The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-10
ROTAR|AMS ASK FOR
$4,000 APPROPRIATION
Movement for Free Public Library
for Richmond.
BUSINESS MEN ARE FOR 1T
Erroneous Impression that Has Gone
Abroad VIII be Corrected-Egbcrt
Leigh Endorses Recommendations
rians for Monument to Maury.

That business men of Richmond are
not Indifferent to the movement of
those who would have a free public
library In Richmond was given dem
onstration at the meeting of the Ro-
tary Club last night when Rev. w.
Russell Bowie's remarks urging the
appropriation of $4,000 to meet Inn
mediate library needs were heartily
approved and a paper circulated
among those attending the session
was signed by business men repre-
sentatives of eighty-two different
lines.
The Rotary Club also endorsed the
Boys Club idea, an outgrowth of the
boys meetings'' held by the organi-
zation from time to time; the auto
mobile show. and the movement for
the erection of q monument on
Chimborazo hill to the memory of
Commodore Matthew Fontadne Maury.
Two visiting Rotarians e. d. Hatha :
way. of Washington. and James Mog-
ford. of Raleigh, y c., briefly ad
dressed the club. President Alvin NJ.
Smith presided and presented the
cause of the Maury Association. whose
aim Is that due recognition be given
the eminent American scientist.
Deplores False Impression.
Following the supper which was
preceded by an exchange OF surprise
souvenirs. DR.. Bowie addressed the
club. telling the Rotarians that the
impression appears to have gone
abroad that the business men OF Rich
mond are Indifferent toward the
movement for the establishment of a
public library In Richmond. He as
serted he has no idea that Richm ond' s
business men do not want a public
library and he depiored the fact that
such an erroneous i'm presHon appears
TO have gained currency.
Mr.. Bowie read to the club the fol-
lowing endorsement Of the library by
Egbert G. Leigh. Jr., former president
OF the Chamber of Commences:
II am In favor Of an appropriation
by the city government of SIS, 900 for
the purposes OF public library pro-
posed to be established here.
Il recognize that the city must. of
course. have due regard to obligations
already incurred. but believe also
that a library ought to take Its place
In the mind of the Council as one OF
the necessities for which it Is irnpera-
tive that money be found.
Next to the Christian church. I
believe its power for good in a COM
munity is the best and strongest that
can be established
Petition TO Council
Mr.. Bowie next read the following
form of petition to the Finance Com
nattee of Council. copies OF which
were passed among those at the Ia
bles and signed:
We. the undersigned, reaffirm our
belief that the establishment OF a mu-
nicipal public library Is a thing ur-
gently to be desired for the education
and Information of all our citizens
We believe that the establtshm ent
OF such a library has already been too
long postponed, and the lack of 1t is
a discredit and handicap to the city
Of Richmond.
And we believe further. that not
wtthstand4ng the present financial
problems confronting the city govern
ment the beginning OF library system
ought to be regarded as a matter OF
| such urgent importance that the City
Council should appropriate the s25.-
900 asked for in the Haddon resolu-
ton"