Evening Star Newspaper, December 9, 1922, Page 4

'3 THEASTERN BRANCH OF LIBRARY . OPENED AMID GREA SOU { Huudredc Jam Way Into Rooms as Speakers Laud Progress. HOPE TO PUSH PLANS FOR MORE BUILDINGS Carnegie Corpor-ation Is Ready to Give Funds If Sites Obtained. Formal opening of the new south- eastern branch Public Library. at 7th and D streets and South Carolina fvenue southeast, was celebrated in Aan enthusiastic manner last night, when hundreds of citizens of South- east Washingion showed their ap- preciation of this asset to community life by jammirg their way into the Jibrary rooms to witness the dedica- tory exercises. Heralded by an open-air brass band concert on the steps of the new edi- fice and by orchestral mnusic within, the handsome branch library, the first, it was pointed out b; eleven vye: was turned over to Charles J. Bell, who. as chairman of the committee on branch libraries, represented the Public Library trust- 88, by Col. Charles Keller, Engineer Commissioner of chairman of the southeastcrn bran library butlding commission. Theodore W. Noyes Presides. Theodore W. Noyes, chairman of the board of library trustees. who presided. and Dr. George F. Bower- man, public librarian, called atten- tion to the progressive step marked by this addition to Washington's library system, and expressed hope that the future would see a far greater development along this line than has occurred in the past. Representatives of local civic organizations and in- terests and of the educational system Joined with the library offictals in ex- pressing gratification at the gen- erosity ‘of Congress in providing a aite and of the Carnegle Corporation in alloting funds for erection of the building. Dr. Bowerman traced the develop- ment of the Public Libsary system of the District and indicated his regret fhat the progress had not been more rapid. as regards branch libraries. Speaking of the plans for the future, Dr. Bowerman said: Other Branches Wanted. $«The Mount Pleasant branch should be deflnitely assured at the present mession of Congress and thus the next step will be taken. We ought also promptly to be enabled to build branches in Northeastern Washing- ton, in Georgetown, Washington and in the vicinity of Dupont Circle. in accordance with plans approved by the library trus. tees for the development of the sys- tem of separate branch librarie In opening the ceremnies. Mr. Noyes pointed out that there were assei bled in the room not only beneficia- rles of the branch library, Includin: men and women of high standing and influence In the community, but also the representatives of those who have contributed to its existence, and will gontribute to its growth. There. in person or by proxy. in body or in spirit, he said. were the men and women and corporations (like the Carnegle Corporation of New York) who have given money. books or Building, or time, thought and energy 0 promote the library, in_addition to representatives of the Washington taxpayers who have contributed to purchase the branch library site and to stock it with books. and who will contribute to the library's mainte- nance and development. Two Steps of Progress. “This dedication marks two distinct eps of progress in branch library development for Washington's wel- are.” Mr. Noves declared. irst. Congress sets the precedent 4t appropriating from the District revenue to buy lhed h:ln{n Building site, a precedent o vern o the District. All Washington hopes that this just, sound precedent may be followed consistently and un- varyingly in extending the authorized and approved library plan over the 3 District. ‘-"'fi.ea. second, the Carnegie Corpora- tton of New York. reflecting the thought and spirit and intent of An- drew Carnegle himself, has taken upon itself. so far at least as two branch libraries are concerned, Mr. Carnegie’s orig'nal self-imposed bur- den and privilege of supplying to Washington branch library buildings as fast as the library trustees should declare that library branches were eded. e understand that this precedent il amount to nothing unless we a promept in pressing for these half-prom- ised branch library buildinge, Let us s} co-operate heartily and effectively to secure from Congress and the Carnegie orporation such action as will extend Braneh hbrary blessings and benefits to every section of the District. The ac- tlon of the Carnegle Corporation fin re- spect_to the Southeast branch and its promise in respect to the proposed Mount Pleasant branch inspires us all 1o renewed enthusiasm in our campaign for branch libraries in general, and en- titles the corporation fo the grateful appreciation not only of the people of this section, but of all Washingion. Part of Educational System. “Cut in the granite of the exedra in front of the main library building is the declaration