
INSTITUTIONS, IL was CROWN, not
creation. 1t began with collection 0
! books which gradually overran the
shelf space of rented rooms and began
to clamor for a house of their own.
1.-TWO things have contributed to TIL,
progress of the library system of New
England. In the first place it arose IL
time of awakening when it was al
easy thing to arouse public sentimen
In nj nd I'M mn a 1lt fnyy
to include the library in the budget o
IN municipal taxation. And so. many o
I the buildings devoted to this purpos
were paid for out of the local reve
hues, and maintained at the public eS