Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1863-12-01

Eg Berry R. Sulgrove, editor of the
Indianapolis Journal, in a letter from
Washington pays the following nice and
deserved compliment to two Indianians,
now filing responsible positions in Wash
ington City
The NATIONAL LIBRARY-The Con-
gressional Library is now an interesting
institution to Hoosier, as the Librarian,
Colonel J. g. Stephenson, is Hoosier,
formerly of Terre Haute, and the princi-
pal assistant is Mr. Spaford, formerly of
the Cincinnati Commercial, who was
made by nature for librarian. Mr..
Stephenson has completely broken up the
old fogy" crust which had hardened
and thickened over the Libray during the
twenty or thirty years Of the administra-
ton of his predecessor. 1t is the NOV
ing thing now, with spirit and aim which
in a very few years will make it the best
library in the nation. He has selected
his assistance with merciless disregard
of all considerations but fitness, and has
thus obtained the means to add to the IL
brary greatly while administering it sat
isfactorily. Mr. Spaford, who knows the
size, dress, appearance and contents of
more books than any twenty of the usual
class of erudite men, is always watching
for available purchases, in Europe and at
home, and has already secured several,
of which there is but one or two dupli-
Gates at all on this side of the Atlantic
The Library contains now S2,875 vol
umes, exclusive of duplicates, public
documents, and everything bus those
works which are usually meant in speak
ing of a library, and the Law Library
contains over $4,000 volumes, arranged
as conveniently as the confined quarters
assigned them in the building will admit
in a number of small rooms and passa-
ges adjacent to the main hall, and in the
main hall of the library, but no arrange
ment can show them to advantage with
out light and more convenient space In
the main hall, which was once thought
ample for all the books Congress would
ever use or need, the stalls or recesses,
about ten or twelve feet square, decora-
ted with bronze columns, and ranged
above each other in three stories or gal
leries, present very handsome appear
ance, and there is always an abundance
of light in them, but there is sugges-
ton of want of room, of confinement,
about the books piled up on the heads of
columns and around on the floors and
ratings, which detracts from proper eff
feet Mr.. Stephenson is working lis way
as rapidly IS possible to a complete and
convenient arrangement of all the un-
packed books, and general re-arrange-
ment and enlargement of the Library,
and when he succeeds, SIS he surely will,
there will be few better in any country
must not close this letter without
congratulating our city on the promotion
of one of her boys, Charles NJ. Walker,
to the position of Fifth Auditor of the
Treasury 1t is very important post,
and his speedy accession to it is com
pliment to his ability and character which
he may well feel proud OF. In this de-
partment are audited all the accounts
growing ont of the foreign relations of
the Government, the salaries of our min
listers, consuls and the like, and in a short
time it is to be charged with the ac-
counts of the collectors and assessors of
Internal revenue, which will greatly in
crease its business. The responsibility
of such g position is no light matter, but
Mr. Walker has the brains to appreciate
and the strength to support it.