USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1862-1866 > Part 30
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The ordinary aspect of public libraries is solemn and unin- viting to sensitive and unaccustomed visitors, who desire to avoid observation, when they seek in mature life the instruc- tion, which they consider to be the fit work of childhood. Many of our most respected citizens have overcome the diffi- culties of deficient early training with noble courage and abundant success, and it is an advantage of our social condi- tion, that learning has not a surer tendency toward the posses- sion of wealth than the acquisition of property by honest in- dustry has to the attainment of the power and the happiness cf intellectual culture. The example of a distinguished mechanic
88
must have so much influence in a city in which mechanical business is the foundation of wealth, influence and individual happiness, that it may be permitted to call in as a witness for the cause of public libraries, Benjamin Franklin, who took the lead of a little company of brother artizans in founding the Philadelphia Library. They made their first experiment by bringing their own few books together for common use in an ale-house. Then they formed a club for assessments and the purchase of books and obtained a more suitable room. Frank- lin says he "was not able with great industry to find more than fifty persons, mostly young tradesmen, willing to pay down forty shillings each, and ten shillings per annum for this purpose." The institution "soon manifested its utility and was imitated in other towns and reading became fashionable and in a few years our people were observed by strangers to be better instructed and more intelligent than people of the same rank generally are in other countries." He adds, " this library afforded me the means of improvement by constant study, for which I set apart an hour or two each day and thus repaired in some degree the loss of the learned education my father once intended for me." The Philadelphia Library of to-day, containing 60,000 of the best books in our country, is a noble commemoration of the wise enterprise of the old prin- ter and his associates.
It is unnecessary to attempt to give a full detail of the hin- drances to the greatest efficiency of public libraries, but it is important to remember, that they concur to produce a greater than themselves, insufficiency of expenditure to make the li- braries satisfactory and attractive. Thus the exhaustion of the patient is made an excuse for starvation.
89
The unfavorable circumstances, which have been mentioned with desired brevity, are general in their character, and do not specially belong to this city. They are alluded to as an alleviation of the disappointment often expressed by members of this Board, that their labors are not more appreciated and more useful and as an answer to the question asked by some of our citizens, why so much of the treasure, here intrusted, is hidden in the earth.
A brief notice of the history and present condition of the library will show how much occasion there is for this discoura- ging question. In 1859, Dr. John Green offered to the City about 7000 volumes of rare and very desirable books, with the condition, that they should be kept for reading within a suitable building and they were accepted by the city and the collection was properly named the Green Library. The wise generosity of Dr. Green induced the Worcester Lyceum and Library Association at the same time to transfer to the city their library, consisting of about 4500 well selected volumes, which was made the basis of a circulating department under most liberal regulations. Our City Government met private generosity in the same spirit, and erected a handsome and con- venient building, of a size deemed sufficient, in a very eligi- ble situation, and appropriated $4000 for current expenses of the library in the year 1860. In that year, the insufficient size of the hall in which the books were kept until the library building should be completed and the anticipated inconvenience of removal induced the directors to be so sparing in the use of the $4000 appropriated, that a balance unexpended of $1648.86 was reported to the city government at the end of the year. In the first part of the year 1861, there was a general expec-
90
tation in our country, that absolute parsimony would be requir- ed in regard to important and beneficent objects as well as luxuries and amusements, to obtain resources for the war. To this it must be imputed and not to any change of opinion about the value of the library, that the city appropriation in 1861, was $1000. The directors painfully conformed their expendi- ture to their means and had one 72-100 dollars at the end of the year. In every year the directors presented to the city council specific estimates of the several necessities of the library according to their best judgment and with watch- ful caution against burdensome expense, and in every year after the first, they felt it to be their duty to ask a larger sum than was granted, and the retrenchment came out of the books, which give life to the institution.
The finances of the library have been under the supervision of a committee consisting of Dr. George Chandler, Hon. Geo. F. Hoar, Nath'l Paine, Esq., and Richard Ball, Esq., and their report hereto annexed states that with a payment of $405.61 for books, the funds from the city fell short of the current expendi- tures by a deficiency of $29.69. The Librarian's Report states a balance of cash in his hands received from fines and sales of. catalogues and cards, amounting to $131.03, which will be ap- plied to the above deficiency, the payment of a bill for book- cases, and other expenditures immediately required.
