The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-11-25
TO KEEP THE
RECORD STRAIGHT

Missoula Montana, Nov. IA, l943.
Editor Western News:
In your Forum of September %,
| noticed that the county library
was mentioned as being among the
many worthwhile projects sponsor
ed by the Libby Woman's Club. Be-
cause | was charter member of
the Libby club, and because | also
worked for the library, I wish to
clear up some misconceptions about
its establishment, and restore cred
it toy whom it is really due
Several years after passage of
the State Library law in 1916, | be-
came much interested in securing
county circulating library for Lin
coin county, the foremost require
ment being petition signed by 20
per cent of the resident taxpayers,
half of whom must reside outside
the county seat. The law also obi
ges the county commissioners to
call public hearing upon receiving
the petitions, then, if no real pro-
test develops, they can, and usual
ly do, establish county library by
resolution
The Womans Club then owned
and operated a small club building
in which they had founded a small
library, the existence of which was
a big encouragement in working for
the county library. However, the
club itself voted not to work for the
county library, though it did turn
over the books, then numbering
1000 in 1920 when the county Ii
brary was obtained, the second one
in Montana. Choteau was first.
The county rented the club build
ing for time, then moved the ex-
panding library to the First Nation
al building, then to the Libby Hotel
then to the new court house.
The main work of getting the
signers was done by Mr.. j. M.
Blackboard. Mr.. Blackboard made up
the petitions, and | started work,
getting the signers in Libby, but the
task was too big for me, and laid
the real burden of getting the CO.
unity signers upon Mr. Blackboard.
(Your network of county roads was
a distant dream then, only few
persons owned cars).
Mr.. Blackboard has maintained
that the preliminary work was i'm
portant, that he could not have pro-
ceeded without it, but I wish to give
public acclaim to the energy. time
and money Mr. Blackboard donated
Of course we needed the support OF
Eureka people, and Mr.. Blackboard
was one of the few, perhaps the on
ly, Libby person who might have
gotten Eureka signatures at that
time of animosities resulting from
the county seat vote. Eureka peo-
pie signed in appreciation of work
Mr.. Blackford had done as county
attorney for the Eureka district
Also, Mrs Blackboard spent many
hours checking signatures and Civ
ing other help.
| wonder how many Libby people
know that a pine tree in the mem
orial row on the Missoula campus
planted for University men who
died in World War I, has the name
of Neil Joughin on its stone mark
er? Also, your beautiful boulevard
of Blue Spruce which, | understand
is due largely to Mr. Dexter's eff
forts, has history. The Womans
Club first started poppy project
but the seeds were planted in dry
year. Next, the Forest Service at
tempted to transplant pines, but the
men did not know enough about
transplanting and shading, SO the
pines died.
1t would be fine tribute and en-
enlargement to civic leaders, Of
course, if communities would keep
a fairly enduring record of names
and the civic improvements which
such persons give SO much time to
Even if project is sponsored by q
club, its promotion usually depends
upon the active interest of several
persons.
MRS. T.. f. VINAL
Route l.