The twice=a=week herald. (Amarillo, Tex.) 1887-1906, 1906-08-03
JAMES MURDOCH ON THE AUDITORIUM.
rrom lhc Roeky Mountain Nena.

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From tho Rocky Mountain Nowa
I observe that tho public library
board IL again adyertisingtor bids for
erecting tha now building according
10 the same old plans, which have
been 80 long before A. and whose
very serious defects ! have pointed
out In previous reports published In
your columns
Is II not pity that Mr. CamogIos
magnificent glft should In rrcU
measure be thrown away and the
ctys money as well IN building 80
M adapted for its purpo5cs--tho
worst planned building Of its Kind
that know Of and ann familiar
with the plans Of an that have been
built IN recent years In the United
states.
What Is the use Of u library ~
you cannot SOC 10 read In II comfort
ably during daylight the Kind Of
building that aboys all others should
have n surplus Of light
Here W. have a hoard which In
spite Of The fact that these defects
have been time and again brought
10 lis notice, apparently determines
to ignore their existence, and pros
cceds 10 build q library whore the
juvenile reading rooms aud working
rooms for tho sta0 have not moro
than fourth Of the necessary
amount of light, and in the delivery
and stock rooms tlQ public aud tho
library attendants are 10 strain their
eyos In order that The people across
tho street may feast theirs ON tho
Coripthlan cOlonnado, which is the
compensation afforded for this gloom
that we arc so deliberately construct
Ing as tho furnishing for the exterior
venture 10 say that there is not
another city In tho United States
where such stupid thing would be
permitted
Whore are these noisy people of
The Chamber Of Commerce, Of the
Real Estate exchange, Of the Art
commission, OF the Womans club,
that they do not find here a leglti-
mate field for their energies? Is
there not enough Intelligence and
common sense In this COMMUNITY to
enable It to spend this money to some
good purpose, instead Of wasting II
or worse?
I suppose the board comprises, In
diddually. excellent men and worthy
citizens. but ! can not see why by
virtue of their official position they
calmly ignore tho protests and adj
vice Of those who have given study
to these matters, and proceed to de-
eide upon problems that they must
know very little about and perhaps
care less.
Would any members Of the board
as bushes men plan Il store or q
bank or factory in which their own
bushes was TO be carried on without
studying out every detail of the man
ner in which the bushes was to be
conducted, and the perfect lighting
and convenient arrangement OF every
room, so that their employees might
give the most efficient service, I
venture to say they would not sac
rihce one jot or little Of all this to
make the exterior an imitation OF
Roman temple
Now public library is essentially
bushes building, the purpose Of
which Is the collection and care OF
books, to afford the public the oppor-
tunity of using them, and the best
facilities for doing SO,
The reading rooms, delivery
room, working room and stack room.
should be amply lighted and partic-
ular care and study given to the
planning and arranging of these TO
secure this important object. In
this respect the present plans are
thorough failure, as experience
will show should they ever unfortll-
nately be carried out
Some time ago the Colorado chap
IT