, 1906-01-02

To the Editor of The Republican.
At a season when the interest in CIV
ic Improvement is SO ripe; when the
Charities union, the Woman's club and
one of our literary societies are work
ing on this important question, the
time seems ripe for a word from a lay
man.
One the v of so momentous an oc-
casion as the opening of our beautiful
Carnegie library, would it not be well
to pause and consider carefully that
We put this splendid gift to the best
use within our power? The library
building was given to the people of Al
bany county, and is supported by them.
1t should, therefore, be at their dispos-
al whatever their creed or color, or
wherever in the county they may
chance to reside.
frequently hears the remark made, not
in anger, but simply stated as a fact,
that though the library is supported
by every taxpayer in Albany county, it
is simply for the use of those living
within the few square miles compris-
ing the city of Laramie. Is it our de-
sire to be subjects of charity to our
rural brothers? | hope not and as all
citizens are requested to make sug-
gestions toward lettering our condi-
ton, beg to propose that the good
people of Albany county get their heads
together Inc devise some plan where
by this building may be used for the
common good of all.
1t is easy to say hat any responsible
resident may draw out the books. That
sounds like the idlest nonsense to the
ranchman who m to town twice or
perhaps only once a year.
Allow me, please, to digress for a
moment n repeat to you some gossip,
something that has been said to me by
a score of different people during the
past year:
II hate to go to Laramie. When l
must go, l rush through my business
and leave as soon as possible" But
why " l asked. Laramie is a good
place to be-" Perhaps for those who
have homes there, but if you were a
man and evening came on and you
had engaged a little o. to sleep in,
and it vas cold and lonesome, and you
had eaten your supper, of curse you
wouldn't want to get drunk 10 what
would you do in Laramie?" why
I'd" "Ha, ha! yes, you'd do just what
| did the last time l went. The trains
were late, and instead of several hours
l had but forty-ive minutes, if l was
to get out of Laramie before night
went to Holidays and bought my pro-
visions, then to Frazee's-oh well, it
makes my head swim to think of all
the places / went and things l attend
ed to. The last thing | remember do
ing was buying a few doughnuts to
lunch on, n catching that train
westi"
Is it right that our beautiful town,
which looks so good to us from the
shelter of our homes, should be so I'M
attractive to our brothers and sisters
living on the ranches?
There are, l believe, four rooms
available for use, besides the lecture
hall and book room, in the library
building. Is 1t unreasonable to ask that
these rooms-the rightful property of
all be given up to the use of all and
not be TOO good for their use either?
BY a little expense and effort these
rooms could be made to serve a pur-
pose-a need in our city. There could
be a place where a man, either alone
or with his wife could go and be warm
and welcome. He could read quietly
in one OIL talk socially with his
neighbors or a chance acquaintance in
another.
The writer, and not he alone, earn
estly hopes that when the civic i'm
proyement movement begins to bear
fruit some arrangement along these
lines will have been completed.
A. SUBSCRIBER.