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public spirit as yourself.
We have in Stockton a "Free Public Library" an institution which has already done much general good and of which our citizens are justly proud; but we labor under the great disadvantage of being without a public building of any kind for its accommodation.
One of our deceased citizens has left a legacy of Five Thousand Dollars toward that purpose. The [laity?] will give us a lot, and it is our especial desire to raise money enough to erect a building suitable for such a purpose.
The [laity?] of Stockton has now a debt of our $300,000 on an assured valuation of $8,000,000 and is limited by law to the assessment of one percent aside from school purposes and