The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-04-06

Down-Other Matters Before the
Board.
The board of aldermen held the
most lengthy meeting last night that
has been held in several years, it
being Monday, April 2 when the board
met and when they adjourned it was
Tuesday, April 3rd. There were a
number of communications before the
board. 1t took some time to consider
all of them, The aldermen were
just getting warmed up good when
the hour of midnight arrived.
All members were present. Alder
man karr was not in attendance when
the board met, but he got in just in
time to cast his vote in favor of the
city of Wilmington having a public
library.
City Clerk John ]. Fowler read
the minutes of the previous meeting,
and as soon as they were ap-
proved the board proceeded to bust
ness, the first matter to be brought
up being that Of establishing a public
library, and accepting the generous
offer OF the North Carolina Sorosis
who have labored s diligently during
the last few years with a view tc,
giving Wilmington a public library. e
Alderman Price arose as soon as
the minutes had been approved and
said, with the boards permission, he
would like to bring the matter Of
establishing a public library before
the board as there were several gen
Element present who wished to speak
on The subject. He then read a COM
municatiOn from the N. G. Sorosis
setting forth what they had done
since they first attempted the es-
adjustment of a city library and Of
fering to the city their library of LOO
volumes provided the city would vote
"a sum TO sustain the library and fit
up Il proper place in the city ihall
or elsewhere for such library. This
offer from the SOrosis was signed by
Miss Margaret Lowell Gibson, presi-
dem; Mrs. r. w. Hicks, head of the
home science department.; Mrs. NJ. II.
P. Clark and Miss Margaret L. Kings
bury.
Hon. John D. Bellamy IN Mr.. Her.
bert McClammy appeared before the
board on behalf of the Sorosis. Eacn
of them made strong talks in favor
of the proposition and they spoke in
glowing terms Of the noble band Of
ladies composing the SOrOsis who
have done 20 much toward the es-
adjustment of a public library. Mr..
Bellamy stated that there was no
town Of consequence in the state
without a library and named over the
various large towns in North Caro-
lima. Greensboro ~expending $4,000 a
year for a library; Winston-SalcDl
giving $4,000; Charlotte, $4,000; Sails
bury. S1.500: Durham maintaining a
large library; Raleigh maintaining a
library; Asbeville with a public libra
~, and in fact every city of any con-
sequence whatever.
Alderman W. H. YOpp made a mo-
ton that the city establish a library
and it was seconded by several MEM
bers of the board. 1t was at once
apparent that the members of the
board were strongly IN favor the
establishment of a city library AMI
Alderman w. H. Yopp said that he
regarded a public library a necessity
in this age and time, and was heartily
in favor of the proposition. His mo-
Gion was that the city appropriate
81. 200. as much thereof as is neces-
sary to be expended in properly fix
ing up the city hall, which is located
over the city offices, and to use the
remainder in maintaining the library.
Alderman Price made a motion that
a library commission be appointed to
take charge of the matter, the same
TO be composed of the mayor, two
members of the board and a commit
tee of three from the Sorosis.
There was no doubt as to how he
aldermen stood on the matter for
when the matter was put before them
they arose en- masse n favored the
proposition. 1t is not a common thing
to hear applause when some matter
is carried, but when those who had
assembled in the hall, and there
were q large number of people pres
ent, saw that the aldermen as a body
had voted in favor of the PROPOSE
ton, there was a ripple of applause.
1t has been many months since the
aldermen passed upon a matter that
seemed to give them as much graft
fcation as it did to pass upon the
library proposition. The matter was
brought before former board but it
remained for the present board Of
aldermen to do their part towards
placing a library in this city. They
realized that the people almost as a
INIT favored it and the voice of the
people was needed. 1t is not believed
that the board of audit and finance
will turn down the proposition for
they Will heed What the people want