The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-09-27

fact that within two months after Open
ing, the Jamaica branch was issuing books
at the rate of over 5000 volumes a month,
AS an alternative to salary increases
the community should consider this ques-
ton, How many more such places are
there awaiting a proper library servioe?'
II instead Of paying for special branches
the taxpayers should decide that they
want to extend the travelling libraries
in 1907, that provided through department
stores, hospitals, Sunday schools, public
schools, settlements, DO, a circulation Of
1, 1853, 900 volumes. 1t may be that tax
payers would rather pay present en-
ployees OF the Water Department S122 900
more next year than increase the library
service. These facts are only for COM
parison.
The capital necessary to yield s122. 900
in n year Is So. 100 600. considerably
larger than the original IN dowment
that enabled the Rockefeller Institute
for Medical Research to earn everlasting
fame. This capital is much larger than
that represented by the total. relief cost
York Association for Improving the
Condition Of the Poor, which claims
never to have failed to aid a deserving
family in distress when conditions justi-
fed. For nearly W years the city has
delayed providing, a great ocean. park,
and site for a hospital for crippled
children, which was to cost 5000 600 less
than the capital necessary to. produce
the requested increases Of salaries urged
for this n department.
Not less illuminating Is the story told
by the assessed valuation necessary to
provide these increases. In effect, the
department is asking the city to set aside
for next year for increasing 557 salaries
the taxes on property worth 50, 500. 900.
This would take six. buildings such Ms
the Mutual Life Insurance Building,
or two buildings such as the Produce
Exchange. 1t would eat up the taxes
on the United Charities Building for over
forty years.
Department Of Water Supply asks for
$40 additional employees. to cost s57s ,o73.
To produce this sum in interest will re-
uuire a capital Of $l4. 467 900, or in taxes
n $50, 27I, 900 real estate investment. Com
bining increases in salary with salaries
for additional employees the Water Deport-
ment asks an increase az $700.9l2, the
interest on ST ,567. 900, and equal TO the
taxes on Si6.07i 900.
The Department of Correction during
the last six months OF 1907 increased three
salaries So, 400, during the first six months
of 1908 it increased forty-three salaries
s7,s75, during 1909 it wishes to add S21 100
10 C1O SdlHTleS OF tut eAlbtuiB iOTCe, OF Ill
round numbers to increase by $500 the
salaries OF Ill employees. This would
maintain two branch libraries for a year
and would provide for q circulation in
travelling libraries Of 100000 volumes next
year. If the Police Department we're
given that amount for really efficient
detective work or for patrolmen in dis
triots insdequately covered il could prob
ably save the Correction Department
much more than So. 001 In board bills this
coming yeaE. The splendid fight put up
in Brooklyn last year by the Chiidren's
Aid Society through its milk stations for
the education OF mothers and the care of
babies and that OF the Department Of
Health did not begin to cost s22, 900. In
fact. the Department. Of Health in all
boroughs did not spend during 1908 s22, 900
in it's summer educational campaign,
where nurses visited and instructed
mothers OF rs 900 new born infants and
where physicians visited schools and
recreation piers.
II the taxpayers Of Few York would
spend $4,000 in learning and publishing