The Greeley tribune., 1908-09-30

II is now n little more than year
inca ns member of the library
hoard of directors, and as one y.
the committee appointed 10 sollel,
! Funds for the then merely proposeu
new library building, l reported
progress in your columns ana to!u
! the people OF our prospects for l,s
raalizatiop. The building is nearly
COMPLETED in 80 far as its outer
structure is concerned, and II may
interest your readers. and especl-
ally contributors to the construction
fund. if now make more detaileu
report. ..or
The building proper, together
with the lighting and heating appar-
atus in position, and including the
architects fees, is to cost US some
thing more than $4,000; at least
$4,000 more than we intended 10
mt into the building itself at the
time we advertised for bids for its
erection.
subscribed to the fund, in sums
ranging from IS up to $1,000.
Twenty-seven subscribed 80 each.
sixty-seven. $40 each; fifteen. sio
each; one hundred and ninety, $2o
each; seventy-three. 500 each; tn!r-
tv-seven. 500 each; nine. $l5o
each; one, 5000; three. $3.50 each'
one, $500; one. $500; and one iam-
lily, $1,000.
Several essential items OF con-
struction having been omitted IN
the original contract-including the
finishing of the historical room.
nine who had originally signed 800
each subscribed $50 in addition, 10
meet the deficiency. Two other SUD
scribers, on the same account, put
up each another 500. When the
building is completed and furnished,
it is probable that the lists of sub
scribers will be placed on permanent
file in the historical room with the
collectors check mark opposite each
paid subscription. In addition. 1t is
possible that little pamphlet may
be published. containing the list in
alphabetical order.
or the total sum subscribed, 1t is
more than likely that between five
and six hundred dollars will not be
realized. There are twenty-five or
more Of the subscribers who are thus
delinquent Some of these may pay,
but some are undoubtedly unable to
pay. A few who could pay are not
likely to pay. The proportion of
this large list who may in the end
fail to pay. is probably smaller than
ever subscribed to any fund in Gree
ley, or in any other city in the state.
There are but three subscribers to
the fund who do not now, or have
not at some time in the past, lived
in Greeley or its vicinity. Only one
subscribed who is not, from former
residence or present business con-
nections interested in the place. Mr..
Fred f. Smith, for so many years
the head and front of the library
movement here, and Margaret
Smith, his wife, although probably
permanently removed from Gree
ley, nevertheless, subscribed and
paid into the building fund 800.
w. X. McAllister, an original Col
onist, who removed from Gree
ley more than thirty-five years
since, and is now connected with the
Southern Pacific railroad. signed
and paid $25. Nearly a thousand
dollars has been subscribed and paid
by farmers residing near Greeley.
rendered by the club women, main
|
nishing the building. about $500 has
been subscribed to the building fund
by the widowed women of the
place And finally, in this connec-
tion, there is another singular feat
ure of the list. 1t is this: That
whereas the newer population of
| Greeley really outnumbers us old
settlers of the place more than five
to one. yet l find on looking over
my lists that not only the total
amount subscribed by the older set
tiers, but the number of old set
| tier subscribers stands as relating
to the new, fully ten to one. 1t is
but fair to say, however, that this
result is from no lack of apprecia-
tion of the enterprise in which we
are engaged, or from any disinclina-
| tion to contribute in their proper
proportion, but is mainly owing to
the fact that l am an old settler my
self and very naturally solicited the
more persistently among my per-
sonal friends and acq Laintances.
For this apparent neglect l will try
and make amends before our work
is completed, and citizens Of our
later growth may look to see me in
I, the near future.
1t has been the aim of the various
committees which have had this un-
dertaking in charge not to run in
debt to the extent of dollar beyond
the money we had in hand or were
warranted in assuming could be col
lected on the amounts pledged at
the time OF each contemplated ex-
penditure. l am happy, therefore
in being able to state that when the
new building is finally completed we
shall not owe dollar on it an hour
after it is accepted from the hands
Of the contractors. But that Is about
the extent of our means on hand and
available from our present list OF
subscribers; and we shall require
$4,000, at least. to equip the build