Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-25
and vast extent, has become the national
library of the United States, will have half

MILLION OF BOOKS
in less than ten years, and in no long time
will exceed million. Built up as it is by
appropriations drawn from taxation of the
people, and from accessions under the law of
copyright to the amount Of thousands of
volumes annually, as well as from State and
International exchanges, and from deposits
made by the Smithsonian, tLis great library
cannot possibly be accommodated in per-
manence in any building designed specially
for the wants of the Legislative body. The
plans for extending the capitol sufficiently
| to accommodate the library would cost, in
the judgment of the former and the present
architect, much more than separate build
ing, for the reason that, if extended, the
same costly style of architecture. with
elaborate Corinthian columns, and carved
capitals, would have to surround the library
on three sides. Such an addition as would.
accommodate the library, it is estimated, cost
over $4, 100000.
SEPARATE BUILDING.
The plans of separate building submitted
soma years since vary in cost from 100000
to $2,5O0,OO0, but with the reduced prices
now prevailing, it is estimated that build
ing of fully adequate size could be cor
structed with the exterior of marble,
and the interior of solid iron,
for sum not much exceeding
81 100000. The main question now to be
settled is the most expedient site for such a
building. II located on Capitol Hill, which
has the recommendation of immediate vicin-
ity of the capitol, as well as an elevated.
slightly, and salubrious location, grounds
would have to be purchased for the edifice
at cost varying from 100000 to 100000,
according to the location and extent of lots
that might be required.
THE ONLY GOVERNMENT RESERVATION
which seems very appropriate for the pur-
pose of great public library is judiciary
square, in the heart of the city of Washing
ton, where the former city hall, the present
district court house, is located. The site is
three-quarters of mile from the capitol,
and is on one Of the lines of street cars, con-
Meeting the halls of Congress with the West
end. It measures three squares one way by
two squares the other, afording ample space
for proper purchase and growth. The fact
that it is so near the centre of population,
and that the ground would cost the govern
ment nothing, together with the considera-
ton that this great repository of knowledge
ought to be made as widely useful to the
public as possible, may weigh considerably
in favor of this location. The library OF
Congress, though open freely by custom to
allwho wish to consult its stores, is
CLOSED DURING TIE EVENING,
nor has it ever had space or accommodation
sufficient to seat any number of readers,
who might flock to it were 1t open during the
hours when the departments are closed.
There are some five thousand government
officers and clerks in Washington, besides a
large resident population and the visitors
continually resorting to the city, to whom
the ability to use, during the evening hours,
50 rich collection of literature would be in
valuable.
Whatever may be determined by Congress
as to the location of such library building,
the present central library will in any case
be retained for the use Of Congress, and a
selection of fifty or sixty thousand books,
embracing every important writer and book
of reference, will be retained permanently in
the capitol.