The books purchased with funds from the city, have been added to the Circulating Library with the exception of a small number placed in the Green Library. In the past year but six volumes were bought for the Green Library. When it is remembered that the great majority of the borrowers from the Circulating Library have no decided love of reading, and have
91
need of encouragement and at best there are but 6410 vol- umes to supply the calls of 4000 borrowers, it should reflect credit on the Library Committee, Dr. John Green, Hon. Hen- ry Chapin, Rev. J. J. Power, W. A. Smith, Esq., and Rev. Ebenezer Cutler, and their predecessors, by whom the selec- tion of purchases has been made, that they have resisted so far the temptation of cheapness, and have kept up the attrac- tion of the library with 410 added volumes in the past year, and gained 1353 new names of borrowers. The daily aver- age of volumes delivered is nearly 228 for the days the libra- ry has been open in the past year. The report of the Boston Library for 1861, states, " 600 and a fraction" as the average daily delivery from the ample and excellent library of 25,000 volumes for free circulation. among that large population, and an annual purchase of 6117 volumes.
The accessions from year to year, which have increased the Green Library from the original gift of 7000 volumes to the 11,427 volumes now on the shelves, are chiefly the gifts of the liberal founder, with many contributions from friends of good reading at home and abroad. In the first year 437 volumes were received from Dr. Green, and twenty-nine volumes from other persons. All these additions to the original gift of the founder, are of great value and interest and very appropriate to a public library. The readers in this department are more numerous and spend more time at the books than in former years. The library of the Worcester Medical Society, a col- lection of great value, containing many rare books not exclu- sively professional, remains in the hall adjoining the Green Library subject to the use of visitors.
The report of Rev. Z. Baker, the Librarian, is annexed and
92
will show his view of what is desirable for the library, the names of the donors, the number of their gifts, the different classes of the books in the Green Library, and other details which it is unnecessary to repeat. Rev. Mr. Baker and his assistants, Miss Callina Barnes and Mrs. Z. Baker, have per- formed their constant and patient duties with little extra as- sistance and with satisfaction to the visitors of the library and the directors. Mrs. Z. Baker devotes most of her time to making a catalogue of the Green Library.
The directors respectfully submit that the usefulness of this library appears more satisfactory, in view of the means fur- nished, than of the just claims of a population of 30,000, which needs its benefits.
It may be said as it has been said, that the library would at once be made efficient and popular if the books of the Green Library were put in circulation. To this measure there are three objections.
First .- It is effectually forbidden by the conditions of the gifts. Second .- This plan would not accommodate such readers as Benjamin Franklin and his associates whose homes are in crowded boarding houses or in narrow tenements, amid the sweet distractions of domestic life-and it is important for such visitors, and for all who have special occasions for study, that the books should be found on the shelves. And third, the measure proposed would be like killing the goose that laid the golden egg. For a time the use of the books would be stimulated and increased, but when they should become de- faced and worn out by use, it would require to keep the library interesting and attractive, a larger expenditure than the ma- jority of citizens would approve and the most liberal givers
93
might hesitate to place valuable books in a heap of rubbish. While the circulating department is of size proportioned to the city and is renewed and kept in correspondence with the lit- erature of the day this objection does not apply.
The greater usefulness of the valuable Green Library is an object of long cherished and increasing desire with the direc- tors, and in April last they made a direct movement for its accomplishment by appointing a committee consisting of Hon. Geo. F. Hoar, Dr. John Green and Rev. Ebenezer Cut- ler, to consider and report on the subject.
The substance of the report of that committee made verbally, was that our most intelligent citizens engaged in productive and professional business agreed in the opinion that the estab- lishment of a reading-room as a separate department, supplied with the best periodical literature of Europe and our own country, would add to and bring out the value of the Green Library, and that funds for that purpose would readily be given.
The committee concurred in those opinions and suggested that German and French periodicals ought to have their due proportion in the selection, because the German is the father- land and favorite language of nearly 1000 thrifty citizens, and. though Frenchmen are not numerous in our population, the French language, the most serviceable language for business and travel, is taught in our schools and should be made useful in mature life,-and the periodical literature of both nations is important to those, who desire to be acquainted with human progress and the changes in the sciences and the useful arts. And the committee recommended that a committee be ap- pointed to obtain funds for such a reading-room. This report
13
94
was accepted and the same committee was authorized to per- form the good work which they proposed. The chairman of that committee, Hon. Mr. Hoar, who has undertaken the la- bor of soliciting the contributions has reported at this meeting of the directors that the call has been readily and liberally responded to by influential citizens in every walk of life and $8675 are now engaged, and so much more is promised, that there is no doubt that the amount will be increased to ten thousand dollars. Thereupon, on motion of Mr. Hoar, it was " Voted, that a sufficient fund being now assured for the pur- pose, a Public Reading-Room be established as a department of the Free Public Library." They, who have been doubtful and reluctant about the support of the library, will regard this spontaneous liberality with two fold satisfaction, as a partial relief from taxation and as an authoritative testimonial, that the tax is destined to a worthy object.
