The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-03-23
ANOTHER PROTEST
ON LIBRARY SITE
Rev. George Evans Thinks Structure
Should BE Above All Else
Centrally Accessible.

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
The momentous decision as to the loca-
tion of our forthcoming library may seem
to belong chiefly to those who represent
the money of the city. But if a word
may be permitted, though Silver and
gold l have none yet such as | have in
the way of common sense may prove
of some service.
Frankly I join your protest against the
Southside site. The arguments of the
gentlemen whose letter appeared on Mon
day are specious but I shall be one more
who will be grieved to see a fine oppor-
way. Only the other day the self-same
bit of property was offered for South
side High school. Now, presto! 1T is good
for Central Library.
These seem to me decisive factors for
those who have the matter in hand:
l. The Free Library is the Peoples pal
ace and the Peoples study.
2 1t must therefore, be equally Access
sible to all parts of the city
g. Accessibility means no necessity of
car transfers
T. The chief beneficiaries will be the
school children. Consider how a High
school student must sacrifice valuable
time travelling from the present building
to any point on South Twentieth street.
g. Nothing is SO disastrous to a city as
preference of the well-to-do citizen above
the poor man. Pre- eminently the library
is for the poor man, his son and his
i eli 10 rvaea
special Journey for all the city except
those (well-to-do folk chiefly who abide
already in the most favored section.
6. Why talk about branch libraries ?"
We should need one near to Third and
Nineteenth. This, / presume, would be
the central branch!
7. Most people believe that the South
side is the tail that wags the dog. Is It
going TO wag the dog now that he has
grown 80 great?
I, for one. am forever wondering, Who
Yields the shovel in Birmingham" We
find ourselves, time and again, suddenly
shoyeled up and dumped without much
chance to protest AS the old lady said
of Gladstone. There's one above that
knows all about it, Yes said Mrs.
Gladstone, land he'll be downstairs in a
little while" Who is the zone above" in
Birmingham? And when will he come
down stairs and proclaim himself?
am very sure that the noble army
of -philanthropists who have
worked hard for the public library will
want it equally free for all. Its only
logical site is within the least possible
walking distance OF, say, Third and Nine
teenth or Twentieth streets. There are
desirable sites that can be redeemed to
noble ends without excessive outlay. Why
nor further the efforts of some to raise
Second avenue in dignity? Why not let
the library beckon the loafer off the
streets by sheer propinquity? Perhaps
the neighborhood of Sixth avenue would
not be too far north But surely, unless
we would be willing to recommend Twen-
tieth street. south of the tracks, for the
new federal building. we are no less un-
just in selecting itefor a Central Library
Above all things let us be free from
section-making by deeds. The words Of
Mondays letter are fair enough. But they
are an apology Tor deed that slaps in
the face every section of Greater Bir-
mingham except the Southside. the side
that least needs aid. and throws dis
credit on many blocks of central Bir-
mingham which only await the touch Of
genuine craftsmanship to blossom with
tho glory of civic pride and usefulness.
Let us by all means put into effect our
adopted new motto and make no grim
ace or subtle wink when we say: Non
''0'' n GEORGE EAvEs.
Birmingham. March 22 1910.