that the structute “A university of the people.” The or- &anic act of the library proclaims it a supplement of the public educational svstem of the District. Our southeast Wbrary is thus a branch of our library university of the people and an in- tegral part of the public educational system of the District.” Librarian Bowerman, in his remarks following the formal conveyance of the building to the library “trustees, reminded the citizens and official Zathered for the occasion that they were not simply opening a new and Thandsome building to be an ornament to_this part of the city, but were e tablishing for the 40,000 or more pe: dons of the neighborhood a new agency that should serve to increase enjoyment, to enlighten and to im- prove cltizenship. Continuing, he said: y Speech of Librarian. “I will speak of the significance of the opening of this branch library in fts relation to the larger problem of furnishing Public Library fagilities to he entire population of the District. } think T can best do so by striking a Somewhat personal note. “More than eighteen years ago the WHEN you go into a ing picture theater member that in all likelihood engineer’s skill. .Comfort By Contrast comfortably warm playhouse or mov- and are grateful for the change of temperature, re- the pleasant warmth is the product of a G and H heating . HHeatingCo Previously BIGGS HEATING CO. s snavm . e 0 ) Over Years.” [T Pres. Vice Pres. 17 H St. NW. | { . to be erected in the District infand that the great giver of libra [ the District, and|pected to ch | be possible within a very few vears! in Southwest|have nearly 230,000; that just pre- ! | % | achievements and compare not unfa- l ! i | ’ Main 4880 | % RN | o 4 -4 # ok ok ko ok ek ¥k ke AobE board of library trustees invited me 1o come from a neigboring city to be Washington’s public librarian. I glad- | ly accepted the offer, partly because I | read in the annual report then cur-| rent that the library had recently oc- | cupled & handsome marble central | builcing, the gift of Andrew Carnegl buildings had offered Washington all the money it needed to build branch librarles. * The prospect was very al- luring, because I felt sure that with the ener; x not only to develop the service of the main library. but to build a system of branch libraries, and through such | well rounded library system to give the Public Library service that the intelligent population of Washington ought to have. T was even ambitivu. to make the Washington Public L brary system a model for other cities throughout our land. 250,000 Books im Library. “If anybody had told me then that it would be necessary to work for| xeven years before even one branch library, the one in the suburb of Ta- | koma Park, would be built, and that | eleven more years would elapse be- | fore a second branch, which we open | % tonight. would be a reality, T would have scoffed at any such idea. But I did not then know my Washington, nor the long, weary road that is so often necessary to secure public im- provements here. I did not realize then as T do now what it means to! iring about public improvements. ! elsewhere regarded as matters of course, in a city that has nothing to say about its own affairs. “In order that I may not seem to decry or minimize the actual accom- plishments here let me point out that elghteen years ago the library system had but 70.000 volumes and now we: vious to that time, in the first vear that the central library was open. the | home circulation of books was 278,000 : volumes and that last year we circu- lated over a million volumes. Congestion at Main Library. | “These are by no means small} vorably with the records of libraries of certain other progressive American cities. “However, of the million vol- umes lent for home use last year less | than 50,000 were circulated from our one branch Itbrary, about 85,000 from the voluntary agencies supervised by the main library. about 250,000 vol- umes through the grammar schools, also promoted from the main library 50 that nearly 650.000 volumes wei lent directly from the central library. This means congestion of the service there and thé expense of carfare to most users of the library. “Many cities smaller than Wash- ington have developed branch library | systems that serve their entire popu- lations conveniently. For example, Indianapolis, with a little over 300,000 popuiatiun, has eighteen branches. | eleven of which are in separate building: Minneapolls. somewhat } smaller than Washington. has six- | teen branches. ten of which are in separate bulldings: Portland, Ore. with less than 300,000 population. has seventeen branches, eleven of which are in separate buildings. Washington Far Behind. “Why is Washington so far behind ! in thed #peedily bring our public library sys- tem. not only up to the place