Report of the city of Somerville 1898, Part 12

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 870


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1898 > Part 12


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9.20


New England Oil Co., oil


54.56


Amounts carried forward $50,932.64 $68,943.01


235


APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT.


Amounts brought forward $50,932.64 $68,943.01


W. F. Rowe, oil


68.03


Brooklyn Varnish Co., varnish


6.25


James Bartley, oil


6.08


Derby Desk Co., furniture


10.80


George H. Richter & Co., furniture


73.48


F. W. Allen & Co., furniture . 17.60


A. H. Fletcher, repairs of furniture .


12.95


W. F. Flemming, repairs of furniture


2.00


D. P. Bucknam, mason work . 42.00


Thomas Wood, mason work


29.75


E. A. Drowne & Co., lamps


24.60


Sewall & Day Cordage Co., packing


108.62


Cutter & Parker, window


frames


14.50


F. S. Blanchard & Co., book .


1.50


Thomas Groom & Co., station- ery


298.37


W. A. Greenough & Co., di- rectory


3.00


Municipal Engineering Co., magazines


4.00


" Fire & Water," magazines .


3.00


Engineering News Publishing Co., magazines 13.00


Heliotype Printing Co., charts


15.00


Jackson Caldwell & Co.,


shades .


8.30


J. H. Brooks, flannel


2.75


James Gurney & Co., boiler plates


15.95


Boston & Maine Railroad Co., freight


606.40


Amounts carried forward $52,320.57


$68,943.01


236


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Amounts brought forward $52,320.57 $68,943.01


J. W. Howard, shrubs


218.65


Cambridge Gas Light Co.,


lighting 34.08


Somerville Electric Light Co., lighting


95.36


City of Boston, water ·


5.60


City of Somerville, water


74.40


New England Telephone &


Telegraph Co., rentals and tolls


379.71


W. A. Sanborn, bricks


43.50


Waldo Bros., bricks


16.25


M. A. Simpson, sand


13.00


Charles S. Robertson, pre- mium of insurance


100.00


H. Mueller Mfg. Co., fittings


14.56


Braman Dow & Co., fittings .


654.27


I. G. Marston & Co., fittings .


37.88


E. M. Dart Mfg. Co., fittings


9.33


Thomson Meter Co., meters .


9.90


Hersey Mfg. Co., meters ·


8.40


Union Water Meter Co., meters


20.00


National Meter Co., meters


31.70


Neptune Meter Co., meters


383.00


G. H. Sampson, forcite


27.65


Boston Woven Hose & Rub-


ber Co., hose


34.73


Davis & Farnum Mfg. Co., castings ·


507.20


Mechanics Iron Foundry, cast- ings


14.00


Coffin Valve Co., gates ·


937.50


Osgood & Hart, gate boxes, etc.


819.51


Frederick E. Jones, sketch


10.00


Amounts carried forward · $56,820.75


$68,943.01


·


.


APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT. 237


Amounts brought forward $56,820.75 $68,943.01


W. H. Burbank, ribbons 2.00


Henry R. Worthington, re- pairing pump 32.52


Boston Lockport Block Co.,


repairing pump . 20.70


A. Z. Cowan, refreshments 47.25


Henry C. Hunt, leather pieces


15.00


Pettingell-Andrews Co., bat-


teries


6.96


Fred W. Farrar, repairing clocks 3.00


Frederick R. Cutter, repairing clocks


6.50


George D. Goodrich, drain pipe


17.52


A. J. Smith & Co., plumbing .


2.00


I. H. Brown Moulding Co., lumber


12.00


S. W. Fuller, lumber


208.92


R. E. Lord, mason work


7.20


J. Q. Twombly, painting


7.25


Jenkins Bros., radiator wheels .


.58


Thomas Hollis Co., sponges


3.50


Thomas W. Gleeson, gong


8.40


Sprague & Hathaway Co., frames


17.30


Somerville Journal Co., print-


ing


111.60


Somerville Citizen Co., print- ing


238 37


T. S. Buck, stamps


2 35


Charles A. Small & Co., soap .


