The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-30
PUBLIC LIBRARY
R|CHM0ND'S NEED
Only City OF 100000 Population
in America Without One.
Says Meredith.
CLUB PLEDGES IT'S AID
Business Men Name Commit
tee to Help Secure Re-
gional Bank.

The establishment Of free public
library in Richmond was made part
OF the program OF It's work for 1914 in
a resolution unanimously adopted by
tho Business Mems Club yesterday af-
ternoon AT meeting Of the member
ship President Alvin NJ. Smith called
attention to the provisions OF the by
laws. which prevent the directors from
pledging the support of the club in any
matter not passed upon by the mem
bcrship. The directors. therefore. de-
sired an expression on this subject as
well as on the acceptance by the city
OF the Virginia Hospital as free pub
lie hospital, and the establishment OF
a regional reserve bank in Richmond
Richmond Lays behind.
Wyndham II. Meredith briefly pre-
scented the needs OF the city for free
library. Richmond lis now the only
city with az many as 100000 people in
the United States which has such
institution, he said. The matter hardly
needed argument-it was only ques-
ton of how soon and how thoroughly
the city could remove that stigma. a
, public free library, he explained was
not for q few literary enthusiasts OF
7
portunity for the extension OF educa-
tion for those who had been able to
get but limited training In the schools.
L. o. Miller. speaking az the employer
OF more than 500 people. said that
library would be svl elemental to the
work Of the schools. and would pro-
vide vocational training for those de-
string to make progress in the various
trades. BY unanimous vote, the club
adopted resolutions offered by Mr.. Mil
Ter. making work for public free
library a vital part OF the clubs pro-
gram in the coming year
Want RcgionnI Bank.
o. J. Sands briefly presented the
question OF a regional reserve bank.
Virginia, he said, had been in the
forefront in obtaining currency legis-
lation. Bankers of Virginia have been
thoroughly alive, and have tried to do
constructive work, advising Virglnias
representatives In Congress as to elimi-
mating Objectionable features and incor-
prating others. The bill provides for
from eight to twelve regional banks
Ito hold the reserves OF all the banks
In the territory. The advantage Of
having such a bank located here would
be commercial rather than banking, a S
it is proposed that there be branches
in all banking centres. The factors to
govern the location of regional banks
are general convenience In transporta-
ton, Industrial and commercial de-
velopment and the needs of the section.
and the established. custom and trend
( of business.
On all OF these heads, said Mr.. Sands.
Richmond was. the natural location for
one of these reserve banks. The COM
mcrcial Importance of having II known
that Richmond was one OF the twelve
banking centres of America, Mr. Sands
said, would be inestimable 1t has now
the largest banking capital of any city
south of Baltimore. not even excepting
New Orleans.
The club unanimously adopted Mr..
Sands's suggestion for the appointment
Of a committee to act in this matter.
the two Joint committees TO be made up
OF two from the bankers. two from the
Chamber of Commerce, and two from
the Business Mems Club.
President Smith Will name his COM
mttee to-day.