Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1909-10-28
FATE OF LIBRARY
HANGS IN BALANCE.
Council May Be CaIledlFri.
day to Decide II.
If No Money Given 1t
Must Close Satur-
day Night.

The fate of the Carnegie Library, so
far as the matter of a city appropria-
ton is concerned, is hanging in the
balances. 1t will probably be decided
at call meeting Of the City Council
on Friday, when report will be made
to it by the Finance Committee. The
entire question in the meantime will
be threshed out by that committee,
after thorough report has been made
to it by City Attorney Sheppard, and
after consultation with committee of
the directors of the library.
This was the course decided on at
the meeting of the City Council last
night.
The matter was brought forward by
committee of the directors of the
library, Messrs. Crawford Wheatley
and Thomas Harold. Mr.. Wheatley
bluntly stated that it would be neces-
sary to close the library Saturday
night, of this week, unless Council
came to it's relief and provided the
funds for its maintenance.
Mr.. Wheatley stated that the library
was now. overdrawn 1915 at his bank.
The bank, it seems, has kindly allowed
the library this privilege, relying on
the city making appropriations from
which the indebtedness would be re-
imburs ed by degrees. But for this
generous policy on its part the library
would have been closed before this, al
though Mr.. Wheatley refrafned from
making such a statement
The library since its opening, 1t ap-
pears, has received 1925 from the city
and $100 from the Board of Trade. In
addition the ladies auxiliary has rails
ed about $160 for it. When the doors
were opened it was in debt to the ex-
tent of $700 for furniture and supplies,
and this debt has since increased to
$916. Further supplies are necessary,
the magazines and other literature
must be subscribed and paid for next
month, and various operating expenses
are TO be met, with no funds in sight
whatever.
Tie present membership of the Ii
brary, Mr.. Wheatley stated, is T04. The
highest under the old library was 88.
The present actual use of the library
is probably ten times as great as was
that of the old Americus library. The
membership is steadily increasing and
the demand for books is greater every
month. Mr.. Wheatley pointed out the
value of the institution as a factor in
the educational life of the community
and made a strong plea for support
for it, II the city would make an ap-
propriation of $500 at this time, and
$75 month hereafter for the next
nine months, or $1,000 for the year
ending November t. 1910, he felt that
any additional funds required during
that time could be raised and the work
of the library kept up and expanded to
meet the necessities of the community.
Mayor Fielder called on City Attor-
ney Sheppard who stated that while he
had not made thorough investigation
he was inclined to the belief that it
was not a lawful appropriation that
was asked for
Alderman Allen pointed out that
there were a number of libraries in
the state for which appropriations
were made from city treasures with
out any one questioning the legal right
of the cities to do so. Mr.. Carnegie
has given money for the erection of
about LOO library buildings, said
Aid. Allen, the majority being in the
United States, and not one has failed
to live up to it's obligations, moral or
legal He hoped that Americus was
not going to be the first city in the
world to violate its agreement with
Mr.. Carnegie and close the doors OF
so admirable an institution as the pub
lie library.
Mayor Fielder insisted that the prop
er course was to have further inves-
tigation into the law governing the
matter. Finally the question, as stat
ed, was referred to the Finance Com
mittee and City Attorney. None OF
the aldermen spoke in opposition to
an appropriation, and it was evident
that if the law was stretched consid-
erably to permit of it there would be
no serious objections raised on the
part of at least the majority of the
Board. if by any one at all. Numerous
incidents were cited where the city
had gone ahead and appropriated mon
ey without regard to the exact letter
of the law, objects that were by nc
means so worthy of municipal assist
ance as the public library.