El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-02-10

over 1000 volumes and had also gath
cred the sum Of $4,000 with view
TO establishing an educational institu-
ton In connection with the library. In
1873 fire destroyed the bulk of the
library, only 1S5 books out OF more
than 5000 being saved. 1t was not
until the beginning OF the nineteenth
century that any steps were taken
toward restoring the library, but BY
1871 1000 volumes were collected, and
at the time Of the Civil war the library
numbered over 10000. The eminent
French naturalist Andre Michaux, was
for many years greatly interested in
this library and made It many gifts
Of books and documents.
There Is one American to whom
credit must be given for a large
amount OF the library progress, not
only in America but throughout the
world. During the past quarter OF
century Andrew Carnegie has placed
the means for a public library within
the reach Of every town whose cit-
zens desire II. According to a recent
report, Mr.. Carnegie has given S55,
475,153 for library buildings. Thess
include provision for 2,047 public IL
brary buildings and lis college IL
braries. While the largest proportion
Of these benefaetiOns have been 10
Gated in the United States the car
negie library movement is rapidly eE-
tending throughout the English-speak-
ing world The American philanthro-
pist has built libraries in South Africa
New Zealand and British India as
well as IN England Scotland, Ireland,
Wales and Canada
Carnegie's Gifts Practical
Mr.. Carnegies gifts are the most
practical that have ever been made for
library purposes and are q convincing
proof OF the business astutensSs OF
the man He does not erect q build
ing without providing for its proper
maintenance. Many other library be
quests have failed q their object be-
cause Of the lack Of such foresight on
the part Of their donors. II q library
building is given TO a town as 3 prt-
vate memorial It Is not likely 10 De
supported by public funds unless some
provision has been made 10 that effect
Mr.. Carnegie will erect building
only upon the express condition that
the municipality Gin which the title
is always vested execute contract
to support the library BY an annual
grant OF not less than one-tenth OF
the value of the gift As g matter OF
fact, one-tenth is often insufficient to
meet the public demand and usually
the city receiving a Carnegie library
supports It literally H New YORK,
where the average value Of a Carnegie
branch library building IS $4,000, the
average cost Of maintenance is $4,000,
or Is per cent. In st. Louis the two
Fifths Of a mill tax levied for the sup
port OF the public library brings IN
given BY Mr.. Carnegie for the library
was only $1,000, 900.
While there are undoubtedly rev
towns which have accepted Carnegie
libraries when they could not afford
the 10 per cent condition, there IS no
doubt but that the Carnegie Libraries
have already proved q boon to hun
dreds OF towns Whatever critics nav
say regarding Mr.. Carnegie's gifts be-
ing made with a desire for advertise
ment. il must be said, in fairness thar
not one Of them has been accompanied
BY any request that the name OF the
doncr should be in any way connected
with 1t or that his name should appear
upon the building
In 1850 only four Libraries IN the
United States had over $4,000 books
Tbese were the Library Of Congress-
the Boston Athenaeum and the Har-
yard and Yale college Libraries. In
600 5000 organized libraries were re-
norted with buildings valued at S60,-
600 600 and an estimate OF 100000
hooks. Since then the number Of IL
brarfes has increased to 5000 and the
library property OF the nation IS val
ned at fully S100.000.000. There are
40 libraries reporting an annual circu-
1efion in excess OF 100000 books. In
s55ifion TO these must be reckoned the
enormous number Of branch libraries,
school libraries and the many small
collections Of books
1Fo--,rr--orr---rlrieriu OF Libraries.