New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-28
NEW CONGRESS LIBRARY BUILDING.


TIE SITE SErECTED ENTIRELY UNSUiIAGLE-fE
BUILDING TO DWARFED by Tue CAPII0i-A
SUGGESTION THAT II BIZ ERECTED IN THE
SMITHSONIAN GROUNDS.
TO the Edttor Of The Trtouns.
SIR: 1t is well known that the great library at
Washington, miscaled the Library OF Congress. hos
outgrown its apartments, amt needs new odgnent'
During the last session tho Committee on the Library
was authorized 90 invite architects 10 oher plans ana
estimates FOR building None has yet been opchF
adopted and It Is therefore sea5Onlbo Ia consider
what such plan ought 10 include vast sun OF
money seyera millions at least, will be spent IN what
ever begun, and common sense requires us 10 ioot
befors we leap. The Library already contains more
than 100000 y9uaosat the end Of this century IL may
he twice a. large and by the middle OF the nokt may
have doubled again. IL IL desirable therefore, mat
more varied wisdom that Of committee though
aided by architects should deliberate on what 10 to De
done lest design should DO adopted which too late,
we may wish 10 recall. The printed invitation mes
toned above eontompiates building IN the immediate
vicinity OF the CAPITOL In the park on the eastern sac
That park Lid ort when the Capitol was but hali -
large present Shall We proceed to diminish the
sptco around II building now twice AZ large as when
the park was designed, Shall wo cranp tho Capitol
bv crowding eiices around It The main entrance to
te ea,t front looks across this park and along Eat
C.pito,t Whatever erected 10 the park mus, be one
side or the other Of this entrance. IL tue LIBRARY
bnildng il on one side. what shall De on the other
II has been auswercd,"A bulldog for the supreme
Court" But how long will q courthouse balance the
Library building In ITS size The Library eiiice must
eventually be- a, large the Cdpto. tsc Il it wise to
nl,ce snch an edfco near tho ClpitOlf To avoid
disadyantageous comparison between the Two, archi-
tects are told that tho building foe which they plan
must nowhere exceed Gj 10 fec III hight. That IA,
this growing edince must forever lie covering the
ground afraid rise TO its proper stature lest 1t DIS
honor ey contrast the Capitol which IA il. Why
should not the Library building be set free from tIs
degrading necessity aud nlsome other portion OF the
city expand and elevate itself occasion may require.
and in accordance with the dignity Of the object Cor
which II n TO be erected II would seem a. II special
bio and sdncient. The Smithsonian Institution does not
need the ample domain In which 1t stands, and r the
Library edihce wrle erected there suoteuanesn air
tubes might still connect 10 with the Capitol, through
which messages might be instan'lne0usly ransmitted
and volumes be returned. Tho wide extent or che
smithsonian square belonging TO the nation ample
flowers and Of noble trees. may front the
windows with charms great - readers mud within.
separating from the great mas, Of books IN tins Library
those on law, administration, and political economy
from the rest Library " the United ataes For the
sake alone OF hook auclary 10 LEGISLATION IA It neces
sary 10 nave apartments IN the Capitol For them there
is oush I'm that building; for tina whole there IL
Let the rest then 20 where they oan better be
cared for, ana where they eau be indefinitely increased
In the 100000 volumes forming The general mas SO o.
the people OF the United states have already the nucleus
Of an American Museum. Is u not betting the grow
ing intelligence Of our people that here also as across
the sea, national library should exist, universal In its
character, aud Opuont IN every Kind OF learning II
below the dguIty Of America. and disadvantage not
to be endured that any species or egree OF nstrnrt0n
should be inaccessible to our citizens except by crossing
the sea- and asking admission there 10 privileges for
which they have not paid. Let It's have here, in time
copy OF very good book let as have manuscripts anu
marbles ior historical instruction, and why shOnld
20 hereafter TO add cabinets and conserYato-
.IIsriaa unhl Iona nf a "a n do tglf
Is asked for whose benefit this lavish expenditure
shall be uudertaseni answer for the whole people.
in the State Capitos and public parks
provided for the whole people, that Is for every
Que whose means or whose leisure permit MN 10 ENJOY
them. Already It Is common. aud the usage VIII become
prevailing for those who allow themselves holt
fss 20 t'i sc af Men Of fortune are 6esnnnx 70
avoid the rgor OF Northern Winters BY taking shelter in
Washington during that season. It's more GENIAL tenn
peraturo iusties the expectation that such mon Will
buy aud build there for the sake OF health aud comfort
one half the year Beside this the existence IN Wash
iugon Of the largest library In The country II shall
be free TO ALL will make that city the work
shop Of literary and sceatlhc men. engaged In that
growing industry the making OF books, to % sold IN all
public instruction and amusement will In time become
very numerous. IL Is for the general good that ample
provision be made for their necessities
Bv whom, now, shall this great and comprehensive
institution be goyernedi Its connection with Congress
thus FAR Ia, Lseh the bane OF the Library AS ap
peUdage Of thai body il had to be governed by commit
Tee OF the two Houses ltc0udnOt De- expected that ouch
a committee should XIV, much attention 10 Ihe Library.
even when consisting Of able and cultivated men. En-
crossed by other business and preoeeuped by thou
cesses. No systematic legislation upon It's concerns
has taken place; luton given Ia II.
prescribing IT'S aims, It's deDarG 'ns, rs revenues It's
officers In respect TO these last, assigning their du
their qualifications, their tenure OF ONCE, their
sa aIes Every thing III the Departments, has been
left to the chief officer for tho time being librarian
has never sought for such grounds In Europe
would be thought indispensable. Care has never been
taken 70 train up and retain within the institution
succession OF men competent 10 tho highest literary
labor. There IA not now there single man fired by
generous love OF learning Regarding the Library rs his
home, and TO make 10 nouored and useful Thero
has been nothing To work for but daily bread
Therefore, the Library been anything in lite
nature meager economy has Kept down To ntexn the
number OF persons employ ed; only $4,000 have been
allowed for the purchase OF books. Meanwhile the
Boston Public Library employs So persons and the BRIT
Ism Museum has often spent 100000 year The colec-
ton Of books ~ symmetrical and fortutCns for
OF educated anxiety To make the departments complete
and propOronate Instead OF each province having is
own curator highly accomplished within his own Inn
It's aud therefore competent 70 what scetssons II
should receive, one alone has selected books for
every department and selected only from catalogues
OF libraries offered for sale.
Let this dreary condition come % end. Lot Con-
and the President appoint regency consisting OF
men OF the first consideration In every department. OF
knowledge Let them appoint sill tho officers, tx oil
Their duties ana require reports On their execution.
Let them divide among themselves the oversight Of the
several provinces letters, Asturs sceuee art
and sek for appropriations according ~ denceociss
For their reward lot them be called Regents OF
the American Mussum-the most honorable title among
US. In this way shall at length secure collections
better than else where be assembled something
lie compared with what Older nations possossi scne
thing worthy OF America Of common schools, and Of
:, free insttU tons. C.
Warrington, D. O., Jan. 70, 1874