Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-02-22
The National Library.

ne decisive action OF Tue JOINT COUiUlIteo On
the subject OF additional accommodations for
the congressional library gave rise to the hope
al Congress would make provision at this
session for at least. a commencement OF the
construction of a new building by the coming
spring: but the action OF the Senate last night
discOuTages such hope and promises a contin-
uation OF the policy OF delay. There IS, per-
haps, not single member OF either house of
Congress who does not appreciate the mp1r-
tance OF early action I'm This matter Valuable
works IN the library are falling into decay h.
cause Of want OF room TO properly sheIve and
keep them. The board OF experts selected by
Congress unanimously decided against The
pan, formerly suggested of enlarglng tie Car
itol so as to provide accommodation within ifs
walls for tie library. THIS board. composed
OF architects OF national reputation, pro-
nounced that plan utterly impractl-
cable, and declared that the present
contents OF the library not 10 speak OF It's rapid
growth and It's size few years hence. demand
separate building. In this view the six mem
bers OF the Joint committee cOncurred. but
there was difference OF opinion as to the best
site for the proposed new building. Only two
sites were prOpOsed-0ne In Judiciary square,
the other east Of the Capitol Five out or the
six members OF the committee recommended
Judiciary square for numerous reasons chief
among which were that the site would not cost
the government anything and that the erec-
ton OF the new building could be commenced
at once. Considering the condition OF the lib
rary the latter is point OF great moment The
site east OF the Capitol consists OF the entire
square between 1sJ and I'd streets east aud B
street northeast and B street southeast. That
ground is occupied by numerous buildings.
some OF which are handsome ana expensive re-
sidences, and few OF which were but recently
erected. 1t was stated In the debate 10 the
Senate that the cost of obtaining this square
and tearing down the buildings so as
to prepare IL for the new library
would be about $1,000 900. While this
was undoubtedly the honest opinion OF the
Senator making the estimate, he and those
who unite with him In directing the purchase
OF that property will In the end ascertain that
his figures are too low. There is, perhaps, not
a real estate dealer or any person familiar with
the value OF property In Washington, who
would take the contract, with the right OF
condemnation included, to get that square and
remove the buildings for s., 600. 000 In coun-
ting the cost OF this site the fact that some of
the property owners are so aVerse to being
disturbed, that they are determined to resist
10 the bitter end In the courts must not be
overlooked Not only will this resistance add
TO the cost OF the site bur, what is OF even more
Importance, il viii delay the erection OF the
much-needed library building. The plan for
the purchase Of the square east OF the Capitol
involves tie erection Of an expensive building for
the supreme Court In addition 70 the library
building. The cost OF the latter IS estimated at
from 3 ot0 COO TO 81 coo 600 and il is to OCCUPY one
side or the square The opposite side must De
occupied, too. and every consideration OF taste
and s. mmetry, would demand that the building
De very similar 10 that OF the library, aud
hence another $50 0U51 expenditure would be
called f. very soon. These are facts for Con
gresS to consider In taking action UPON the
noraTy building; and In addition to these the
central location Of Judiciary square, It's aecas-
siDtlity TO visitors well IS residents of WASH
iDgtOn. including all the department officials
and eDplol -. Ia the erection OF fine build
Ing ard The enlargement and extension OF Il
INSTITUTION, It has been underst BOD and asserted
py members OF Congress that the conversion Of
the congressional library into a national
library worthy this great and growing govern
ment, was contemplated. Half u its value in
this direction would be Destroyed oy locating
the library on the site propo5e1 east or tie
Capitol