The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-14
THE NEW LIBRARY
arR MURPHY TALKS INTEREST.
 xNoLx or ITS MANAGEMENT.
t is to Be Free in the Full Meaning of tha Word-The Gifts of
 MT. Peabody.

. The work on the new public library. given to Afontgomery by Andrew Carne- Eie, has been completed and the building has been accepted.
 | Mir. Carnegie's gift was maoe in re- sponge to the communications Of Edgar q. Murphy of this city, and since his re- turn to the city Mir. Murphy has taken much interest in looking over the build Ing. At his offIce on Saturday evening he was asked for his impressions. \ think" said MT. Murphy, that the results are most gratifying. have never seen more attractive or more useful building anywhere for the same amount of money. The delays in getting into 1t are naturally hard for the general public to understand But the long wait will now be over in a few weeks. The build Ing is complete and has been finally ac- cepfed When the paved approach is laid and when the books are catalogued, the doors can be thrown open.
 This task of cataloging the books is formidable undertaking, especially when there is only a small force. to do It. Yet it is indispensable. Until the books are listed, numbered and arranged they cannot be used; and until the books are ready for use the institution cannot begin work.
 In this connection, it is well to make two points just as clear as language can make them. The first point Is, that the library Is free. There are to be no fees, no charges of any kind. It belongs, with it's privileges and conveniences, to the people of Montgomery.
 The second point Is, that 1t is not merely reference library and a coIlec- ton of reading rooms, but a circulating library as we'll. The books may be taken h0rSnA mi Ao kav.S at one to two weeks, according to the regu- lations.
 One of the best known men in Mont gomery told me the other day that he sup posed the library would let no books go out of the building. This impression should be corrected. The library is free; and It's books are not for show, but for service. There are not a great many books at present, but the 4.000 volumes it contains Is very fair start. Rome was not built in a day The growth of well stocked public library Is q matter of years. The books will come. The insti- tuition win grow. Small criticisms are always easily made. It Is much better to dwell upon the gains secured and to appreciate intellige1.tly and fairly the many things accomplished.
 May I say a word also about the building across the street? l wish Mir. Peabody's proposal to be understood.
 First of all. let me point out that not dollar of his investment here is intended to pass back to him. He has purchased the Baldwin property at $14.00o and has added to it a gymnasium. swimming pool. etc, so that the total cost is approximately $20.00U.
 From the beginning. he has hoped that this building would be occupied by the Young Women's Christian Associa- ton Finding. however, that it would be a convenience to the r. M. c. A. to occupy 1t while making their effort foe new building he has permitted them to have 1t for three years without rent.
 At the end of the three years his oh- ligatiOn to the. Y. M. c. A. entirely ceases. The building will then be turned over to the Y. w. c. A. He has asked them to raise for 1t the sum of S10,OO0; half the cost. But even this amount is not for himself. He directs that every cent of it shall be turned over toward the new building of the F. M. c. A. and 1t will be paid oveW to them when they have raised the $$0C0 for whIcn they
 I'm other words every penny contrib uted to the r. w.. c. A. will go at last to the Y. M. c. A. There can be no conflict of interests between the two or- ganizatIons. N,
 Montgomery may secure noble prop erty for the young women and a new building for the young nen--both values together amounting to ssS, ,0O0--for sS5.OOo
 ''I say this" added Mr. Murphy. mot to press the matter unduly, but simply to clear up the situation. T am delighted at the substantial progress which has been made by both organizations"
 Mfr. Murphy said he would soon return to New York for a couple of weeks in order to complete the program for the Educational Conference at Birmingham on April 18th. He attended services yes terday at St. Johns Church. T am no longer a clergyman" said he. but while am not now in the ministry, I am deeply interested in St. Johns and am much. gratifled at the marked success which has attended the rectorship of Mir. Cobbs."