A committee consisting of Hon. Isaac Davis, George M. Rice, Esq., and Richard Ball, Esq., have had the immediate care of the building and under their direction the color of the iron fence of the galleries and stairs of the Green Library has been changed from dark bronze to white, with great improve- ment of the light ; a pleasant and central table has been placed in the same hall and suitable chairs have been procured to take the place of those previously borrowed, and other needed im- provements inside and outside of the building have been made, as is specified in the annexed report of the Finance Committee.
It is found necessary to begin to occupy the centre of the circulating library and two book-cases have been placed there.
The city continues to use one of the basements for a school for girls and one of the chambers as the Assessors' office, with
95
a saving of rent to the city larger than the amount paid for books. The Natural History Society with its valuable and increasing collection and its useful meetings, still occupies the eastern basement, and a very respectable Farmers' Club hold their interesting discussions on one evening in the week during the winter in the Assessors' room.
With higher estimation of the value of the trust committed to them and with new encouragement from the sympathy and support spontaneously offered by most respected citizens, the Directors again commend this important institution to the fos- tering care of the people and the government of the city.
Respectfully submitted by order of the Directors.
STEPHEN SALISBURY, President.
Free Public Library,
January 3, 1865.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE.
To the Directors of the Free Public Library :
GENTLEMEN :- The Committee on Finance report that the balance undrawn January 4th, 1864, on fencing and grading account, as by the City Treasurer's report, was $310 99 There have been bills on that account approved during the year, as follows :
Bill of L. N. Gates, for work on the iron fence, of - - - - $41 25
Bill of W. A. Wheeler, for hitching posts, 11 75-53 00
$257 99
96
The committee also report that the balance of appropriations previous to January 4th, 1864, (the gas bill of $12.95 for De- cember 1863, was approved but not paid by the City Trea- surer,) was $272.33 - - - - - -
The appropriation for 1863, was - -
- 2500.00
$2,772.33
The bills approved for payment were as follows : Bills of Librarian's salaries, - $1,400.00
Bill " Z. Baker, for books, - -
405.71
" " J. S. Wesby, for binding, - 121.35
" Tyler & Seagrave, for printing, 77.85
" W. A. Smith and N. Paine,
" " Envelopes, stamps, &c., -
5.79
" N. S. Tucker, for water-closet, 25.15
" H. Rice, for painting, - -
153.35
" E. & G. Partridge, for table, - 52.26
" Gas Company, for piping, -
13.76
" J. B. Lawrence, for furniture, 24.50
" J. D. Chollar, for chairs, -
22.00
" W. H. Jourdan, for anthracite,
356.14
" " City, for water, -
-
5.50
" " Gas Company, for gas,
138.66
- Balance, - -
29.69
$2,802.02
$2,802.02
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE CHANDLER, Chairman.
Worcester, Jan. 3, 1865.
97
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN.
To the Directors of the Free Public Library :
GENTLEMEN :- The calls for books have so increased beyond the present capacity of the Circulating Library, that full twenty per cent. more of books is needed. The use of the library is restricted by failures to get books after repeated efforts, because applicants become discouraged and prevent others from coming. If desirable books are so often out as to make it a mere chance that they can be found on the shelves, it will not seem strange, if some persons should cease to apply for them. A single copy of popular books, like Prescott's Life and John Godfrey's Fortunes, is entirely insufficient. It seems necessary that there should be duplicates of such books. I have done all in my power to accommodate those, who have special preferences for books. If those, whose right it is to give the library the supplies, which it requires, knew the de- mands upon it, I think they would be induced to make a larger provision.
The circulation of books for the year ending in July last amounts to 59,593, which is 1,511 more than the number of the year before. The whole number of takers since the libra- ry was opened by the city is 9079, and of this number 1353 are new names in the past year. There is some improvement in the care of books by borrowers, but there are instances of severe use by those, who do not realize the wrong of soiling and defacing them. I have warned such persons with good effect. It has been my special care to have the books well covered and clean, but many have gone out without covers, because the
98
demand was so urgent that we could not keep them long enough to receive this attention.
It would be economy, as well as an important accommoda- tion, to enlarge the library. Many books have been worn out and others are nearly so. There are some twenty volumes not as yet accounted for, of which a few may be found, as three volumes have come to light, which were lost in the first year of the library. I have detected very few instances of design- ed abuse of the library in the detention of books.
