Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-03-17

The Free Public. Library Build

1he Free Public. Library Building.
-NesSrs. EditorS-It seems to me that the
report in your last Tuesdays paper of com
munication said to have been received from
the directors Of the Free Public Library, by
the city government, is calculated to give a
very erroneous and unjust impression to the
public with regard to the safety and strength
of the building, and to do great injustice to
those who were instrumental in planning or
completing the edice. Doubtless the COM
mumcation was made with the best of motives,
and yet | cannot but regret that the directors
did not inform themselves thoroughly on the
subject before thus giving laid and comfort
to the enemies and opponents of the library,
to say nothing Of disappointed architects and
planners who have never ceased from spying
defects, where Of course no one expected per-
lection. OF the general plan of the building
and its imperfectons, it is useless to speak
now; it is sufficient to say that the idea OF
lighting from the roof was the one most in
sisted on by an honorable member of the first
board of directors - his own library being
shown as exemplfying the beauty and utility
OF the arrangement; it was also thought to be
the most desirable means of securing album
dant light by the venerable founder OF the
Green library There was the grand mistake,
for it is a fact to be much regretted that the
sky-light leaks, as do all sky-lights and
fiat roofs that | have ever yet seen,
and this is ali there is to build alarm
upon. As to the weakness of the roof or
skyight, or any danger of its falling in the
idea is simply ridiculous, if even ordinary
care is taken to remove snow and ice, which
in this climate will sometimes overload not
only the public library building but the build
ings of our most careful and prudent citizens
The ''slender and brittle structure" spoken of
in the communication rests upon brick outside
walls sixteen inches thick, vaulted and
strengthened by three and half inch niers;
the inside walls are Twelve inches solid The
headers and trimmers around the skylight are
of best hard pine, nine by twelve inches,
strengthened by l Is inch round iron rods.
forming deep ''belly trusses" strong enough
to hold more than twice the weight of glass
&C., now resting upon them, in addition to
the rafters which form the arched roof of the
room, two inches by eight and fourteen inches
apart, are fastened securely to the wall, and,
coming up under the frame surrounding the
skylight, render it impossible for it to settle
or give way; md ii neger has settled since
me OUtt0lHg 1cGS JLHtShed, the cracks III the
plastering being caused by the shrinking Of
the timber from the heat, which is very great
at that point in the summer. The pitch of
the glass roof is a third" and retains snow
just as any roof does. With regard to the
entrance, | cannot see Its great inconvenience
certainly it is as acceptable as most build
ings-and | hope no city government will
throw away, money merely to carry out some
body's ever craving appetite for alteration
AS to the fence beng in the street-if that is
SO, all the fences above and bSlow are also.
The fence proper is several inches back Of the
bank wall and fence which stood there recog-
nlzed by the city authorities as the line OF
Elm street for years before the library was
thought ola slight angle in the street at that
point made by giving deacon Harris straight
line instead Of crooked one as it used to be-
may possibly give it the appearance of a tri-
Ting projection in one Of the posts.
1 would not have REQUIRED to this matter
but for the utterly wrong impression which
would necessarily go abroad from the article
referred to. The Free Public Library build
lag is strong and well built, and has never set
tied particle The skylight leaks and that
can be remedle1. 1t is not damp or un
healthy, for never was there building more
thoroughly provided with ventilation in all its
parts. There are and have been those in this
community who honestly doubt the utility of
the institution, there are others, who, ever
ready to fad fault, can see nothing good ex-
cept of their own invention. The former will
be filled with new regret at what they thought
waste of money, the latter will be filled with
inexpressible delight by this "communica-
ton of the directors. JUSTICE.