Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-06
CHARLES F. LuMMls GIVES HIS
SIDE OF THE LIBRARY CASE

I AlID her serial IdiSt dldh III al -
! previous allegations against the library
/ (Which dispensed with her services Tor
/ good reason) having been proved Ialse'
I foolish and reckless, she now breaks
out with further complaints equally
1 childish and equally false. Having ls-
ANONYMOUSLY failed to gain credence III
a public trial dragging through half a
wear. in which she had full latitude.
/ she now resorts to an amiable cam
naign OF revenge by getting her friends
and other credulous persons TO write
! newspaper complaints about the hpra-
ry, the object being to mob TINS lnstltu-
/ tion by way Of perpetual -pecklng.
There is nothing in the world to hin-
| der the mayor and council from order
| ing a thorough investigation of pubic
! library affairs-nothing, that is, except
! their common sense. The library board
| is composed of business men OF stand
ing in this community. The accounts
of the library are open TO any one 5
| investigation. The use of the library
is so extraordinary that it is marvel
to the profession. No other pubic Il
brary in the country does so much IN
proportion to its resources. what the
libraries of the country think OF our
progress is of record. The enormous
activity is visible The more library
is used the more it is criticised. We
cannot build street railroads tast
enough or deep enough; nor buila
enough schoolhouses, nor buy enough
library books, nor hire enough library
attendants of the proper kind, 10 keep
up with the growth of this city. EVERY
reasonable person knows that. The city
has increased in population over 800 per
cent IN nine years. Everyone knows
that neither the library, the schools
the street railways nor any other ull-
itv has been able to keep pace. BUT
we have among the best schools IN
America, the best street transit IN tne
world, and a public library which IS
the pride Of such good citizens as know
the facts.
Most people are aware that the larg-
est pubic libraries contain half MIL
lion volumes and upward Boston mas
nearly a million-and will have to buy
a million more before it catches up with
the present demand; ana by tnat iiine, i
at its present rate, the market Will pe
another million ahead of it.
The Los Angeles public library mas
over 1875 900 books, and of selection
which can afford comparison with 9TH
er large and active libraries. Inese
books are more used per volume tnah
in any other public library in the
country with one exceptions; and more
ner capita of population than any oth-
er library anywhere. Yet Miss Blandy
"vants to know why it is impossible to
get books from the public library.
They do get them, over 100000 out OF II
a year They use nearly double tnat
number in the library per annum' Inc
onlv wav bv which every one could ma
the hook he wishes when he wishes
il would be to arrest the growth of the
citv. We could then in time catch up
even with this enormous demand-or.
quite as practicable, the revenues OF
the library might be so increased as 70
enable it to buy million volumes next
L, glfi
able proportion of its patrons Ior
time. ~,
This unfortunate little woman, who
connived at all our Wickednesses OF
business and our stupidities lnteilectu-
/ allv so long as she could draw her
| salary, displays with each new out-
! burst some new phase Of that lgno-
| rance. dfsloyaltY and "temperamental
| inpossibility' which forced this insti-
| tuition to get along without her. In al
its thirty-seven years. with hundreds
of employees. the library has never nad
but one such firebrand. The innocent
NAV believe Miss Blandy's allegations
through the letter of an anonymous
friend. that the library board could
rot bring charges and could find no
flaw with Miss Blandy's work. On
the contrary. But the board does
6husiness" as far as civic regulations
admit; and instead of bringing charges
and nT0T1n2 IlelLls lIl5lteli VI PAS AA-fo
4hat Miss Blandy had been serious
de+riuent to the service on account OF
the same egotism, ignorance and lack
of business sense which mark her pres
emf career, and that she had similar
record beforehand-the board ala What
anv business house would do ana got
rid of her without the pangs of six
r1onths' scandal. There are people who
:.s !. !. :: !: = = : Z :
columns, hardwood floors, pine TRIM
furnace. .,,., ,.,,,r,
The same architects have also drawn
n1ans for alterations and additions 10
Good Samaritan hospital on WesI
Seventh street near F1gueroa street
The heating system will be improved.
new rooms added and other needed I'M
provements made.
Architect A. c. Smith. 307 South
Broadway. will furnish plans and spe-
cifcations for the new school building
for the Washington school district near
Glendale. It will be one-story touf-
room frame building, with basement
under part. 1t will be provided with a
modern heating plant, Architect
Smiths specially designed sanitary
system and other modern appliances.
Architects Edelman & Barnett, Blan-
chard building, are stalking out the
ground on which the fine residence % LOT
Marco III Heunan IS 10 DC pul4t. ~
construction work will be done by the
dav under the supervision of the archl-
tects.
Architect A. B. Benton has nearly
completed the plans for the proposed
improvements to be made TO the Gleh-
wood Inn at Riverside.
The Smith Weaver Construction COM
many. Citizens National Bank building
| is erecting a modern seven-room resi-
dence on Dos Robles avenue, Oneonta
park. for II. O. Martin. 1t viii nave
hardwood floors, interior finish of pine,
cement porches and columns, and Will
| cost $3500.
They are also drawing plans for
two-story fiat building containing four
three-room suites on Forty third street
near Figueroa street, for Laura Nc
Donald. 1t will have interior treat
ment of slashed grain pine, furnace
heat electric wiring, pergola, sun
porch and modern improvements.
Architect w. S. Hebbard, Grant
building. San Diego, has prepared
plans of a two-story and basemerc
brick office and store building to be
erected on the east side of Fifth street
lust north of A street for John B.
Starkey. 1t will be 5Ox1OO feet and have
concrete foundation and cream -colored
pressed brick front, composition roofing
! and pine trim
Carnegie Library Contract
| The r. r. Davisson Contracting company Of