The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-06-30
BROOKLYN MERCANTyLE LIBRARY.

The New Building - be Erected fer the Use
Of the Mercantile Library Association.
Tho smnence in social Intellectual and religious posi-
tion and wealth which Brooklyn has attained, - the
third city in the Union. 10 such 70 forcibly draw
forth the not hatterng reflection thai In respect
least she far surpassed by very many Of her sister
cities Of much less prsensions In public libraries she
is decidedly deficient forgeul the fact that great
extent they bear nearly the relation 70 education
that education bears 70 civilization ITSELF
Tho rapidly Increasing nsmbenhip and cramped
space allotted for ssassn In me Athsneum Of
Atlantic and Clinton ssresss made the necessity for
the erection Of permanent and suitable building for the
Mercantile Library Association apparent 70 those
int crested In the institution some years since. but
Il YVES mot until 1884 that movement was
made BY tho association towards accomplishing the work
which now gives promise Of . speedy contamination
Subscriptions then solicited and more than Sl2o 600
received towards the object in view OF this amount
$2 1853 paid In 1855 for the purchase q four Of
land Montague street. opposite the Academy Of Music
in accordance With the SELECTION previously made BY the
Board Of Directors From among the architects Of repu
plans for Composition, Mr. p B. wight VS. chosen %
sas inc :. Boar. y night
tudicious In the progress q the work In February
sSs estimates osssd on me ssn s.ist,ng cost Of mate
when II was found thai 70 erect the building On
he scale originally decided upon would require
readily raised by subscriptions During the follow
ing year the entire sum subscnbed-an Instance
ms%oun.d 70 viii vii however i I !. Sn
desood DO necessary 70 raise $40 600 more that q
agesd with the subscribers, when the library Is oon-
addition 70 the lots which they propose erect
thu library the association two valuable lots on
ma handsome building, which erected some time
sines tho lot the west SIDE has been rented for
SoSe on The sassry lot From the two buildings they
willderve . reata OF about $40 900 year. which sum-
whA the mortgage y paid, VII b applicable for the
cuIary benefit which the institution derives from the
renal Of these buildings, they arranged a. 70
is proposed too in The course Of tme 70 get together
fund Of hfty thousand dollars, which will be applied
csvsy 70 the purchase Of books Indeed, the nucleus
| Of book fund was formed about two years since,
through the generosity Of young lady who voluntarily
contributed sum Of money for that purpose BY such
hrgey increased The ninth annual report or the Mer.
camille Library Association shows the number Of vol
rms in their possession % Ss .wsn.y three thousand
tons Of the earlier plans and designs conceived BY the
gentlemen composing the building committee, IS one
which Tor general adAp ability and perfection Of It's
rangements in each and every detail for the purpose
designed, Is considered by persons Of experience viii
BE- unsurpassed by any similar institution the country
In arriving these conclusions the that
great deal OF time and careful elaboration has been
/ expended the subject Tho building will have .
Il
DO deep, and about sixty feet In height The
matua used viii be Philadelphia face brick and Ohio
sand stone and brown stone trimmings The first floor
will 10 occupied by . large and spacious reading room
for Gentlemen, and q smaller, though neat and elegant
apartment will DO Furnished as ladles reading
The second noorwill be devoted exclusively TO the
library delivery, and for the drecton room; such
portions are not occupied BY the shelving which
latter through TO the roof from this story which
| 70 b. lighted by skylight-w be used class
The capacity Of tho shelving OF the library will
DO ab,ut hundred thousand volumes, thus leaving
amph space for the proposed addition their present
store Of useful and valuable works The arrangement
Of light and ventilation is sxcsllent The .
reading will be lighted, In addition 70 the aide
lgha BY well hole entering up into the library. The
SALIENT and attractive feature externally viii be the
porch main entrance, which intended 70 be OF the
i nnesi ornamental workmanship.
On Thursday morning last Mr.. James n. Frothing-
han, Chairman OF the Building Committee, proceeded
company with other gentlemen Interested the work.
shs Of the proposed building. and taking IN IN
hand spade he broke ground, making few remarks
persinsns the OCCASION The for the mason
WORK bees given Mr. John French, who built the
Academy Of Music, and the carpenter work win be
cutsd BY Van Ripsr The material ID already II hand
and tho WORK win b commenced ON tomorrow tMon.
dayl morning. and The CONTRACTS sslpuats for 10 CON-
/ pletiou n ouny