New-York tribune., 1878-03-05
NEW LIBRARY BUILDING.
ONE OF The GREAT WANTS - wASu%GFON-PEo-
PROeED SITES AND PLANS.
icy TELkGRAPH TO INF TsIDUSE.l


ley TELkGRAPH TO IHR ThIDUSE.l
WASHINGTON March 4.-The resolution agreed to
BY the Senate recently providing for the appoint
ment of commission to report plan for the accom-
notation Of the Congressional Library. was among
, the bills taken from the Speakers table III tho
House, to-day, and referred to committee. The
necessity of making immediate provision for the
library is universally recognized by Members OF
Congress. Many thousands of books and new spapcr
flies are piled upon the floors and are not now avail
able for reference and their presence prevents con-
venient access to some Of those booHs for which
there is shelf roon The accommodations are anlu-
ally increasing and, unless more room is provided.
the work Of the library will become more and more
impeded
Three plans have been proposed, and the commits
sion referred to will probably recommend one Of
them The first is to rebuild the central portion Of
the Capitcl extending it to the east and west by
wings similar to those now occupied by The Senate
and House Of Representatives. THIS would make
the building in the form OF a cross and would add
about one hundred per cent to the present available
room. ii this should be done, it has been suggested
that the Senate OF House Of Representatives be re-
moved to one Of the new wings and that place be
thus made for the library; the library itself might
be placed in one Of the new wings, which woaId
contain space enough for the books that would ac-
cumuate during the next quarter OF a century.
The second plan is TO erect EbrarT building on
Judlciary-square which is now partially occupied
by the old City Hall used by the United States
Courts The arguments in favor OF this location
are that the land is owned by the Government so
that the site of the building would cost moth
ing and that it ia nearer the Departments than Cap
itol Hill. and therefore more convenient for many
who use the library.
The third plan is ior the Government TO purchase
the four squares Of ground lying directly east Of
the Capitol Park and bounded by B-st, North B-st.
south First-st and SccOnd-st. cast. Ibis land Is
high and Lowell, and, when annexed to the present
park, would not only make beautiful! site Tor b"th
a library building and also one for the supreme
Court and Department Of Justice. hut would afd
much to the beauty Of the surroundings Of the Cap
itOl itself
If the Government contenpates erecting new
building for the accommodation of those bureaus oil
the Interior Department. for which there is now 10
room i'll the old Patent ODice. Judicarysquare would
be much suitable tOT that purpose than any other
available site III tins city. Jhc land cast OF The
Capitol If purchased for a library building ETC.,
would be Comparatively Inexpensive. BESIDES i'll
GLIDING several small plats that already belong TO
the Government, the four squares are ncrsccted 10y
no less than seven streets and two broad avenues.
covering large that would not have 20 be pur-
chased, and the Improvements are not of acOoiN
character This subject ought 10 he disposed OF at
this session of Congress