Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1903-03-11
FREE READING ROOM
It's First Years Existence Proves Highly Successful Good At-
 tendance of Visitors.
Former Officers Enthusiastically Re- Elected Coupled With &ote of
 Thanks From Citizens.

Nnlle tue clJlZenS or Prescott, our-
 ing the past year, have manifested a
 very commendable interest in the free
 reading room in the matter of it's SUD-
 port, there seems to be somewhat of
 lack of interest last evening when it
 came to attendance at the annual
 meeting. It was with some difficulty
 that quorum was obtained, but what
 was lacking in numbers was more than
 compensated for by the enthusiasm of
 those present.
 | M. B. HaZeltine, president of the
 directors, presided at the meeting and
 B. D. Billinghurst was selected secre-
 tary pro tenn in the absence of Miss Block, the regular secretary.
 The reading room has proven a great benefit during the year, and that it has been appreciated was shown by the patronage, it has re- ceived during the year, the librarians report showing that there has been over forty one visitors to it daily.
 The room has been fitted up at an expense of over s100, provided with tables and chairs for the accommoda- tion of visitors and supplied with newspapers, magazines and other pe- riodicals, together with a limited number of books, the use of which in the room is provided free to all who wish to avail themselves of them.
 Many stranger in the town, visit ors from the country surrounding Prescott as we'll as single men residing in Prescott find it a convenient and pleasant place to spend their spare time perusing newspapers or maga- zines. The report of Miss Amelia Block, secretary and treasurer of the institution, showed very gratifying condition of finanical affairs, the re- ceipts being as follows: Membership cards, s23S; donations, s217.75; en- tertainments, s333.7O, or total of s789. 9.67.
 The disbursements showed a total of s795. D, or a deficit of S5.6O for the thirteen months. The items were fur nishing the room, s102. 75; magazines and papers, s34.70; rent, s21O; salary libarian, s26O; games, s6 20; electric globes and fixtures, s8.10; piano for entertainment, ss; liquid air enter tainment, s165.
 In regard to the latter item it was explained that profit of about $40 was realized on the entertainment, the gross receipts being over s2OO.
 The Prescott Electric company has furnished lights free for which a hearty vote of thanks was voted it.
 The old board of directors had con ducted the affairs of the institution SO successfully for the past year that a motion to re-select them received a hearty second and on being put to vote was enthusiastically carried.
 The directors are Messrs. M. B. c. W. Moore, B. D. Bill linghurst, Harry Brisley, R. A. Tal- bot, Charles Ashley, F. M. Metzgar, R. E. Morrison, E. Rockway; Mes danes W. M. Claypool, J. L. Munds, Nellie Akers, J. I. Gardner, H. B. Long and Miss Amelia Block
 At the suggestion of President Hazeltine, a vote of thanks was ten dered to the press for its uniform courtesy and hberality towards the reading room.
 At the conclusion of the citizens meeting the board of directors held meeting for the election of officers and the former officers were reelected in much the same manner that the di- rectors had been. They are M. B. HaZeltine, president; Mrs. H. B.. Long, vice president, and Miss Amelia Block, secretary and treasurer.
 The question of raising finances for the present year was then discussed, and it was decided to appoint commit tees to wait upon the citizens and so- licit subscriptions.
 Other business topics were dis ,ussed, among them the, approaching of MT. Burroughs, and Mrs. Long was appointed to take charge of book show, to be given on April II, the day preceding Easter Sunday.
 The directors then adjourned to meet again on March 24, when the committees will be appointed.