where it will compare favorably with other American citles, but also so that it may lead the van of librar¥ progress, just as all Washingtonians are hoping that soon our local public school sys- tem may become the model for America? ‘We are opening tonight a library building, given by the Carnegie Cor- poration. whose trustees are gener- ously carying out Mr. Carnegie's promise to us, in spite of the inord nate delay in accepting the original offer. I am sure that I volce *he sen- timents of all in wishing that Mr. T E T TS TS TTTETTTETTTTETTE T SOUTHEAST BRANCH LIBRARY. ————— | have Dbeén for aeveral year i gift proposition. THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON D. C, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1922 | rnegie were still ali and here to know how much we appreciate his Kenerosity to us. If he could only be here, or if the trustees of the Clar- negie Corporation were present, I think they would agree that wherc Carnegie gifts of bulldings do make it possible for some cities to have libraries sooner than they would | otherwise have them, yet that the of- fers of such gifts have their perils in often planting the mistaken idea in ns and legislators the entire library matter is & Maay Seek to Avold Costs. “Many people, 1 fancy, think that Mr. Carnegie or the Carnegle Cor- poration not only builds and equips the Iibrary buildings—the extent of thelr benefactions—but also that they pay for the sites and maintain the librari When such_people learn the limitations of the Carnegle bene- factions they are then inclined to insist that at least the sites must be given by citizens and they often suggest that a large part of the maintenance should also come from gifts and endpwments. “In order S think clearly on this subjeet it necessary to go back to the organic law enacted by Con- & creating our Public Library, “hlich declares it to be “a supplement of the public educational system of the District.” If this language means anything, it means that there is the same obilgation to buy proper sites for branch buildings, to bulld the library buildings themselves, and to Support the libraries. all from the public treasury, that there is to bulld and maintain the public schools. Who ever heard the suggestion made that we should not maintain public schools in Washington until local communities presented the bullding sites and some rich man gave the buildings and other rich people gave endowments for maintenance? = No such suzgestion is made with refer- | ence to the schools. and it ought] never to be made in connection with the library. First Site Given. i “In the case of our first branch| library, the site was contributed by | the public-spirited citizens of Takoma Park. to whom all honor is due, but that involved the building of a branch lbrary in a suburb where the popu- lation s even yet rather small. Since | that thme the Itbrary trustees have adopted a program for library devel- opment which limits the erection of xeparate branch library buildings to the thickly built-up portions of the trict. Of course, library sites in such congested areas can become avallable only by purchase, and Con- gress was induced to adopt our theory of the appropriateness of purchasing the site for this branch library from an appropriation, s setting a precedent for grant appropriations for sites for all subsequent branch buildings. Begins New Era. “We congratulate ourselves on the opening of this branch library, not only because of the service that itl will render here. but ‘hecause it be- | gins, we hope, a new era in library development. 'With the principle of purchasing sites from congressional appropriations established, we now expect to move forward with accel- erated pace. The Carnegie Corpora- tion has recently. with great generos- ity. allotted $100.000 to carry out the next step in our program of branch library bullding—namely. for the erection of a branch library in thel Mount Pleasant section. The branch ! library we open tonight will serve approximately 40.000 people; the branch that we hobe soon to erect at 16th and Lamont streets will serve upward of 100.000 people. To serve this larger population we must have a larger building than this, requiring a larger site in 2 part of the city where sites are much more_expensive than they are here. A public-spirited citizen has offered a fine site at about half its market value. 