The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1912-03-29
MAYOR HOWSE
WILL SPEAK
BOARD OF TRADE TO
HEAR HIM TONIGHT.
New Library, Parks,
Gist of Address
Will Tell What Plans Have Been
FormuIated-Aid of People Need
ed-Matter of Location of Much
mport-Negro Bank Seems
a Certainty.

Tonight at the Board Of Trade meet
ing Hon. Hilary E. Howse will deliver
an address and will take occasion to
tell the people something about the
proposed library and city park for
Negroes. 1t is remembered that In
the last city campaign the Mayor
often referred to the fact that he IA
vored a library and park and play
ground for the colored people of this
city. 1t will also be remembered that
in his annual message to the Council
he recommended that the Park Com
mission be requested to consider the
establishment Of library. Since
that time the Mayor has been work
ing necessarily to bring these things
to pass, and with the dawn of Spring
comes the good news that the pros
poets are getting better and brighter
every day. At the Board Of Trade
meeting tonight the Mayor will go
into detail as to the progress made.
He will submit to the Council at the
next meeting in regard to both insti-
tutions.
1t has recently leaked out that a
plot of ground in the northwestern
part of the city is being favorably
considered for this park, and the site
referred to is an ideal one for this
purpose. 1t has on it handsome
brick building and a mineral well
that affords an abundance Of pure
water, and as wholesome as has been
dound anywhere in the state. The
well has been tested several times,
and the purity Of the water has al
ways received the highest commenda-
tion.
This plot of between thirty-fve and
forty acres is well shaded with many
oaks, and if the project carries the
Negroes of Nashville have one of the
finest parks in the South. The city
will spend between twenty-five and
thirty thousand dollars on purchas-
ing and fitting up this park. 1t will
be put in first-class condition and will
be kept so by the city.
The library building also seems to
be very likely proposition. No op-
position has sprung up as is known
to this institution, and there seems
to be unanimous opinion in the
Council and among all the people OF
Nashville that the enterprising,
thorough-going and industrious Ne
groes of Nashville are entitled to a
first-class library that they may keep
up with the times and that Nashville
may be in line with other cities of the
South.
Miss Johnson, who recently re-
signed as Librarian of the Carnegie
Library, recommended tnat one for
colored people be established. She
has on more than one occasion reiter-
ated this recommendation. Miss
Johnson is indeed in a position to
know better the worth or a library
than anyone in this city, having been
connected with the Carnegie Library
for several years; and her record
there in bringing this institution up
to the high standard which it now at
tains is such as to excite the highest
admiration of all Nashville.
1t is known that Mayor Howse
is soliciting the advice of the lead
ing colored citizens of Nashville as
to the location of this building ana
seems that a central location is the
general opinion. The Mayor desires
to please the colored people in the
manner of locating the building, and
that being the fact, it is also being
true that central location is desired.
It seems that it will be located at
some central point, easy of access
from all parts of the city. When
established a liberaI appropriation
will be made for the maintenance OF
the library, and it goes without say
ing that the Negro citizens will CO.
operate in making this building the
equal Of any in the South that is
maintained for the colored popula-
tion. When this library and park are
established Nashville can boast OF
being the leading city in the South in
the point Of fairness to all of her citi-
zens