The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-17
SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY.

SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY.
The gentle knock OF Opportunity,
poised for instant flight should ad-
mlttancc not be given Immediately
Will hc heard Tuesday at the doors OF
the Finance Committee OF the City
Council. Bearing in her hands Il
feasible plan for library building.
and prepared to show how the build
ing can be obtained in few short
months nj Il nominal cost. il will ask
permission to enter. Denial of her
plea. or even indifference to her first
knock. may prove fatal.
1t would not be in strict accord
with the truth TO say that the knock
VIII never be heard again, but On
portunity Will be so splcndidly at
tired and the bearer OF such good
gifts 10 Richmond that the commit
tee cannot afford to take chances
opportunity has peculiar views OF
her own in regard to return engage
ments. Usually she plays one-night
stands and the committee will do
well To take full advantage OF her
first appearance.
There is no need here TO present
the needs OF free public library.
Ihey ar" known To all and hv all ad-
united To be great ana pressing
There is no need 10 remind the COM
nittce that agitation OF the question
mas been almost continuous for four
years. Many OF the members have
taken part in IL. The members of
the Finance Committee know the adj
NantaScS of Il free public library:
they know the needs: they know the
desire for it of the citizens of Rich
mond. The only question for consid-
Grafton Tuesday is the plan present
ed by the Rotary Club and indorsed
by many other organizations and
many citiZcns-the only definite.
feasible plan presented in all the
years Of discussion. That plan The
Fimcs-Dispatch thinks should be
recommended to Council by the COM
mittcr
Briefly, it is this: The purchase
of part OF The Richmond College
site, thereby acquiring Jctcr Memo
rial Han building. which supplies the
needs of a library. The cost will be
Sllu.o00. 10 which must be added
$4,000 to $2o.000 for maintenance.
rs the Rotary Club has guaranteed to
equip the library. this is the total OF
;hc appropriation demanded bv the
plan il presents.
The chief objection to the plan is
that OF site, claimed by some to he
too TAR west. Waving the discussion
( 81 that question, the objection can
be answered by pointing out that OBJ
Nousiy any location is better Than
none. To the objection that the Jc-
ter Memorial Hall is not as large and
as handsome Il building as the size
- Richmond demands, Il similar an
SWcr Is Suiicicnt-anyl library is bet
ter than mono. When, and if, il be
comes possible TO erect Il larger. cost
Her and more centrally located build
ing tn" site and building In uucs-
ton can easily he sold at not less
Than the sum 10 be paid for it.
Indeed, il can he sold for moro.
as the building viii cost nothing. be
ing donated by the college; and
Richmond College property is as cor
tain 10 increase in value with the
years as Richmond is to grow.
Thus. if the plan recommended by
Tn" Rotary Club be adopted. Rich
mond Will be assured OF the immc-
date possession OF good library
site and building. wcll-equipped. TO
be held. at no cost to the citv save
mat OF maintenance. until building
more commensurate with its size.
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