The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1907-03-22
A LIBRARY COMMISSION
Meeting Held Monday Night and
Organization Effected.
Committees Appointed on Funds and
on Securing a Site Liberal
Subscriptions Promised.

The library commission appointed ty
the mayo. at the council meeting held
| on the evening of March 4 met in the
council chamber Monday evening to dis
cuss the pros and cons in regard to es-
tablishing a library in Colfax and asking
Mr.. Carnegie to advance sum of money
to put up a building suitable for the
purpose. AS previously stated in The
Gazette the commission named by the
mayor is composed Of three members of
the city council and 10 citizens, as fol-
lows: FL. Van Schoick, W. j. Davenport,
Il. l.. Plummer, j. II. Bainton, C. P.
Burnett, FL. B. Elworthy, e. j. Edge,
Father La Reaux, H. W. Living stone,
James A. Perkins, S. @. Armstrong, Ed
win T. Conan and S. D. O'Neal. All the
members named we're present except two,
and they we're out of town, besides sew
eral citizens who are interested in pro-
noting the cause. To effect a perma-
nent organization j. HI. Bainton was
elected chairman and S. D. O'Neal secre-
tary.
1t was announced that Mr.. Carnegie
had been heard from through his private
secretary and the necessary blanks for
warded to be properly filled, which, in
brief, means that the sum asked for
($1O,OOO) will be forthcoming so soon
as site has been provided and a main
tenance fund Of 10 per cent of the sum
asked for is raised for the support of the
library, in this instance meaning $1,000
year.
committee on site was appointed,
consisting OF Messrs. Conan, Davenport
and Armstrong. A committee on funds,
consisting of O'Neal, Van Schoick, Co.
man, Davenport and Armstrong was
also named. 1t will thus be seen that
the project has been properly launched
and the questions of a site and mainten-
ance are legitimate matters for consid-
Grafton and discussion.
To purchase a suitable site it was
thought $250O would be required and it
was decided to ask the citizens to sub
scribe this amount. Several gentlemen
present expressed their willingness to
give from $50 to $50 each, and it is
thought the committee will find no diff
Guilty in raising the required amount.
In regard to maintenance there are
two ways OF looking at it. The law on
the statute books has this to say in
speaking of cities of the third class:
"The city council may appropriate
from the general fund an amount not ex-
ceeding One-fOurth of one mill OF the tax
able property of the city for the purpose
Of establishing and maintaining q public
library"
On property valuation of S 900, 900
in round numbers in the city OF Colfax
this would mean sum of only $3.50 that
could be set aside each year by the city
council for library purposes, which is
$3.50 short of the required amount. IF,
as some contend, the recent legislature
passed law allowing cities Of the third
class to appropriate from the general
fund one mill for a library this would
guarantee the sum needed, and the mat
ter could be easily settled. But allowing
that the present law stands and it is
necessary to raise $3.50 in addition to
the $3.50 that the city council could
vote, it was suggested by some that the
Rest Room, now maintained by public
subscription, could be merged with the
library and the two run without the
least interference with each other. 1t
costs the citizens of Colfax about $1,000
year to maintain the Rest Room.
There is no library in connection with it,
a care taker drawing a small salary is
paid each month, and it could be merged
with the library building without added
expense and to the advantage of all
classes of citizens. Furthermore, the
Commercial Club could occupy rooms in
the basement OF the proposed library
building, without interfering with the
library rooms proper, a factor that will
probably be taken into consideration.
The club is now looking around for
quarters.
This is a mere glance ct the situation.
The obstacles do not appear to be insur-
mountabe and in the hands OF business
men, such as compose the commission, a
way will be found no doubt to reach the
goal aimed At