The number of volumes added to the library in the year ending January 1, 1865, is 435 by purchase and 504 bound volumes and forty-nine pamphlets by gift. Of the volumes purchased, six were for the Green Library, and of the dona- tions twenty-eight volumes were placed in the Circulating Li- brary. The Worcester Daily Spy, the Worcester Evening Transcript, the Worcester Palladium, the Universalist and the Commonwealth, of Boston, have been given by their respec- tive publishers.
The following is the list of donors and the volumes given to the different departments of the library, in 1864.
Books.
Pamph- lets.
Dr. John Green,
-
-
-
-
5
Green Library. 432
Hon. Charles Sumner,
-
-
-
1
8
4
Clarendon Harris, Esq.,
-
-
-
3
Nathaniel Paine, Esq.,
5
Rev. William Bushce,
1
Dr. George Chandler,
1
William L. Montague, A. M.,
1
Hon. A. H. Bullock,
2
4
S. F. Haven, Esq., -
1
Trustees of Charlestown Library,
1
Richard D. Webb, Esq., Dublin,
2
Wm. P. Tucker, Esq., Librarian of Bowdoin College,
1
-
-
8
Hon. Ira M. Barton,
-
-
-
Circulating Library.
99
Books.
Pamph- lets.
Circulating
Green
Library.
Library.
O. P. Hubbard, Esq , Librarian of Dartmouth College,
New York University Library, -
-
Mercantile Library Association, Cincinnati,
2
N. G Clark, Librarian Vermont University, -
1
Charles Hadwin, Esq.,
2
Department of the Interior,
-
-
2
Young Men's Association, Buffalo, -
-
1
H. P. Sturgis, Esq.,
1
John L. Sibley, Librarian of Harvard College, Librarian of Brown University, -
1
Hon. William Faxon,
-
-
-
1
Hon. J. D. Baldwin,
-
-
-
14
H. H. Moore, San Francisco, -
-
-
1
H. Lea, Student, Schenectady,
1
Smithsonian Institute,
3
Master J. W. Lincoln,
6
2
American Antiquarian Society,
1
John Sweet, Esq., Socramento,
-
Z. Baker, Librarian,
1
Mrs. Henry Chapin,
-
-
1
T. L. Nelson, Fsq.,
1
Rochester Mechanics Association,
1
Hon. S. Salisbury, - -
1
1
Librarian Congressional Library,
-
-
1
5
Wilmington Delaware Institution, Hon. P. Merrick,
-
-
1
Col. T. W. Higginson,
1
4
Andrew H. Green, Esq.,
-
S. J. Young, Brunswick, Maine,
-
2
P. E. Chase, Esq., Philadelphia, -
-
2
Princeton College Librarian,
-
-
28
476
49
-
-
F. W. Seward, Esq., Washington,
-
1
Librarian of Columbia College, -
-
1
1
F. Poole, Esq., South Danvers,
1
1
1
1
2
2
It will be seen that Dr. Green leads all others in the num- ber as well as the value of his donations, though the library has been remembered with liberality by many. It is in every way desirable to get as many persons, as is possible, enlisted in contributing books. Any family, that has a considerable num- ber of books, may find among them some, which have lost
100
their first value, so that they would be freely spared for the public use. Many useful books have been sold for paper stock in these times of high prices, which might be saved for this library, and from such waste I have myself rescued several.
The catalogue of the Green Library in cards and in the abstract is now complete, except in the public documents. This library is used twice as much as in the year 1863, and it will be more resorted to when the projected reading-room is estab- lished. The Green Library now contains 11,415 volumes, which may be arranged under the very imperfect classification of last year, as follows:
Biography, 773 Miscellaneous Prose, 969
History,
1862
-
Poetry and Drama,
643
Bohn Libraries, 332
Theology, 953
Classics, Translations, Philolo-
Travels, 845
gy, &c., - 1163
Periodicals,
1497
Encyclopedias and Dictionary, 287
Public Documents, - 1049
Arts and Sciences, - 1042
I have received from fines and sale of catalogues and cards in the past year, - - - - - $197.79
And had a balance from the same sources in 1863, 30.62
$228.41
I have paid for stationery, $20.51
for extra labor in library, 12.65
for watering the streets, 15.00
for repairs of furnace drum, 4.50
for kindling wood, oil, &c., [26.21
for postage, express, &c. 18.51
leaving cash in my hands,
131.03
$228.41
Respectfully,
Z. BAKER, Librarian.
REPORT
OF THE
CITY TREASURER.
CITY OF WORCESTER, TREASURER'S OFFICE, FEBRUARY 20, 1865.
