The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-09
OFFER
sent TO COUNCIL
Thomas ]. Todd's Letter to
Mayor Starts Movement for
Big Free Institution.
WILL GIVE $4,000 FOR SITE
Special Committee Appointed to
Consider Question, With
Orders to Report.
WILL GIVE $4,000 FOR SITE

In a special message to the Common
Council! last night Mayor Richardson
transmitted the offer Cf Thomas j. Todd
Ia subscribe $4,000 toward the acuui-
sition OF Il suitable site, provided the
city will establish ana maintain free
circulating public library. MIR. Todd
suggests location OH Grace. Frank
l!n, Broad or MG:n Streets between
Eishth and Laurel Streets. preferably
Grace street. The Council adopted
resolution. offered oy Mr.. Cmiauf, uu-
ihortZing the appointment OF Il spcciul
committee of tivr TO coneult the Rich
noud Education Association and AIr.
Todd and TO report on establishing and
maintaining such an institution. and IL
found 10 be feasible. to make reuom-
mcndations 70 carry tho plan into ef-
feet.
The ACCESSIBILITY OF accepting the offer
OF MI. Todd and any other offers tina:
may be made TO the city i'll connection
with u public library IL left in Sbey
ance pending the report OF this special
committee, which is TO consist OF three
Councilmen and two Aldermen. pro-
rided tho Board OF Aldermen concurs
III the action taken by the Council last
night
Mr. Todd's oner.
With his message the Mayor trans
mi:ted TO the Council the following let
ter from Mr.. Todd, addressed to the
Mayor on December 80:
Dear Sill want 10 express my
pleasure md satisfaction at the action
of our City Council Board Of Aldermen
and business mems organizations for
the passage of the good government
bill, and while we now have beau
tiful and well governed city, the new
law will give us one OF the best gov.
erncd cities In tho country and add very
much TO our progress and prosperity.
Another thing ] am very much in
tercstcd In the establishment of n
public free circulating library, and
believe this Is good time for the city
to do some thing for that object, and
therefore make something OF n New
Years proposition along that line. as
follows: II the city will build and main
tain n free public library I will sub
scribe $4,000 for the SITE which
think will purchase a suitable one in
u good location. / think the location
should be on Grace. Franklin. Broad or
Main Streets, between Eighth and Lau-
rel Streets. my preference being Grace
Street.
IF you think favorably of this I
would like for you 10 have it presented
before the CITY Council and do all YOU
can to have Il adopted, so that in 1912
we may see the foundation begun for
the erection OF the building and tho
library assured
Very truly yours.
THOMAS j. TODD"
The Mayors Message.
The message Of Mayor Richardson
follows:
January 8, 1912.
Honorable Council or the City OF Rich
nond:
C;entlcmen,--On the first day OF Jam
uary, 1912. received from Mr.. Thomas
ID. Todd, of this city, a letter, of which
J inclose COPY in which he makes the
following proposition: Ii the city will
build and maintain 4 free public library
lie will subscribe $1,000 for tho site.
This generous offer from Mr. Todd
merits the thanks of all who are In
tcrcstcd in the establishment OF free
circulating library in our city. and
should receive due and prompt consid :
Grafton by the City Council.
therefore respectfully suggest that