.86


James Bartley, soap


4.08


Milton H. Plummer & Co., medi- cine


2.55


H. S. Garcelon, medicine


2.35


Amounts carried forward $57,601.51


$68,943.01


238


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Amounts brought forward


$57,601.51 $68,943.01


J. F. Elkins, teaming 9.90


T. F. Crimmings, teaming


247.96


Frank W. Bickford, carpenter- ing


34.79


John P. Wahlstrom & Son, painting standpipe


246.25


C. Caseau, painting


5.75


G. A. Fellows, ties . ·


2.00


Philip Eberle, rubber boots


8.75


William C. Walker, rubber boots .


8.00


W. E. Plumer & Co., hard-


ware


394.02


Howe & Flint, hardware


46.31


Underhill Hardware Co., hard-


ware


27.85


Dominion Coal Co., coal


171.42


Wellington - Wild Coal Co.,


fuel


593.29


Horatio Wellington & Co.,


fuel


777.74


Highland Coal Co., fuel .


85.04


Scrannage Bros., stable sup- plies .


2.50


A. M. Wood & Co., stable fittings


.67


H. C. Abbott, wood


54.00


Charles Booth, wood


·


8.13


J. S. Bradeen, wood


6.00


W. H. Way, veterinary ser-


vices


22.00


John Cooper, horse


130.00


Bancroft's Express, express- ing


3.15


E. R. Perham, expressing


1.45


.


.


Amounts carried forward . $60,488.48


$68,943.01


239


APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT.


Amounts brought forward $60,488.48


$68,943.01


George T. Day, expressing .85 .15


Glines & Co., expressing


Gilman Express Co., express-


ing 4.80


R. H. Gunsenheiser, compen- sation for damages 16.40


Martin L. King, compensation for damages 20.00


Charles R. King, compensa- tion for damages


1.50


Alexander Munroe, compensa- tion for damages


6.00


Lawrence Cotter, money re- funded


5.00


Mary Allen, money refunded .


5.00


Elizabeth Morrison, money


refunded .


2.00


George W. Prichard, money refunded


2.90


Samuel Shaw, money refunded


19.50


Richard B. Falvey, money refunded ·


9.60


Richard R. Wyllie, money re- funded 5.00


Emeline T. Sherman, money refunded ·


2.50


Susie E. Moran, money re- funded ·


2.50


Elizabeth Ross, money re- funded


5.00


Suzella & Maidelle Cummings, money refunded . 2.50


Mary E. Kingsley, money re- funded 5.00


Sewers, Maintenance account, repairs 56.10


Amounts carried forward $60,660.78


$68,943.01


240


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Amounts brought forward $60,660.78 $68,943.01 Builders Iron Foundry, cast-


ings


1,240.27


$61,901.05


Water Works Extension account,


amount transferred


7,000.00


Excess and Deficiency, balance


to credit of account 41.96


$68,943.01


WATER SERVICES.


CREDIT.


Cash, received of Andrew R. Lewis, additional charge on service pipe $8.98


Water Service Assessments, cost of services laid


3,516.24


$3,525.22


DEBIT.


Cash, paid laborers


$1,544.21


Water Maintenance account,


stock and labor .


1,597.06


Balance transferred


383.95


$3,525.22


WATER SERVICE ASSESSMENTS.


CREDIT.


Cash, received of Sundry Persons, water services


$3,516.24


DEBIT.


Water Services, pipes laid in 1898


$3,516.24


WATERING STREETS ASSESSMENTS.


CREDIT.


Cash, received of Sundry Persons


$757.08


Watering streets, amount abated Balance to debit in account, 1899


22.80


16.12


Amount carried forward


. $796.00


·


APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT. 241


Amount brought forward . $796.00


DEBIT.


Balance from 1897 .


$796.00


WATERING STREETS.


CREDIT.


Appropriations, amount assessed -


$ 3,500.00


Taxes, assessments levied .


13,384.48


Cash, received of abutters .


$ 36.40


West End Street Railway Co., season of 1898


309.48


345.88


$17,230.36


DEBIT.


Cash, paid N. C. Barker, over- seeing .


