Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1909-10-08
WHAT DOES THE CITY
PROPOSE TO DO F.?
1t Must Take Hold of the
Library'S Finances.

AT the last meeting of the Americus
Board Of Trade the finance committee
was appointed to call upon the Civ
council for regular monthly contri-
button to the Carnegie Library that
would be adequate to meet it's current
expenses of operation, at least.
So far the committee has not paid
its respects to the Council 1t is not
known at what time it will appear
before the Board, but 1t will probably
not be until after conference with
the Directors of the Library. the
Board of Trade, of course, not hav-
ing the slightest desire to supercede
the directors of the library or inter-
fere with any plans they may have
laid
The library is entirely without
funds. But for the donation of the
$500 by the Board of Trade 1t is diff
f1cult to see how it could be kept in
operation.
1t is impossible, of course, to carry
on such an institution under the Slip
shod financial methods that have been
adopted up to this time, a sort of
makeshift arrangement which pre-
cludes any possibility of knowing one
month what the situation will be the
next month.
When Mr.. Carnegie gave the 5000
for the erection of the building it was
with the distinct understanding that
the city would see to it that there
was expended the amount of $4,000
year in its support
1t is clearly a matter of honoY that
this should be done, that an end
should be put to the methods under
which the library has been conducted
up to this time 1t will certainly be
a most serious reflection upon Amer
icus, a stain upon its good name, If
something is not speedily done to put
the library on a proper financial basis.
The understanding was that the
city would make monthly aporo.
priatlon and that this would be sup
p.emented by subscriptions from clti-
zens, until the aggregate reached the
amount that the city obligated itself |
to see expended every year.
So far the city has given $3.50, $50
for three months, the Board Of Trade /
has given $100 and the ladies of the /
city have raised several hundred dol
lars, payable during the course Of |
the year, for the children's depart
ment
No public library can be run along
on such an indefinite basis as this.
Everybody appreciates the value Of |
the library to- the community. MOI
one would probably be willing to see
its doors closed. The feeling is prev
alent that it's usefulness is seriously |
hampered by the failure to live up to
the conditions of the contract, or to
make any proper provision for the
of the institution as 1t |
should be maintained.
Business is brisk now, the city will |
soon be in possession of its normal
revenues. The feeling is strong
throughout the community that al
appropriation of at least SIS,
and preferably s10O, should be made
by the city, to be supplemented by
private donations, putting the library
in position to go on with its work and
meet the demands of the public.
There is certainly nothing that the
city government can do that will be
sure of more general public ap-
proval than this.
1t will assuredly be serious re-
fiectian upon Americus if something is
not speedily done along this line.
The moral obligations of munich
pality are equally as binding as those
of an individual