The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1907-11-14
4 PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR
BROWNSVILLE.

TOr q year or more past. That such
an institution IS a very essential
adjunct to any town making any
9retensions to progress all will
doubtless agree. Someone several
months ago was going from
Brownsville on the train with a
1umber Of homeseekers who were
returning to their northern homes.
when one Of them was heard to re-
-nark that there seemed to be no
place whatever in Brownsville
where one could go for rest and
entertainment, except to the sa-
ICONS, there being no such thing as
4 public library or reading room
mere. That the charge is true, THE
HERALD regretfully admits. But,
although such a lack constitutes
serious defect in our municipality,
1t IS one which can be remedied
with comparative ease, if our citi-
zeus will only take hold of the mat
@er and act in concert to that end.
Among others, The Learners, the
ladies' literary club which was or
gained here last year, has taken
5Old Of the subject and begun the
accumulation of fund for the pur-
pose of establishing public library
md reading room, having given a
successful entertainment for that
purpose last spring. The club now
zaS on hand a small nucleus of a
Euud to be used for the said pur-
pose It was originally the hope
OF the club that it might secure a
Carnegie library, but, as proper
encouragement was not forthcom-
ang, the idea was given up for the
EIme being. The club still holds to
ats purpose of establishing some
sort of public library, however, aud |
expects to push the matter this
aviuter. Another move of a similar |
nature has recently been set on
6oot by a number of gentlemen of
r1he city, who are obtaining sub
scriptions for the purpose of open
5ng a reading room. Still other
parties advocate the Carnegie idea,
despite the cold water that was
thrown upon that project in the
early days of the move.
If appears to THE HERALD that
1t would be q good idea for the va
Eious persons who are interested in
Che matter, which should include
every person of intelligence in the
town, to get together and adopt
measures which would have the
advantage of being unanimously
endorsed and endeavor to evolve
some effective plan for securing the
desired end. The Carnegie idea
seems good to THE HERALD. Mr..
Carnegie will erect a library build
Iug In any town which will furnish
Ghe site, stock the library with
socks and agree to raise annually
Ten Der cent of the amount given
sy kim, which sum shall be used |
der the purpose of supporting the
Institution. There is no doubt that |
some of our wealthy property OWL
ers would be liberal enough to
donate lots in some locality suit
aa6le for the erection of a library |
Building. Mrs. King or Mr.. Still |
man. either of them, would doubt |
less do so. 1t should be an easy
matter also to raise money by sub |
zcTsption to stock the library with |
aooks, once the building is secur-
ed. and it should likewise be equal
ay possible for a town the size of
Brownsville to pledge the amount
required to be paid annually for
reIle support of the library. The lit
Gie town of Jefferson, Texas, with
@Ot over four thousand population,
azs lately secured a Carnegie lib
zary costing So, 600. Temple, Tex
IS. not as large as Brownsville, |
secured one that cost $4,000. !
,-t r IL $50,