$765.00


Frank Buttimer, watering


958.85


Martin Gill, watering


952.23


Henry McAvoy, watering


982.25


A. M. Prescott, watering


991.28


J. B. Rufer, watering


984.51


R. M. Sturtevant, watering


494.52


C. P. Sanborn, watering


450.71


Thomas F. Casey, watering


453.04


T. F. Crimmings, watering


453.04


John F. Elkins, watering


906.09


Eugene Gormley, watering


906.09


Mrs. Henry Gray, watering


453.04


Henry McAvoy, Jr., watering


453.04


Philip McGovern, watering


444.79


I. L. Smith, watering


450.71


Benjamin Thomas, watering


531.99


I. H. Wiley, paint .


6.03


Highways account, painting carts


12.00


Amounts carried forward


$11,649.21


$17,230.36


242


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Amounts brought forward .


$11,649.21 $17,230.36


J. L. & H. K. Potter, watering carts and repairs


896.01


Seward Dodge, repairs of carts 85.50


L. A. Wright, repairs of carts


51.45


F. Dooris, repairs of carts


1.00


Frank W. Leavitt, repairs of


carts . .75


J. B. Rufer, repairs of carts 6.30


Somerville Journal Co., adver-


tising . 6.25


Somerville Citizen Co., adver-


tising .


5.50


Charles S. Robertson, premium of insurance 40.00


H. Wood, keys


.65


Watering Streets Assessments, abatements .


22.80


City of Somerville, water


4,250.56


$17,015.98


Excess and Deficiency, balance


to credit of account


214.38


$17,230.36


WATER WORKS EXTENSION.


CREDIT.


Water Works Income, amount appropriated $20,000.00


Water Maintenance account, amount transferred 7,000.00


$27,000.00


DEBIT.


Cash, paid laborers $ 5,610.95


Rufus E. Lord, contract for


the construction of stable and shop .


10,948.36


Amounts carried forward · $16,559.31


$27,000.00


APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT. 243


Amounts brought forward .


$16,559.31 $27,000.00


Aaron H. Gould, services as architect ·


670.00


Hatch & Farnum, floors


76.00


W. A. Murtfeldt Co., grano- lithic work .


615.93


J. T. Croft, stall fixtures


40.90


Priest, Page & Co., scale


119.00


Frank W. Bickford, carpenter-


ing


96.10


W. J. McCarthy, chip stone


1,014.40


W. F. Cleveland, electrical work .


174.09


E. J. Miers & Co., pitch


3.60


Chapman & Soden, pitch


6.00


S. W. Fuller, lumber


117.36


Star Brass Mfg. Co., gauges .


23.25


Braman, Dow & Co., fittings .


725.06


Howe & Flint, hardware


546.97


Boston Lead Mfg. Co., pipe


93.46


Neptune Meter Co., meters


1,504.55


Hersey Mfg. Co., meters


1,238.00


National Meter Co., meters


1,604.50


Union Water Meter Co., meters


1,475.10


Thomson Meter Co., meter


8.90


Fred W. Gow, meter clamps .


69.50


City of Boston, meter fittings.


160.29


City of Cambridge, castings


2.00


Osgood & Hart, castings


5.90


Portland Stone Ware Co., drain pipe


20.05


$26,970.22


Excess and Deficiency, balance to credit of account 29.78


$27,000.00


244


ANNUAL REPORTS.


WATER WORKS, INCOME.


CREDIT.


Cash, received of Sundry Water takers $195,456.15


DEBIT.


Water Maintenance account,


amount appropriated . $60,000.00


Interest account, amount appro- priated


11,925.00


Reduction of Funded Debt account, amount appropri- ated 22,000.00


Commonwealth of Massachu-


setts, Metropolitan water


assessment of 1898 .


14,250.19


Sewers, Construction account, amount appropriated . 67,280.96


Water Works Extension,


amount appropriated . ·


20,000.00


$195,456.15


APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT. 245 .


TABLE D. BALANCES DECEMBER 31, 1898.


Cash .


$


70,376.04


Public Property .


2,752,368.55


Real Estate Liens


1,664.60


Sewer Assessments


7,435.90


Sidewalk Assessments


5,193.11


State of Massachusetts, Burial


of Indigent Soldiers and Sailors 455.00


State of Massachusetts, Indi-


gent Soldiers and Sailors


257.00


State of Massachusetts, State Aid .


10,848.50


Taxes ·


355,654.19


Watering Streets Assessments Armory .


16.12


Excess and Deficiency


16,549.22


Fire Department, Fire Station Clarendon Hill .


