The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-03-19

falling to appropriate the $4,000 requisite
for Its support, the building would re-
vert to MIR. Carnegie or his heirs.
readers had better proVideIiheir own. Il
Il ] think this enumeration covers all q ne
objections raised to having q public IL
brary, and It needs but little OF nrgu-
inent to show that I hey lave but a weak
foundation. Permit me to try to do SO us
shortly as possible. !, !, 4. &.
Tho best answer to tho first objection
that 1t would strain the city's finances
is the state of the treasury. Last year
the receipts were S1t0,0 o0 over he gexpen-
trayasances In some directions, and al Al.
lowing for every charge that could pc
brought against her, there WAS q balance
OF almost $4,000! Besides this, AIN
know that there Is q like. or even n
larger, amount, which Will be turned IN.
consisting of moneys appropriated but
Year eS Ihs does not e shows the W in
simpecunlous condition, but rather that She
Is well able to provide, not only for he
library, but for every Improvement re-
5uuired TO make her one OF the most de-
tlightful residential cities OF the country
She has resources enough to procure
every reasonable need. notWit Outstanding
#iished in tho News Lon dersof tho 4 IN
taxed cities in tho United states.
It does not seem, therefore. that there r.,
for. public library would many way
acmbarass our cltySfunds aud IN rccognl-
ton Of this the FINANCE Committee have
s taat
The objection which may be put as Soc;
4ond In Importance Is that J would he
preferable TO Issue bonds thansto accept &,
the giftSoffcrcd by Mr.. Carnegie. This
objection has been looked al In two ways:
First, that It would be more economical
seeing that the interest al four per cen I.
as a thing OF sentiment refusing the, gift
because seemingly assuming an obllga-
ton ito n Northern mil onaire. T he bond
idea was first promulgated by Mr.. Bloom.
berg but how itScan be greater economy
to pay 5000 Eini interest than to accept The
money for nothing 1t Is hard TO conceive.
Mr.. Bloomberg and those who; have re-
eaten ms ro ey
day coming when the bonds would ma
{turc, and the big sum would be demand.
ed, and meanwhile not only! the interest
would be called for annually. but he II
lbrarya would have to be 8Sustained--whe
1t had been provided -whercas thu ac-
5ceptance Of Mr.. c.arnegie's gil would not
lie Building, but the sum specified for
maintenance would also, inl!5 course OF
time, amply provide for the books. For
several years the appropria lon asked FOR
expended for library purposes. AS to the
sentimental part Of his objectionable
being under an obligation for the gift
with SO many Institutions. local and ma
$tional, as examples, 1t IS most unworthy.
It may be safely asserted that all o !,
public institutions, educational and lit
ierary, or beneficiary in any sense. have
come from warm-hearted and generous
donors, and the world has been wonder.
fully benefited by their gifts, Richmond
College, tho Woman College. Union Sem
mary, the Memorial Hospital, the Uni
sversi.y of Virginia, and Princeton,, Har-
ward and many; more arc all the outcome
of gifts. and salint eye eyer s,a;
where would they have been without
them? Neither should any. thin- kinned
fancy or false pride hinder the acceptance
of Mr.. Carnegie's generous offer to be-.
stow upon Richmond Il free gift OF n:
handsome library building. s..
But to review the other objections which
have been raised to the library would
occupy too much OF your valuable space
and begging the privilege to do3so on am
other day, 4 am,
u Respectfully yours.
8 u ROBERT VIII TET.,8S SIR. S$
,r3 ;oI,