The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-12-21
THE STATE LIBRARY
MANY VALUABLE VOLUMES AND PRICELESS RELICS
GOING TO DECAY IN A MOULDY BASEMENT ROOM

the capitol commissioners, except this, ana
the purpose Of this letter is 10 inquire,
"Why is this thus and 70 suggest 20 tle
members OF the next legislature that they
make the same inquiry. aud il an entirely
satisfactory answer is not Forthcoming 70
take steps TO have the original purpose OF
the architect, capitol commissioners anu
the Seventeenth legislature that ordered
the contract for the building 10 be made,
faithfully executed.
But to the point. This large and well
appointed room is used for the law library
which consists of about 5000 volumes
These take up so little Of the space tnat
when a visitor walks In he Is apt TO e1'
claim, my, what a fine large vacant
room" A person who knows where he Is
going, and what he is going to see, Is also
impressed in the same way.
The State library contains $4,000 volumes,
besides numerous relics Of rare historical
value. All these books and priceless relics
are iammed and piled in q Heterogeneous
mass, in one Of the little rooms in the de-
partment Of insurance, statistics and MS
tory, and actually the room is so dreadfu!.y
crowded that it is necessary to ease ~
sideways in order to get around among inc
books at all.
This is bad, but by no means the worst
In order 20 make room 10 narrow AlsieS
for visitors TO pass through the room aI
all, Judge Rains, the present eulclen'
librarian, has stored thousands ot Yaluao'e
pamphlets books and manuscripts IN d
dark, dingy damp room In the paae-utL,,
where 10 see them Mt all II Is necessary
10 be accompanied with a courageous, Wen
informed guide, carrying goou siAeu Sls[e
trio light plant in one hand, ana lo'I'tt9
the daring visitor by the other TO keep uiH
Whe6 the old capitol building was de,
stroyed by FIRE November q ISL lAel
were 5000 volumes in the state holuI@
Since that time the legislature mas Ga 4
generous Appropriations 20 put pa.
tions has been used because there was ~
place TO properly place them. II "as WY
part OF wisdom by those having cohIEol y.
these appropriations, because the pOoA'
now or hand. piled around on the uooI y
discriminatory and stored in o!acA ce''I' Z,
are not only not access BILE, ouI are ~.
doing we'll and II neglected rev M"t :
years will be worthless Ane members ~
the State investigating committee, Pr
vlded for by the Twenty seventh les.sla.,
ture, were not infall.ble and tnelt IIPoL
was not without objections, bnt lley Va
ognized the necessity for oetteF Wel"ul,
state library, and submitted tne tolioWlhss
recommendation found on page l4l OF lns''
report: a
Il. That the State library be mace :
separate department Of the state govern
mept. q,
y. That the books and documents; ~
GLIDING the manuscripts now IN care on w
commissioner of agriculture, insutAhSe
statistics and history, together WIN X
books in the law library, be declared W
law to be the Texas state library ~
g. That the room now occupied ~
law library be declared by law as y W.
intended hv the architect Of the caplloi
building. the State library and ina -
librarian be appointed py the governor "''H
the advice ana consent OF the senate. A.
"a. That the librarian be required 20
catalogue the entire State library aesolsa !
ius 20 this M - -urCvnd modern ~ tt,99iisa
aHd that fh f-----A'iAts " -. het4ef
classified an fa' us1 Ss