7,650.00


Funded Debt


1,552,000.00


Highways, Paving Webster


Avenue, Fitchburg Railroad to Cambridge Line


253.25


Overplus on Tax Sales


157.13


Property and Debt Balance


1,200,368.55


Public Library


7.40


Public Library, Isaac Pitman Fund .


1,000.00


Reduction of Funded Debt


9,099.63


Schoolhouse, Burns Addition


12,000.00


Schoolhouse, Ward Two


28,221.47


Schoolhouse, Prescott, Heating


and Ventilating .


2,483.77


Amounts carried forward . $3,204,269.01 $2,839.913.18


$ 10,122.76


. 246


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Amounts brought forward . $3,204,269.01 $2,839,913.18 Sewers, Construction


16,882.23


Sundry Persons 27,473.60


Support of Poor, Almshouse


20,000.00


Temporary Loans


300,000.00


Amounts carried forward . $3,204,269.01


$3,204,269.01


REPORT OF THE


TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.


CITY OF SOMERVILLE.


IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, January 18, 1899.


Referred to Committee on Printing, to be printed in the annual reports. Sent down for concurrence.


GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.


IN COMMON COUNCIL, January 18, 1899.


Referred to Committee on Printing, to be printed in the annual reports, in concurrence.


CHARLES S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.


BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE SOMERVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1898.


TRUSTEES.


JOHN B. VIALL.


CHRISTOPHER E. RYMES.


J. FRANK WELLINGTON. CHARLES H. BROWN.


CHARLES W. SAWYER.


CHARLES A. WEST.


CHARLES S. LINCOLN. EDWARD C. BOOTH, M. D.


GEORGE W. PERKINS.


OFFICERS.


CHARLES S. LINCOLN


President.


SAM WALTER FOSS .


Secretary.


COMMITTEES.


BUILDING AND GROUNDS .- Rymes, Viall and Brown.


ADMINISTRATION .- Wellington, Sawyer and Perkins.


BOOKS AND CATALOGUES .- Lincoln, ex officio, Rymes, Viall, Brown, West and Booth.


FINANCE .- Sawyer, Wellington and Perkins.


LIBRARIAN.


SAM WALTER FOSS.


ASSISTANT LIBRARIAN.


ADELE SMITH.


CATALOGUER. F. MABEL NORCROSS.


ASSISTANTS.


ANNA L. STONE. MARY J. WARREN.


ESTHER M. MAYHEW.


MABEL E. BUNKER. MARY S. WOODMAN. F. EDWARD KAULA. AUBREY A. HILLS.


JANITOR.


CHARLES A. SOUTHWICK.


250


ANNUAL REPORTS.


RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES FOR 1898.


CREDIT.


Appropriation


$7,500.00


Dog Tax


2,268.86


Fines


472.17


Catalogues .


31.00


Books sold .


12.76


Cash found in safe


2.45


A. Storrs & Bement (overpaid bill)


3.00


. DEBIT.


Balance from 1897


. $ 139.01


Books and periodicals


2,881.18


Binding


854.95


Cards


21.75


Printing


211.60


Stationery


47.03


Salaries


4,608.35


Agencies


151.40


Furniture


160.34


Repairs


135.93


Express


201.53


Electric light


260.37


Gas .


30.10


Water


26.00


Fuel .


183.78


Postage


15.00


Telephone


58.52


Labor


39.75


Insurance .


191.25


Supplies


24.55


Disbursements


40.45


Balance carried to 1899


7.40


$10,290.24


.


$10,290.24


.


CITY OF SOMERVILLE.


December 27, 1898. TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL : -


Gentlemen : - The annual report of the Trustees of the Public Library is herewith respectfully submitted.


The last year has been an eventful year in the history of the library. On March 7th, Mr. John S. Hayes, librarian and sec- retary of the Board of Trustees for five years, suddenly died in the midst of a career of usefulness to the community, and of honor to himself. The trustees have elsewhere expressed their sorrow at his early death, in formal memorial, but cannot refrain from again bearing testimony ; as Trustees, to the great value of his services to the library, and as friends, to the high esteem in which he was held by all who knew him. By his intelligence, energy and enthusiasm the library underwent a new birth, and took her rightful place in the newly-awakened movement of the library as an educational force.


