Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-05-07
LEADERS IN FINANCE AND
POLITICS |NDORSE MOVE
Institution Will Greatly Pro-
mote Educational Advan-
tagcs Of City, Argued.
IS OUTSTANDING NEED OF CITY
Those Who Have studied Situation
believe u Easily Cnn lie Secured
and Maintained without Charge To
nlunirlpnlIty.

eaton Of pubic sentiment Tor a pub-
lie ihrary In Richmond can be
obtained hy !. II Binford. secretary
OF the Public Library Association.
uiirinr III. past week. ], has been
apparent for weeks that the great
mass OF people In Richmond favored
Il pul lie library. but IL was stated
OCCASIONALLY that tn" heavy tax
PAYERS and leaders Of the financial
Interests OF TIA. city did not see how
the city could finance the library at
THIS time" To t"Ht the matter Mr..
Hinford saw the leaders In the
Chamber 81 commerc. aud heads Of
tho largest banks, asking for an
,Npr"ssion. In practically every
case .avorabl. replies were received.
aB the following letters show:
/ j Marcusc. president Of the
chamber OF Commerce:
Z sincerely hopo your association
may be successful In securing FOR
Richmond a library tina, viii be
credit 10 our growing and progress
siy. city. II is uuuuestiOnabiy fact
'hat a public librnry such as is pro-
posed VIII greatly promote IA" cdu-
yational advantages of our city.
Tho board OF the Richmond Cham
her OF comin"rc" Ia on record favor
Ink putlic library for Richmond.
-
receive a report from It's committee
on municipal affairs, tho committee
having given earnest consideration
80 thia new movement. The board
VIII undoubtedly renew !ts indorse-
m"nt o! a public library for Rich
mond. but 'hps. who har. studied
,hc situation bcii"v" ;hat u may
.asjly be secured and maintained
through sources Of revenue 10 tho
city for nominal! charges. for spe-
,tal privileges not nuw beng as
ycss.d that will add 10 our total
revenues and not b" a charge "a our
city's treasury. The library asSoc!a-
ton can render tn" city douh'"
s"rvic" by giving serious thought 10
this method Of nnauc!ug."
Outstanding Need Of CITY.
j. Scott Parrish, ce-prcs!dent OF
m. Chamber OF Commerce:
ON. OF tn. oul standing needs OF
Eichrnond IS public library, for
vn!l. our city has prospcr-i wonder
fully In many OF the material lays
and while ~. have built her. great
schools and other educational Inst-
tu,ions. untH -" have puS!!c u
nrary wc liav. not put into tn" hhnos
OF the many students the proper tools
with which 20 work. ] fee! sure th"'
there are many thousands in our cry
J.
IA not forgot that until Ne have "A
library. /, viii be- said 81 lichmond
mat 4, !s "A city whore culture and
research are not appreciated. W."
llye :. beautiful! city. good ciiy 20
liy. in and lot us now buld ana
,ruip this public library and MAKE u
:. better city' IN which I" i've"
" j. Harahan. president OF the
Chesapeake and ohio Halfway
~
m- tina, "A city o, IN. SIZE and pro-
;:ressivcncss OF Richmond should he
without public library 40 other
on. ,hInE can. in my opinion b" OF
.,Irh material aid to the Cultura!
advancement o! city as an go
date library available FOR the use OF
iis citizens most heartily indorse
the work OF the Richmond public
Library Association, and feel that II
should have the cordial support on
All persons Interested In tn" future
~ Richmond TO the end that there
may be established here at very
carly date public library that Will
be in keeping with the Importance
az Richmond as a historical, religious
and educational center"
Declares City Dcrr,ict.
Coleman Workman, Of Davenport
& Co..
Il wish to congratulate you and
Your organization on the efforts YOU
are making to arouse the interest
a, tho people or Richmond in the
matter OF public library. While
va are all proud OF the stride Rich
mond has made, one must feel no
little mobilization when We consider
how derelict we have been In pro-
vId!nG our people with that essential
To modern progreSs-a public library.
it would perhaps not be we'll 10 APP
propriate at the. present time the
entire amount necessary 10 carry out
!our plans, but | do think a stast
should be made and. at least, n site
acquired. and when the site is pro-
v!ded and the people become thor
oughly aroused. the library itself
will become reality. If we walt
until there is no further use for the
money. we Will walt indefnitely."
Eppa Hnnton. Jr.. president OF the
Richmond. Fredericksburg and Po-
tomac Railroad:
II think II Is very desirable that
Richmond should have a public IL
brary, and II seems to me that. with
responsible economies. the city could.
and should. finance a city library
without an increase in taxation"
Lack Gives City black Eye.
Show me another city tho size of
Richmond which has no public IL
brary. Visitors frequently comment
on tho fact that we have no library
and the lack OF such an Institution
Injuries US In the eyes OF the travel
ing public. or course, the greatest
INJURY comes TO our own citizens.
j am unquaiiiedLy in favor of
pubic library, not at some distant
time. but in the Immediate future
Richmond Is just as able to maintain
library now as IT Will ever be.
ours is growing city and needs
many improvements. These improve
ments the city will get and in the
usual way. that Is by paying for
them. To put public library last
would. In my opinion. be n crying
shame. Occasionally I hear some one
say that we ought to have n public
library. provided wo can get one
without Increasing taxes or issuing
p"nds. Such Il statement simply
means mat the person making II
Goes not believe In public library.
For my part. want public H.
brary; and. after careful study has
Deen made OF the best way in which
mo city can finance 1t. shall favor
that n1on6 $500