The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-03
ideas wouldn't hold out. and the Rev.
Barker will have to bark" for some
other church
Voice Of the People
The stntc LIhrnrx.

10 the Editor OF The Times Dispatch:
STA recent visit 10 the Virginia
state Library has shown conditions
there to be so different from what
formerly existed that cannot forbeur
commenting upon them. My visits have
covered a number of ye&rs, and i can
remember when the conditions were II
pyLword ana IL reproach. and study
All mat is changed. The cheerful.
weii-lighted rooms invite the stu
Gent order and neatness prevail
Courtesy and intelligence direct The
ehanye is wonderful
what might be termed the CONNER
e ..ai cement or such well-ordered IN
stltution to city is not fully under
stood In my own case have como
a Thousand miles TO consult works
which can only be consulted in the
virginia State Library, and have spent
weeks In doing so. My case is only
one of hundreds OF other similar cases
~ intervals your merchants and pub
ne-sPirited citizens club together TO
provide some attraction which will
uraW strangers to the city. Commer.
ciaily this is a wiae and beneficial
policy for all business interests. Every.
pooy Is benefited by it. Yet this is
the very thing that the State Library
Is quietly doing for the business in
terests OF the city all the time ii
Is q valuable business asset. and not
handsome per cent. on the citys tax
ae4e interest In it. And it is the duty
OF good business citizenship to SEQ
,shat this valuable asset Is not ham.
pereu by lack OF funds to increase it's
drawing power. The rural members of
every Legislature aro given to "parInr.
o one cheese OF every State Library, be.
cause its personal beneGt to them is
small. This is q narrow. minded way
Oh iooklng at what is designed to be
ana Is great public benefit for ali
the people
In another way the city Of Rich
mond has a. direct interest in tho
State Library's welfare. The city has
nc public library. and the State IL
o,rary has been performing the fuQc-
institutions in other cities. In doin.,
THIS 1t saves the city the large an
n 1uai tax for library purposes which
ssaying that it should do this. but it
mas been and Is doing 1t. There is
crave and growing danger to It's in
.erests In this Danger that It's main
VIII pc overlooked and it's means abb
sorbed in the purchase of what Is
ep,nemeral merely in literature to sup
!, ply 'a,. tnis demand nlc OF q great
OF history Is OF more lasting bene-
Ut IN a State Library than a thousand
nc ifs would be- And II is not fair
70 IT'S management that it should per-
form this additional service from mans
ior whlch II iss expected to perforin,
oiHerent service. IT is TO the inter-
.Sts OF the citizens of Richmond In
Every way to join with the manare-
iinent OF the State Library In asking
( appropriations for It's work;
ne state Library needs to be strength
ehed IN Its manuscript historical ma
tcrla!; II needs to have the large
caps In It's early newspaper files dljei
me interest among collectors for early
y .,n, ma literary and historical mate,
RAJ is Keen. and YOUR State librarian
snouia be in q position. and have
ssufiicient funds al his disposal 70
secure this class OF material for IN
STUDENT and literary worker whenewar
.ne opportunity arises. 1t can't wait
upon a legislative appropriation To- ao
ff nrs; the opportunity once lost is gone
IIoreVer. You can safely trust pr Nj
itrWalne to do this. / have never MT
MIN before this visit but he is wh,t
we can out Chicago way a live wirn',
h an II you give him all the power
, needs he, will make the liebt ~
me state Library shine. His ranorys
IRE IRE Justly considered the most IL
trunlnating documents issued nv .nv
stete librarian, and he can be d.
penueo upon TO do what Is best for
me interests OF the people OF Viz.
.'ihla, Tor the citizens of Richmond and
ior the stranger within your 49,
CHARLES EVANS