The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1907-05-01
REV. \. N. BARTLeTT'S ADDRESS
New Building Thronged at Opening
building Is Model of Ar
Chitectural Beauty.


were held Friday evening at $
o'clock in the Presbyterian church.
H. P. James, president of the board
Of trustees, presided. About 100
people were at the beautiful library,
the gift of Andrew Carnegie.
The program follows:
observation-disclosures
Reminiscences-C. H. Lombard.
Music-Male quartet.
Address-Rev. H. N. Bartlett.
Vocal Solo-Mrs. Horsley.
After the selection by the orches-
ira H. P. James gave few short re-
marks regarding the library and told
] of it's great benefit to the city and
community. He stated the library
building is new, but the library had
been established several years ago by
several prominent women, who gave
their time and devoted considerable
interest to its upbuilding.
Early History.
c. H. Lombard told of the early
history of the library of this city,
and said that 20 years ago the circu.
lating library was organized by sew
eral prominent women, and has
brought forth much fruit. He said
the meeting was held in the Yakima
hotel, then two-story building. At
the meeting it was decided to per-
feet the organization and Mrs. w.
l.. Steinweg was elected president.
AS a result of the labor of those few
women, who devoted considerable of
their time to the project, there is
now the beautiful library building
in this city.
When the library association was
first organized it had 65 members,
and $40 was collected in subscrip-
tions in the first month. 1t was opel
Saturday afternoons only. The wo-
men divided their time in distribut-
ing the books during the hours the
library was open. Shortly after this
$50 books were purchased, and it
was necessary to move their quar-
tiers, and then the library was open
Saturday and Wednesday afternoons.
Later the association incorporated as
the Yakima Library association. AT
that time there were 500 volumes in
the library.
In 1902 it was open every day and
had 1000 volumes. Today it has
1000 volumes. In 1904 the library
was turned over to the city as pub
lie library.
Rev. HI. NJ. Bartlett.
Rev. H. NJ. Bartlett in his address
said the production of literature Is
the greatest influence of man and
the most valuable to man. The hab-
it of reading literature, he said, has
become more and more part of
mans life. The most gifted minds
have found their inspiration in lit
erature, stated the speaker. They
find that stimulant in literature for
the mind that food is to the body.
He told of several work Of literature
which have brought about great re-
form, and stated that it would do
more to uplift mankind than the
schools OF churches.
We cannot give up the literature,
the greatest influence of man. We
are mainly what we are because of
literature, he said He stated that
the object of the exercises was for
the throwing open of the doors of
an institution for storing literature.
"You need have no uncertainty about
it's future" he said. "People have
heard of schools and churches being
abandoned, but never a library"
He stated that when some few
years ago few women started IL
brary they knew more would follow
and assist in the excellent work.
you may be sure" he said, what
ever books you store here will be
used. The poor man will use them.
but more the intelligent mechanic.
The boys and girls will take pleasure
in visiting it, and the mothers will
be able to find books which they can
read to their children which will
keep them off the streets and make
them better men and women. The
library, he said, will be the teacher
of your teachers, and will provide
hours of recreation to many.
'The better the library is equip
ped" he said, "the more it will be
used, and the more it is used the
keener the intelligence. No instl-
tuition in your city," he said will be
any greater value to the future Of
the town"
After the exercises at the church