8o that therd ought to be no question about our getting from Congress the appropriation of $25.000 required to purchase the site. This libra; { Fe I e sk sk sk s e s e e Feok Ak ek sk sk e sk ko e ek ek ke ok You are the Loser if you don’t —Shop Early! and Mail Early! As a matter of personal convenience and advantage begin the Christmas Shopping AT ONCE—and get it done and over with before the grand rush—when there’s always a scram- ble and tussle—only to be half-way satisfied —and wholly tired out. Stocks are complete these days and clerks are keenly on the alert to serve you. There’s everything to be gained by Shopping Early.. Start Out Monday Morning' oy item is aarried in the Distriot budget Just sent to Congress. Plan for School Branches. “The Mount Pleasant branch should be definitely assured at the present sesslon of Congress and thus the next step will be taken. We ought also promptly to be enabled to build branches in Northeast Washington, in Georgetown, in Southwest Wash- ington and in the viainity of Dupont Circle, in acoordance with the plans approved by the library. trustees for the development of the system of soparate branch libraries. “But the plan just outlined does not make provision for bfanch library service to suburban communities 'Iha"rrolrnm adopted jointly by the boa of library trustees and the board of education, and cordially ap- ] proved by the District Commissioners, | calls for the ectablishment of a series | of smaller branches in certain suburben school buildings, both white and colored, to the end that the en- tire population of the District of Co- lumbia may have library service within reasonable walking distance of their homes. One such branch we expect to have in the new Eastern: High School when it is opened in| February. Need More Books and Workers. “But It is necessary uot simply to provide for the physical equipment Of these libraries; they must also have ample stocks of books and par- ticularly adequate forces of trained library workers, who ought to be paid good salaries instead of the unjustly low salarles now provided. For example, we ought not to be compelled to’ close the main library every Wednesday at 3 p.m., as we , because We ought, in- of shortness of force. stead of opening branch at the restricted hours to be announced, to be able to open it daily from 9 to 9. We ought not, as now the case, to pay such salaries here as we are required to do by detinite re-l strictions in the appropriation act. We ought not to be compelled to open thls branch with only about . alumes on {ts shelves. we ought to have here the 25,000 volumes needed Lo serve 40,000 Peo- ple. But properly to do the work of the main library, where we are des- perately understaffed, properly to maintain our two present branches, properly to prepare for the future expansion of the library service that we hope lies just ahead, it is abso- lutely essential that large increases in appropriations for Public Library m?il’;len.ncet bfi l;lbde. “At present the library expenditure; are about $1560,000 a year, or an ln? nual per capita expenditure for the bopulation of the District of about 35 cents. Recently the American Library ~Aseociation, the national body of 6,000 libraries, librarians and library trustees has gone on record as belleving that the minimum annual maintenance for simply good munic- ipal public liibrary serviice—not the best—is $1 per capita. A number of the larger American cities closely approximate this figure, and one large city, Cleveland, already spends $1.08 per capita. Several smaller cities spend nearly $1.50 per capita on their libraries Urges More Funds. “If Washington could have, instead of $150,000 a year, $437.000 a year (or COLORED MAMMIES MONUMENT IN D. C. SENATE BILL AIM The memory of “the faithful colored mammies of the south” ‘would be perpetuated in enduring bronze or granite under a reso- lution offered by Senator Williams, democrat, Mississippl, yesterday. The measure would direct the chief of engineers of the Army to select a site and permit Jefferson avis Chapter, No. 1650, of te United Daughters of the Confed- eracy to erect such a monument in Washington as a “gift to the people of the United States.” — e the navy yard. and E. G. Kimball, supervising principal of the seventh division, public schools. On Site of First Public School. Each of these community represent- atives expressec s _appreclation of the southeastern branch and pledged the library trustees that the residents of Southeast Washington would demonstrate this gratitude by making constant use of the volumes provided. Dr. Emmons expressed the hope that the District Commissioners will rec- ommend and Congress will approve the right of national representation for citisens of the District, as advo- cated by Mr. Noyes and his asso- clates on the civic committee seeking this end. He pointed out that the library branch stands facing the site of the first public school in Washington —the Wallach. Mr. Wheeler, acknowledging intro- ductory remarks of Mr. Noyes that “navy yard employes will avail them- selves of the library facilities” and that this fact “was one of the con- trollin, factors in locating the branch,” thanked the trustees for their consideration of the navy