The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-10-20
The A,,er IJer1ry IN New YORK.


The work Of demolition has been COM
menced among the shrubbery and stately
trees Of Vaurhall Garden. in Lafayette
Place, near the italian Opera House. pre-
paratory to laying the foundation walls Of
the Astor Library Building. We congratu-
late the public upon the prospect Of the
speedy construction of an edi6ce that will
grace the city and reflect credit upon our
artisans, should the designs Of the project
ors, as developed in the plans of the aIchi-
tect, be carried out, as they undoubtedly
will. Ii will be built in the Byzantine
style, or rather in the style Of the Royal
Palaces Of Florence, and consequently will
present a strongly imposing appearance,
both in its external and internal structure.
It's dimensions will be 12O feet in length by
65 wide, and from the level of the side
walk to the upper line Of the parapet, its
height will be 81 feet-built Of brown cut
stone. Scarcely particle Of wood will
enter into its composition. We are in
formed that no building in the United
States, Of this character. will be formed to
such large extent Of iron. According to
the estimates, the iron work will form one
of the heaviest expenditures. It's uses, too,
will be altogether novel, at least in this
country, and ingenious. For instance. the
truss beams, supporting the principal weight
Of the roof, will be constructed OF cast iron
pipes, in a parabolic form, on the same
plan with the iron bridges in France and
other parts of Europe, with view TO secure
lightness and strength. .... ..
The Library Hall, which will occupy
the second floor of the edi6cs, will be a
truly elegant apartment 100 feet in length
by Go wide, in the clear. The ascent from
the front will be by single line Of 80 Ital
ian marble steps, decorated on either side
a, the entrance, by a stone Sphinx. Upon
nearing the summit Of these steps, the visi
tor finds himself near the centre Of this i'm
mense alcove. surrounded by Ia brick piers
plastered and finished in imitation Of ltal
ian marble, and supporting iron galleries
midway between the floor and the ceiling
IT, -;Aa walls from 'sp;t IN dones-" form
one continuous shelving, Of capacity sui.
fcient for 100, 900 volumes. This is reach
ed by means Of the main gallery, in con
nexion with which are four iron spiral stair
ways Zone from each corner Of the build
ing,) and an intervening gallery Of lighter
and smaller description, also connected by
its staircsses. eight in number, with the
main gallery. The whole are very ingeni
ously arranged and appropriately ornament
ed, in style corresponding with the gene.
raj architecture Of the building. At an
elevation of 81 feet above the spectator, is
the principal skylight, 81 feet long by IA
broad. and formed Of thick glass set in iron.
Besides this are circular side skylights Of
much smaller dimensions. All needful ligh,
is thus furnished, in connexion with the
windows in the front and rear walls. Free
ventilation is also had, by means OF iron
ftetwork, inserted in suitable portions Of
the ceiling. IN the extreme rear are the
tuo librarisns' rooms, to which access is had
by means Of the main galleries. >,
The first Aoof will contain the lecture
and readirg-rooms. with accommodations
for 500 persons. The latter are located on
each side Of the building, and separated
from the lbrary.hall stairway at the from
entrance, by two corridors leading to the
rear yestibule, and from thence to the lee
ture room, still further in the rear. TIKI
basement contains the keepers rooms. eel
lars, coal-vaults, hotair furnaces, &C.
The Aoors are composed Of richly-wrough
mosaic work, resting on iron beams.