The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-30

the vertical scann. which placed against the
The evidences of the fire having in this way
are TOO conclusive 10 admit ola donbt and sufficient
building no human forehought vigilance could under
the circumstances. have prevented the catastrophe
For lie Union.
The burning II Library o Congress. -
For the second time the Library OF Congress has been
destroyed by fire. The precious accumuIations of more
than thirty years have been reduced Short melan
choly hour, 10 Of black cinders and worthless
fragments. Something valuable has indeed been saved
The law library containing 5000 volumes is uninured
About 10000 volumes besides he contents of the north
rooms) rescued from the flames or the treasures
in the principal library, scarcely anything saved
The number of books consumed is about $4,000. The
cost OF these was is said, not less than $4,000 But
their value be estimated by any merely mercantile
standard A library which for thirty years has been
faithful TO its trust must contain many things that money
cannot replace The loss in many respects, rrepara-
Bile. The books needed every day and every hour
But there are fuses in adversely" Impunty in rsks
begets such bodness and even recklessness that
lamity is sometimes needed 10 draw serious attention
neglect OF precautions for safety to e TO property and
also to the interests of science Of learning. and OF art
Repeated and ffightful accidents in steamboats, compelled
cupdity TO pause and listen to the voice OF science
Cataslrophes which have lately occurred will. trust
send builders TO who instruct them upon the
strength OF Materials and teach committees and capital
lists think OF something else than the lowest bid for
contracts
The necessity of an abundant supply of water for the
preservation OF public and private property is one OF the
lessons which the late calamity cannot fail to impress
The importance of making the places OF deposile OF
archives and books fire proof is another lesson. The
Library OF Congress was, perhaps, generally considered
to be But IL was known not to be SO by those who
had given particular attention TO the subject Not every
precauon suggested important by those versed in such
ottersh lad hppn tab Il npr
to none is the ready reply 10 every word OF caution.
Sixteen years ago, Richard Bartlett. esq of New York
city. formerly secretary OF State in New Hampshire pre-
pared with great labor article upon the Preser walton
OF Public Archives" which published by the New
Hampshire Historical Society. and scattered widely
through the country.
Speaking OF the Library of Congress, he says: "Ths
Phoenix library has already been damaged and is proba-
bin liable 10 total destruction by fire. II would be more
worthy of the national character and resources II ii
were increased at least ten fold and secured in approp
ate fire proof apartments" Here was warning. and.
alas prophse voice but it fell on no listening ears
V0I cidmdnfis IN dsstrto
II is not to be supposedly is not rue-,hat men who
have the control of treasures ike those in question
willing to risk their destruction But they do not always
listen TO men most competent advise them this sub
iec In other matte they do frequently call in the
aid OF those particularly devoted TO the sptoaN under
consideration.
IN,
of the well instructed Librarian totally disregarded when
raised in opposition 10 the ambition OF architects, the
conces of corporations the cupdy OF competing con-
tractors
An Italian archhec,--a man of gcnius-has said, ii
primo piu able arehitIo padrons della eaM-the
first and ablest architect is the master OF the house The
Librarian knows, ought 10 know, what is wanted Tor
the safety and convenience oil his charge lie is The mas
Ter OF tina, house.
II should be known that within the last twenty FIVE
years everything relating to the construction OF edhces
for Libraries, their arrangement and convenences, the
means Of their preservation from hre, from dampness,
from insects, and from dspredations and injuries, has
been studied most laboriousy and thoroughly in Eng
land, in France, in Germany, and in Italy The man
agemen of libraries has been reduced 10 settled prnci
pes and been dign6ed IN Germany by the Of sci
ence Magazines devoted exclusively 10 the subject,
and OF the most organizing and ingenious minds IN
the world have been working out its difficult problems
and arranging it's apparently mcongruous details II ace
wish 10 be "a rhauieu du asce anywhere the
present age cannot the lessons OF their expe'
renee and their labors Yet who has read for the bene
III of the public archives and the national library oil
America, the Reports and Minutes OF Evidence Of the
Parliamentary Commissions upon the British Museum and
upon Public Lbrariesi They in six large folio vol.
umes Who has read the books and pamphlets recently
published respecting the national library at Pars6 Who
has read for this purpose the Memoirs OF the Iamented
DpIlesser the works OF Baborde, Della Santa, MOI
beck Schettinger Namur, Hesse, Refenbeg, Peignoi,
and many Others and the journals conducted by Dr. Nau
mann and Dr. Pe,zhodtl Without studying these, one
cannot feel confident thai he s moving IN the light oil
modern knowledge upon such matters.
II would be extending this article too far to say all that
feel and wish others TO feel upon the importance OF
improving the present calamity for the better protection OF
our national archives, documents, and books Have we
not bad warnings enough The War Department was
burnt in the year 1900 and valuable archives lost In
1914 the library Of Congress was consumed, and
many OF the records were destroyed by the Van
dal acts OF the British troops Ia 1875 The libra
~ Of Congress was a second time injured by IRE
10 1899 the Treasury Department was consumed
In 1896 the General Post Office and the Patent Once
were burnt In several OF the States the public archives
have been destroyed greatly damaged by fire in New
HAMPSHIRE in 1896 in Massachusetts, in 1747; IN New
York 10 I74o4l and again in 1773 in New Jersey, IN
1856 in North Carolina, in 1891 in South Carona, in
1903, in Virginia, in 1881. The library of Howard Col.
leae was burnt in I7e4 OF the College OF New Jersey
in 1901 of Washington College. Maryland, in 1927
The Charleston library burnt IN IT'S, and only 1856
volumes out OF about 900 saved; the library Of
franklin College. Georgia in 1920; OF Wabash College
in Indiana in 1893 the State library OF Missouri in 1897
besides many other similar calamlt,es
II would seem from this melancholy list that the genius
NJ architecture had shed malgn influence upon the lite.
ra,ure and science Of the country Edfces constructed
for mere external effect without regard to Durability OF
adaptation have often Knocked at the remonsirances OF
IL. of good IN AT