yard men in this respect and stressed the point that the modern library system is of invaluable help in uniting the industrial world. Miss Osborne Librarian. Mr. Kimball, as spokesman for the teachers of the seventh’ division, voiced satisfaction over the new library. No one but a teacher can appreciate the value of a well chosen library in carrying on school activ- ities, he sald. He promised that the teachers would be close allies of the library officials and would exemplify this alliance by doing that which the trustees most desired—using the library. Miss Frances S. Osborne, appointed brar.ch librarian for the new build- ing, announced her desire of creating a reading habit among the citizens of the community. thus aiding school children in their education and as- sisting older persons to continue thelr studies beyond the classroom. She announced that the Southeastern branch library, beginning today, will operate on the following schedule of hours: Week days, except Wednes- days and Saturdays. from 12 noon to 9 p.m.; on Wednesdays, from 12 noon to 3 p.m.. and on Saturdays, from Y am. to 9 pm. Sundays and legal NURSE KIDNAPED BY “MASKED MA phis Car Tracks After Bel Missing Five Days. | By tie Associated Press. MEMPHIS, Tenn., December {which dozens of persons have questioned. police and out clues to the identity of the Miss Jennie E. Rogers, trained n early yesterday. Mies Rogers is unconscious a _hospital where she was taken day. tion is serious. All that the police establish was that Miss Rogers, is a trained nurse, graduated from a Memphis hospital. and for se Charleston, left the Miss., Sunday mor: Mis: to Ripley Found Bound Beside Mem- After a day of finvestigation, during detectives stated tonight that they were with- or man believed to have abducted last Sunday morning. and, after hold- ing her a prisoner for five days, left her. bound hand and foot and gagged, beside a street car track in a Mem- 1phis suburb, where she was found she was found by the crew of a pass- ing street car before daylight yester- Physicians say that her condi- Memphis Hospital Graduate. were able to years in charge of a sanitarium at home of a relative, where she had been visiting, to make a trip to spend the remain- —_— der of the month with her mother. No trace of her movements from the time she left the house until she was picked up in the woods near Mem- phis has been obtained. Incoherent notes, found on her person and scrawled on the back of envelopes, addressed to her mother and a young | man _in Memphis, who has been visit- ing her for several years, teil of her being held prisoner by “a masked man, who had threatened to kill her if she refused to eat and do as she . [was told. and begging any one who ing {ound the and when she awoke said. N” the appointment young woman to the police, this nd last saw notes to rescue her. Asleep in Depot. T According to the note to her moth- | d!saPpearance. er, which she wrote that she w. ) —_— penning during moments in which| Airplanes fitted offices. | #he was not watched by her captor., i desks, she said that she went to the depot here Sunday morning, but missed her in commercial aviation. 9. been men urse, We will accept only as many orders for Christmas portraits as can be filled without sacrificing our high quality standard. t the eafter Will you co-operate with us by ordering NOW ? UNDERWOOD SUNDERWOOD Portroits of Quality 1230 Connecticut Avenue _Telephone Main 4400 who veral ning, "’halrmun‘ Mr. Edwards and Thurston. The southeastern bLranch er, chairman; Mr. Noyves, Mr. and Dr. Bowerman, secretary The staff of the new branch cludes, In addition to Miss Osb Katherine E. Greenwood, first librarian; Carl A. Urban, janitor. 5,000 Volumes on Hand. ing brick and stone-trimmed s ing on 7th street. and are adequately furnished the latest type library furniture, the shelves of the institution about 5000 volumes and 75 zines, which resources will be plemented by deliveries from central library, where 250,000 umes are available. The basement part of the buil on a level with the street. is divided | $1 per capita of our population). with | holidays the doors will be closed, she|into numerous rooms for spe increasas beyond that figure as the population expands, the dreams I had elghteen years ago, dreams which are shared by the board of library true- tees. and which will, I hope, be hared by the entire population of the District. and perhaps ultimately even by Congre: itself, would be reaifties. and then we could go for- ward give to Washingtonians the public library service that they so much appreciate, and could perhaps make of our public library system a model for other cities to follow. I ask this audience to help to make these dreams come true.” Invocation by Rev. Johmson. Following the invocation by Rev F. W. Johnson, pastor