LA CROSSE COUNTY HISTORICAL SKETCHES

plied to the building fund. The purpose and result of this action will be
to withdraw five thousand dollars from the book fund, (which will receive
an ample equivalent in valuable books) and apply it to the buiding fund,
where it is greatly needed. The trustees will then have $11,500 for a build-
ing and the nucleus of a library whenever they shall be able to accept it.
     It is expressly agreed between your board of trustees and the trustees
of the public library, in case this action is taken, that the present library
shall be kept open and in operation substantially as at present until the
public library building is erected and ready to receive the books and you
will not be deprived of the use of a library for a longer time than is nec-
essary to effect the transfer.
     This society has also a sum of cash on hand amounting to about $2,000,
besides other property in furniture, etc. valued at from one to two hundred
dollars, which, it is the unanimous opinion of your board of directors,
should also, for the best good of all concerned, accrue to the building fund
of the public library, under such conditions as to the manner of its expend-
iture, as may at the time seem expedient.
     The proposition may be summed up as follows: The Young Men's
Library Association will sell and convey to the trustees of the La Crosse
Public Library, all its books for the sum of; $5,000; it will then donate to
the building fund of the public library the money so obtained, together
with all other moneys and effects on hand when the public library build-
ing is ready for the reception of books.
     This proposition has been approved by your board, and also by the
trustees of the public library, but in order to become operative, it must
be sanctioned by the members of this association. For this purpose a spe-
cial meeting has been called, to be held at the library on the, third Satur-
day, being the 17th day of April, at which polls will be open from 3 to 5
p. m. and from 7 to 9 p. m., for a ballot upon the proposition stated.
     The ballot will read: "For (or against) the proposition to dispose of
the property of the Association to the La Crosse Public Library".
     All members who are square on the books are entitled to a vote, and
it is the desire of the board of directors that the fullest possible expression
of opinion 'be had.
                          (Signed by the board)
E. N. Osborne, Pres.     J. W. Weston             W. R. Hemmenway
Louis Bennett            John P. Bird             T. A. Dyson
G. M. Woodward           W. L. Osborne            C. A. Smith
     The members of the association approved of the proposition and
the transfer was duly made.
     A bronze plate in the vestibule of La Crosse Public Library com-
memorating this gift declares:
     "The Trustees of La Crosse Public Library have caused this tablet
to be inscribed to the memory of Cadwallader C. Washburn who be-
queathed the sum of fifty thousand dollars for the establishment and
maintenance of this library. Also as a memorial to the Young Men's
Library Association which closed a long career of usefulness by donat-
ing seven thousand dollars to aid in the erection of this building."


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