To the Honorable City Council:
GENTLEMEN,-The Treasurer has the honor, and would re- spectfully lay before you his fifteenth Annual Report of the Receipts and Expenditures, Appropriations raised by tax, Abatements and Discounts, Taxes uncollected, &c.,
from January 4, 1864, to January 2, 1865.
The Cash account accompanying the same will exhibit the Cash transactions for the same space of time.
Cash on hand January 4, 1864, received from all sources, 463,433.11
9966.60
Cash paid out for all departments,
$473,399.71 464,425.09
" balance January 2, 1865,
$8974.62
All of which is respectfully submitted.
GEORGE W. WHEELER,
City Treasurer.
14
102
Dr.
CITY OF WORCESTER, in account current from January 4, 1864,
Balances January 4, 1864 :
Aqueduct and Interest on same, School houses and land for same,
89,814 92
Library Building,
6,637 07
War Contingents, Aid to Families, and Bounties, Recruiting,
419 42
215,179 12 702 13
Paid Abatements, ·
Aqueduct,
1,376 50
Water Works,
89,063 29
90,439 79
" Contingent Expenses,
3,061 54
66 Dog Fund.
202 00
Fire Department, Engine House and Lot,
3,937 75
24,167 50
Free Public Library,
2,920 34
Fuel, Lights, Printing, &c.,
2,178 71
Highways and Bridges,
12,943 71
Interest,
14,758 65
Lighting Streets,
3,534 43
Loans,
Library Scrip,
4,000 00
52,950 00
Military,
75 00
Paupers, support of,
13,724 05
Police and Watchmen,
11,116 47
Quinsigamond Bridge, Salaries,
5,050 00
Scales,
49,518 25
66 School for Truants,
30 00
Sewers, .
67 02
Summons,
70 75
.6
Tax County,
47,784 00
War : Aid to Families,
51,101 06
Bounties,
57,535 00
deposited for Recruits,
2,500 00
" Contingents, ·
3,157 26
Recruiting, . .
116,275 33
Six per cent. discount on $211,907 83 for prompt payment, Taxes of 1863 abated by the Assessors,
12,714 47
"6 " 1864 66 66
.6
·
2,003 70
uncollected previous to 1864, .
13,727 32
.6 of 1864,
6,697 64
Bills Receivable,
75 00
Cash on hand,
8,974 62
$732,884 96
City of Worcester, February 20, 1865.
150 00
181 11
Schools,
1,944 87
Shade Trees and Public Grounds,
19,454 44
1,982 01
213 00
State,
48,950 00
20,229 75
118,307 71
103
to January 2, 1865, with GEORGE W. WHEELER, City Treasurer. Cr.
Balances January 4, 1864 :
Old debt account, .
89,814 92
Library Building Debt, .
6,637 07
War Debt,
·
214,759 70
Abatements,
·
10,033 74
Bridge at Quinsigamond,
442 00
Contingent Expenses,
10,830 16
Highways and Bridges, .
355 40
Library,
596 27
Military,
292 64
Paupers,
269 90
Schools, .
4,223 83
Shade Trees,
18 79
Received from Aqueduct
..
.6 Water Works,
361 50
City Hall Building,
1,140 95
Scales,
564 03
For Armory Rents,
575 00
" School Fund,
1,106 30
" Aid to Families,
39,000 00
" Recruiting Expenses,
4,786 81
(7 Men),
875 00
Received from Contingent Expenses,
138 12
Dog Fund,
353 20
Engine House,
4 00
Highways and Bridges,
1,831 94
Licenses,
655 00
Loans,
202,650 00
66
Police,
1,416 lõ
.6
66 Schools,
40 00
Sewers,
98 00
66
Shade Trees and Public Grounds,
65 75
66
66
Summons on Taxes (823),
164 60
Appropriations raised by tax, 1864:
For City purposes,
173,500 00
County tax, .
19,454 44
State tax, .
·
47,78₺ 00
66
New Assessments and Soldiers' taxes,
.
188 50
Less estimated Corporation tax,
21,650 00
227,744 90
$732,881 96
Errors and omissions excepted.
GEORGE W. WHEELER, City Treasurer.
.
46,349 11
Interest on Taxes,
261 30
Paupers,
2,731 75
Ward Bounty money,
1,258 40
Overlayings,
8,467 96
·
249,394 90
.
118,307 71
27,057 73
3,244 83
Commonwealth : ~
104
Dr.
CASHI ACCOUNT from January 4, 1864, to January 2, 1865.
To balance January 4, 1864,
9,966 60
Received from Aqueduct,
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