of Grace Bap tist Church, the formality of trans- fering “the keys” of the structure to the library trustees was performed by Col. Keller. “I have been engaged during the past week in this business of handing over phantom keys to real buildings,” the Engineer Com- missioner sald. in referring to the dedication of public school buildings recently. “and I assure vyou all that the District authorities have no more agreeable duty than building struc- tures and doing things for Wash- ton.” 1n5°1. Keller characterized the libray branch just opened as “a real gem.” complimenting Edward Tilton of New York, the architect, and Arthur L. Smith & Co. of this city on their work. The builders, he added. must be given credit for having put into the edifice more than they were paid to put in, including not only en- thusiasm of endeavor, but genuine concrete additions out of their own pockets. Hopes for Less Delay. Mr. Bell in accepting “the keys, stated that the southeastern branch library will add not only artistically to the community, but will comprise jmportant educational adjunct. T ;gve."vhe remarked, “that it won't be another eleven years before I have the pleasure of receiving the keys to the next branch. Calling attention to the interest of local civie, educational and commu- nity bodies in the acquisition of the branch library, Mr. Noyes introduced G. Herrmann, president of the Southeast Washington Citizens’ Asso- ciation; Dr. Charles M, Emmons, president of the East Washington Citizens' Association; H. T. Wheeler, in charge of apprentice instruction at \ 0.0 0.0.8.0.0.8.0.8.8.9.8.0.0.8.9.8.0.0.8.0.2.9.0.8.0.8.8.0.0.8.2.8.0.0.8.8.8.¢ said. Boys® Band Plays. The concert which preceded the in- door exercises was given by the Boys' Independent Band. During the cere- monies the East Washington Com- munity Orchestra furnished music. After the dedicatory rites had been completed. the various reading rooms, ghelves and equipment of the branch were inspected by the men, women and children who crowded into the building for the exercises. A special detail of police, under supervision of Capt. Sanford of the fifth precinct, was necessary to take care of the rush. Many wepe forced to stand through- out the evening. The trustees present also were shown about the building by Dr. Bowerman and the many features of the establishment apparently created a pronounced favorable impression The board of trustees is composed of Theodore Noyes, president; Justice Wendell P. Stafford, vice presider John B. Larner, secretary; Charles Bell, Danfel A." Edwards, Manning Gasch, Benjamin W. Guy, Mrs. Lyman B. Swormstedt and Ernest L. Thurston. Mr. Bell Heads Committee. The committee on branch_ libraries of the board consists of Mr. Bell. HE SRR = R, Highland Heather Overcoats Panitz poses, such as book plies. ete. away; scratchy, tender membranes: checked; cold broken up. Now,todey-—ask your drog- gist for NEW DISCOVERY ~asyrup for coughs & colds building commission is composed of Col. Kell- sistant; Dorothy L. Leetch, children's Janet McL. McCloud, sistant; Herbert S. Dornin, page, and The branch is housed in an impos- | ture, approached by lofty steps front- The reading and reference rooms are on the main floor maga- Mr. Bell { in- orne, =y truc- with . On ¢ are . Think of the Youngsters’ Future Is isn’t quite fair to start the young folks ofi with nothing substantial to back them—and it isn’t everybody who is financially able to hand over a competency when the time comes that it is needed. But every one can open Savings Accounts for their children—and keep them active—then when the boys and girls launch out for them- selves—they’ll have the money they need. Give your boy or girl a Savings Account for a Christmas gift. sup- the vol- ding, We pay 39 interest on every dollar, every day—compounded semi-annually HARRINGTON MILLS, JAMES H. BADEN. First Vice President. V. Pres. and Cashier. JAMES B. REYNOLDS, LAURENCE A. SLAUGHTER, train. 8he dropped asleep, she wrote, e was “In the clutches of *he masked man,” the note The young man who has been vis- iting Miss Rogers, and who, relatives told the police, had planned to go to the depot to say good-bye to her on her departure Sunday. was questioned by the police for several hours, but told them that he had fafled to keep the urday. According man, who holds a responsible position here, had noth- ing to do with the young woman's with index cabi- are the latest developmen most notable advance in the weaving of overcoat cloth in the history of the loom —the interlocking weave—the harmonious contrast of face and back — tailored into garments of recognized style and quality. Satisfaction and long wear double the value Made by master tailors in the daylight shops of Rosenwald & Weil "CHICAGO Séld by Washington’s' UNIVERSITY § 506 9th St. N.W. W-