During his term of service the great work of classifying the volumes of the library, by subjects and on an approved decimal system, was carried out and a finding-list prepared. Selected collections of French and German works, and books for the blind were added. Important relations were established with the public schools, and a monthly bulletin was begun, designed to bring readers more in touch with the resources of the library and facilitate a more intelligent use of its collections-these changes tending directly to a largely increased use of the insti- tution, and in his own words " to the laying of a foundation for greater usefulness in the future."


Thus, in the midst of a realization of results accomplished, and in the sanguine hope of greater achievements in the future, the earnest and successful educator in two co-ordinate


252


ANNUAL REPORTS.


and related fields, the good citizen and the loyal friend passed from his earthly work.


In looking for a successor who should appreciate the true position of the Library of To-day, as an educational factor in the community, and vigorously take up and carry on the work begun by Mr. Hayes, the Trustees sought a man who, besides being a person of ideas, energy, self-confidence, good business habits, and a broad, general education, should possess a critical taste and a deep and abiding love of literature and a large acquaintance with it, united with an enthusiasm and tact in leading others to a knowledge of its benefits and enjoyments. Familiarity with the technical work of a library, though, was deemed not essential, and a preference was given to a resident of Somerville.


The first choice of the Trustees was Mr. James F. Beard, cashier of the Somerville National Bank. Mr. Beard, a grad- uate of Dartmouth College, had long been a valued member of the School Committee, had always been identified with the best interests of the city, and was largely and favorably . known among the citizens. Mr. Beard accepted the position only to recall his acceptance a few days later, as his services were found by the bank directors to be indispensable to the bank. The subsequent choice fell upon Mr. Sam Walter Foss, the poet, a resident of this city for the last ten years ; and the Trustees believe themselves fortunate in securing a person so nearly conforming to the standard set. Mr. Foss was elected on May 16th, and in his annual report has given ample evidence of his comprehension of the needs of the library and the part it should play as an educational force in the community.


Miss Clara L. Bidwell, the capable assistant librarian, had sent in her resignation before Mr. Hayes's death, but kindly consented, at personal inconvenience, to continue her services till a new librarian was elected. In April her place was taken by Miss Adele Smith, a competent person who had received a theoretical and practical training at the Amherst Library School, and had had six months experience in this library. The efficient cataloguer, Miss Norcross, and the corps of assistants have continued in the service of the library acceptably and without change.


REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. 253


Those who were familiar with the work of a public library twenty-six years ago, when this library was established, will be struck with the difference in the scope and magnitude of the work now demanded of such an institution.


During the last twenty years the public library of the country has been evolving itself from a passive and conserva- tive institution to an active and radical means of education. Formerly the object of a library was chiefly to hold a collection of books, whose jealous custodian was the librarian. Books there were for those who wished to consult them, but it was a matter of indifference whether they were consulted or not. The library of the present day, however, has been gradually taking on a new function. It not only aims more widely to unfold its treasures and to open the easiest possible road for inquiry and investigation regarding them, but apprehends that it fails to fulfil its highest mission, unless it actively goes out and offers in various ways its benefits to the people. This activity, now recognized as vital to the proper success of a pub- lic library, is incidental to the times and is analogous to that now prevailing in the commercial world. Formerly, the country merchant came to the city to buy ; now, while sitting in his office he is overrun with travellers bringing their samples, and crying the superior merits of their goods. Formerly the householder sought the butcher and the grocer, and carried home his supplies himself ; now, he is visited every morning, and orders are solicited and goods promptly and gratuitously delivered. Similarly, all articles of trade are skilfully brought before the public attention by samples or descriptions, and pictures, through the mails, or by liberal advertisements in the magazines and daily papers. In this great modern American movement the publishers have not lagged behind, so that multi- tudes of books, good, bad and indifferent, have been crowded upon us, sent out into the world with indiscriminate notices of praise. In this embarrassment of intellectual material, when books can be borrowed for the asking or bought for a song, when to read the daily papers and the insignificant fraction of the constantly appearing magazines is no light task, we become cloyed and indifferent to our advantages in the surfeit about


254


ANNUAL REPORTS.


us. We are strongly tempted to read what first comes to hand, or what is most artfully foisted upon us, rather than to exert ourselves to make a judicious selection ; indeed, it requires no little knowledge, planning and resolution to make a fair use of our opportunities.


