New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-24
GOVERNNENI NEWS.
TIE CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY.

THE CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY.
THE COMMISSION OK NEW BUILDING NEARLY
READY TO REPORT-RAPID GROWTH OF THE
LBRARY-PROvIsIoN FOR THE FUTURE.
lBY TELEGRAPH To TIE TEIBUSEl
WAsHNGIoN, Aug 22.-The preliminary exam
nations of the Commission appointed by Congress
to report upon the subject Of library building
| are nearly completed The questions of site and Of
the character of building have not been fully
settled, but the Commission has reached a conclu-
sion that an independent building should be erected
rather than an attempt be made to provide room by
an extension of the Capitol Measurements have
been made OF the spaces within the present Capitol.
which show that, at the present rate o. increase OF
the library, in sixteen yearsit would require in adj
diton to Its present space all that occupied by
the Senate Chamber. the Hall of the House and the
old Hall of Representatives, and that in thirty-two
wears the library would fill the entire space the
main floor Of the Capitol The members OF the
Commission have therefore, decided that it will be
useless to attempt to provide room for the library
by an extension of the Capitol building. The an
nual increase of the library is such that it is
impossible 10 arrange the additions Many thou
sands of volumes have been piled in rooms where
they simply receive storage. and all room for this
purpose is nearly exhausted.
The annual increase from the Copyright law has
for tho pa year The exchanges Of the SIN thso-
man Institution amount to 5000 volumes
year. Much more room is needed for
tho law department Of tie library In
short. the present quarters are cramped. and tho
alcoveS. passagc-ways. Galeres and stOreroQns
fast becoming blocked rs 10 seriously interfere
with the daily of the library
As to site for the new building the choice seems
TO lie between tho squares east Of tho Capitol Park
and Judiciary Square. Tho computations as to the
size Of q building 20 accommodate the library, even
fifty years hence. are such as to show that II must
be larger than the Capitol; and the argument
against erecting such builling near tho Capitol is
that each wonld detract from the imposing appear
ance of the other The great cost of sufficient land
for such building the Capitol is also strong
argument with the Commissioners against placing
il there. Those of the Commissioners who favor
JUDICIARY Square DO so on tire ground that IL con-
tains sufficient room and that IT already belongs to
the Government. 10 il two blocks IN width aud ~
three blocks long, and only contains the small build
ING for the District Courts. which occupies about "A
quarter If one of the short sides.
Architect Clarke of the Capitol II now engaged on
plan for the Commission OF "A library building for
TINS square. j. provides for a large circular build
ing IN the centre Of the ground, with an immense
ieadir groom in tho middle. lighted from above and
surrounded with concenirc divisions Of al
cOvcs and shelves. hr plan is TO make
tins central building Of sufficient size 10 meet all
wants for room for Inagy wears to come, and then,
when its limits are reached by the growth of the
library. 10 erect new rectangular buildings along
the sides OF the square they may be needed,
nccted by wide galleries with the central reading
room.
Ii IS the purpose 10 abandon the present library
To the two Houses, for a selection made specially
for parliamentary uqc ana best les thIs 10 give each
House of Congress portion OF the present quarters
for rs Documentary library. Each of these has
already far Outgrown Its present capacity.