Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1906-12-10
Aberdeen, Wash, Dec. 6, Is

Aberdeen, Wash., Dec. 6, 1906.
Editor Aberdeen Herald:
Probably few have more faith in IL
braries. schools ami charity homes for
the unfortunate than the undersigned,
who Is also q contributor for buying a
a library lot on Market street. 1 do not
believe, however. in entering into any
arrangement that will compel the city to
furnish $500 annually in order to get a
gift OF SIS, 900 from anyone to put up a
library building on business street in
a growing city like Aberdeen, which
probably in five years will be useless be-
cause too small; besides, the ground on
which such building will stand will
then be go valuable it will be unbusiness-
like to keep it for library purposes.
Probably, too, in twelve years time, the
lot can be sold and part of the proceeds
used to buy more suitable one else
where and then have more money left to
build larger library building than that
proposed by the Carnegie plan. for with.
out all signs fail Of coming prosperity for
Aberdeen and all other towns at the
head Of the Harbor we are on the eve OF
q better growth than we have ever be-
fore had.
His gift, If accepted, won't put up any
thing but cheap building anyway, nor
will it be fire proof. Why won't it be
more sensible then to put up plain,
wooden structure for few years in case
it is impracticable to rent? The COM
munity will then 60 on record unhamp-
cred by any agreement to furnish $1,000
per year to support for all time what
we will probably in the long run be
FORCED to keep as a branch library on
ground worth several times more than
the building. Can't it be supported with
out paying such excessive interest. len
per cent interest ON SIS, 900 is pretty
good bargain. No wonder unscrupulout
men who drive such sharp trades, thrive
who wouldn't? As tax payer, | re-
bel at any such methods or arrange
ments and if there is not spirit enough
among the city officials to prevent such
graft then they must be lacking in efti'
cheney. No individual or community
loses anything by having dignity Of
force enough to look out for individua
or q community's interests. l am not o
that class, who believes in accepting
blood (some call it tainted) money undel
the present circumstances. Neither an
l a crank on the subject of some beinl
fabulously rich, for without such an in
centive what would become of our wheel;
of industry and even Of mankind? Ii
God had intended money to be equally
distributed it wonld have been that way
Wisely, he has left us to choose between
it and other things including the higher
aspiration OF spiritual perfection and
fortunate is he who has the strength te
cultivate and acquire the latter.
If enough money was offered to build
library building and decently equip il
with provision that whenever large
building was provided, the obligation TO
an annual support, whatever it might be
ehould cease, then l would say accep
the money, for I am believer in public
charity when sensibly made. l an
thankful, though, that the Creator en-
dowed me with enough common sense tt
know when gift is wisely made, ant
that l have spirit enough to advocate
declining loaded down niggardly on
from source able to do the right thing
A gift of SIS 900 TO a country village
in an old community, which has stopped
growing would be all right ii the village
was small enough, but it is certainly on
of place here, where, when the two
towns are united, we will have grown ir
all probability in less than ten years tt
be city Of so 900 or more, Depend up
on it, your library lot alone by that tim'
will be worth goodly sum-far more
than that now proposed by the Carnegie
plan. But l know from experience tina
he is not always sensible in his gifts o
libraries; he can't be made to see tn,
difference between growing city with {
great future, and small country villages
which have reached their growth.
Less than fifteen years since, Barre
VT. the place OF f,.myl.nativity, was /;
country village Of about 600 people, bu
owing to the sudden:: development Of tn