The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-03-16
Come Carnegie


Come Carnegie
Chairman G. V. Fisher started the
discussion with the library question
calling upon Professor W. D. Vim.
cent, of the high school to open, and
his short, pointed, effective handling
of the book subject went home with
ed the approximate number of school
children making use of the public
library, and showed that in three
rooms of grade school pupils IS per
cent were taking advantage of the
free books. Professor Vincent pre-
dicted that education will lean more
and more on general reading and
that the schools will but supplement
the public libraries. "The library"
he said, " will be the depository of
the education of the future"
Large Work
P. w. Powers was called upon to
explain the present library situation.
Since July, he told the men, 1900
volumes have been accumulated
strictly thru donation and the slight
revenue of rentals and fines in hand
ling the books. Between 500 and
900 boohs have gone into circulation
every month, and up to March 1 a
total of 4,845 books had been taken
out. Whenever there is any sort of
a meeting in the library room, said
Mr.. Powers, there come children and
grown-ups clamoring for books. The
ladies are only at the library three
times a week to check out books and
make exchanges. Patrons of the
library come not only out of Black
foot, but from surrounding towns,
Firth, Moore, Rockford, Thomas,
Pingree. He said that over SO per
cent of the library's patrons are
adult readers.
Possible Objections
Br. Biethan expressed few Of the
objections that might come from
business men. 1t would be matter
of importance, he thought, to pro-
vide the right sort of books, and
handle the whole thing on sys-
TEN. What benefit is fiction?" ask
ed Mr.. Biethan. He declared the
books should contain useful sub
stance. He said many Carnegie IL
braries have slim attendance If
run rightly, however, he thought
there should be no objections.
No Legal Doubts
R. w. Adair reported that legally
the city council has the power to
enter into such a contract as is re-
quired to secure a Carnegie library.
Mr.. Adair has all along championed
the library idea. He moved that 1t
be the sense of the civic league that
the council could not go wrong In
taking preparatory measures at once
for getting library from the found
alton. 1t was seconded by DR.. Patrie
and the vote was nearly unanimous
for it.
Good Roads
H. D. MacCosham fired the open
ing gun in the better roads discus
sion. He said the road between
Blackfoot and the Snake river bridge
is a disgrace and shame to Black
foot, and constant worry to all who
have to traverse it. He made mo-
ton that w. G. Sollenberger and E.
T. Peck be made committee to
report at the next meeting means by
which this road may be permanently
improved. In this connection H. G.
G. Rich was called upon, and in a
few choice words he informed the
league that the Commercial Club of
Pingree had already considered this
cryingly outrageous road and had
decided to give Blackfoot just one
more year in which to fix it up
and If the road wasn't improved
by that time Pingree would
withdraw not only its
financial support from Blackfoot, but
break off all social relations, too.
This was received with an uproar OF
consent by the meeting.
Booster Special
1t was announced that the Poca-
;ello booster would come to Black
loot within the next two weeks. They
are making tour of this section
N the interests of their big spring
fashion and industrial show. Byrd
Trego urged the league to make this
yisit special event Of the season in
the visitors cordial well