Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-31

The Board of Trustees of the Public
Library. better known as the Carnegie
Library Committee. met yesterday after
noon at the City Hall. The sub-conmitt-
Sr., and DR.. George A. TabeT. presented
a memorial addressed to the Council of
the city of Richmond, urging that body to
take some definite action in providing for
the construction of the library building
and its maintenance. The memorial was
approved by the board. Chairman Bloom
berg dissenting. and will be forwarded
to the Counc.l.
The members present were Messrs.
Bloomberg. Pollock. Wood. Robert Whit
tet. Sr., Robert Whittet. Jr., Superintend-
ent Fox, and DR.. G. A. Taber-
After discussing for thirty minutes the
technical question of how the memorial
should be signed. the board adjourned
Mr.. Bloomberg, who opposed the adop-
ton of the memorial. made no statement;
last night: but at a previous meeting OF
the trustees he objected to the appoint
ment Of the subcommittee, on the memo
rial on the ground that the board, being
a creation OF the Council, could not, with
propriety, seek to hurry the parent body,
and should patiently await me pleasure
of the Council.
Some months ago a resolution was pre-
sented in Council, providing for an ap-
preparation for the purchase of the library
site. This was referred to the Finance
Committee, where it has been sleeping
ever since.
Text of the Memorial.
The text Of the memorial to the Council
adopted last night, is as follows:
To the Honorable Council Of the City Of
Richmond:
Gentlemen,-The trustees Of the Carne,
gle Public Library most respectfully bring
to the attention of your honorable body
the delay which has occurred III carry.
ing out the provisions of the ordinance
authorizing the erection Of the Library
building. The ordinance appointing the
trustees. to whom was conrtded the ere.-
ton and management Of the library was
passed December Ii, 1901, and they have
met regularly and performed the duties Of
their office SO far as permitted by the
ordinance, and now await the action OF
your honorable body on the acceptance
ing. The delay prevents action on the
part of the trustees in furtherance of the
object for which they were appointed and
they would therefore respectfully urg,
YOUR honorable body to take such action.
as will enable them to take measures to.
wards the erection of the building at ar
early date. To do so seems necessary,
on the one hand from a courteous regard
for the generous donor. as well as. on the
other to satisfy the expectations Of the
citizens of Richmond. in the matter.
story of the Acceptance.
The gift of Mr.. Carnegie was considered
and recommended by the Finance Co.t1-
nlittee on March g. 1901, and formally
accepted by the Board of Alderman by a
vote of 19 to ., and by the Common Coun-
ell by vote of 26 TO 3, in April following.
The gift has thus lain imperative for
wear and a half: and as the action of the
trustees is meanwhile stayed in their. de-
sire to furnish .he city what is sure to De
come one of the most useful and popular
Institutions at an expenditure OF money
and in a way which the city could never
have hoped to attain by any other means:
they trust that your honorable body will
nardon the urgency seemingly implied in
this memorial. and grant their request for
speedy and favorable action
Al the aforesaid meeting of the Finance
Committee quite. a number or our bes.
citizens attended, and strongly expressed
their approval, while not a single OBJ
jector was present to oppose. II may
therefore be accepted that the Eeneral
public are desirous to enjoy the priv
eyes of the library. and that the eNpen-
riitures necessary on the part Of the city
towards this end should be made. and
are willing to bear any burdens which
The enjoyment of these privileges may
Involve.
plea for the Library.
II may not be out Of place to remind
.ba members of the Council of the splen-
,,d privilege which the gift of MI.
carnegie has placed within the reach OF
,,r people Public Libraries have IN re-
,ant wears been erected in many cities,
md even in small towns and villages
aud wherever established they have be
.ome greatly valued Institutions
Tn the circumstances attending the clty
of Richmond-the many directions IN
which improvements are necessary ano
called for and for which large expendi.
.,,,as will require to be made. it Is pro
har,c that public library. although u
:, :, ! be conceded to have become a neces-
atty In every community. would never
hsya. been acquired had not the nonle
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