If this perplexity exists in the case of the adult, how much greater must it be in the young who are at the threshold of their education and experience ! Indeed, it is a matter of fact that children, when left to themselves, generally do not make a wise selection in their reading. The worthless and the bad being more prominently brought before the attention, tends to keep out the good. To meet this perplexity in the child, the modern library comes forward with its good offices, both by its own guidance and helpfulness in the institution itself and in co-operation with the schools. It establishes a children's depart- ment in the library building, where children can be entertained with suitable good reading, and it sends specially selected libra- ries to the schools. The children's room is made as attractive as possible, and its frequenters are made to feel that they have an ownership in the room, and that it is to some extent under their protection. Here they may consult the best juvenile magazines and take down from the shelves and examine such books as they please. In the second branch of children's work the books of the special libraries are given out by the teachers to the pupils to carry home, or are lent to be read during school hours, as a reward of good behavior, or of proficiency in school work. These school libraries naturally help to form the taste of the pupil, and carry good books into many families which have pre- viously had no relations with the library. These methods of children's work will do much to cultivate the habit of good read- ing among the young, which is such an important part of an education, and cannot fail in time to bear fruit in a better citizenship.


To return to the subject of the methods employed by the library to make its collection more accessible to the pub- lic :- the principal means to this end is a comprehensive, up-to-date card-catalogue. Such a catalogue, which is a very important part of a library's equipment, should embrace not only a list of all the books contained in the library, both by subjects


REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. 255


and by authors, but also a ready reference to topics incidentally treated in the various books to which the titles themselves give no cue. Other methods are the issuing of monthly bulle- tins, the posting of special lists on topics of general or local interest, and by the use of the local papers.


Allied to the subject of affording better facilities to the reader and student is the general recognition that the resources of the library should be accessible to the public for the greatest possible number of hours in the week. How far the Somerville library has advanced in the past of the Library of To-day, as outlined above, will be seen by reference to the Librarian's report, which is appended to this report, and made a part of it. The various recommendations herein presented have been care- fully considered by the trustees and have received their endorsement.


It will be our province only to touch upon and emphasize a few of the points brought out in the Librarian's report.


It may be said at the beginning that the library needs some expenditure to develop certain departments, either in which was an original deficiency or where rapid modern progress has left the department behind the times.


The want of a suitable catalogue has long been felt and has now become an urgent need. It has, indeed, been slowly pro- gressing during the last year as the leisure of the cataloguer and the assistants from routine duties has permitted, but it should be rapidly pushed forward and finished during the com- ing year. This can be done only by a considerable outlay for cases and cards and by the hire of an additional assistant.


It will be seen that the library is working harmoniously and successfully with the schools. To the high schools, books are very freely supplied for reference and collateral reading. To the various rooms of the grammar schools, special libraries are sent as hitherto. This work is suffering, however, for the want of sufficient duplicates, that the schools in all sections of the city may be equally served. The children's room has been highly successful since its recent opening, but this department requires an immediate outlay to ensure its proper usefulness.


The trustees have not yet been able to throw open the doors of the library for so many hours of the week as they think


256


ANNUAL REPORTS.


desirable. It seems unjust to the great body of the people that they should be debarred from a use of the library at almost the only times in which they have the opportunities to use it. With the means at command, however, it has not been practicable to increase the evening opening beyond the present two evenings in the week ; but it was found that very little additional expense would suffice to open the reading and refer- ence room on Sunday afternoons. Consequently, this innova- tion was made in November.


In the matter of Sunday opening, the trustees believe that no arguments are necessary in justification of their action. The propriety of such a step has been recognized in this country by the general opening of the public libraries in the larger cities, and in England, by the formal opening by Parlia- ment in 1896, of the six great libraries and museums of Lon- don, on that day. As showing the trend of thought which brought about this great innovation in England, we quote from the words of the Lord Bishop of Manchester, and of Lord Hob- house. The former says : "I firmly believe that the cause of what is best and highest in our national life, both secular and religious, will be promoted, not hindered by our encouraging the use of public libraries and the study of masterpieces of art and the treasures of archaeology and science, on Sunday after- noon, by those who, as a matter of fact, are precluded on week days from availing themselves of such opportunities."




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