New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-14
NEW-YoRK, MONDAY, MARCH IA, 1881
A NEGLECTED LIBRARY.

CONGRESS CARELESS OF DUTY.
TIE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE BOOKS. MAPS AND
ENGRAyINGs OF THE CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY
INADEQUATE-EXPosED To DESTRUCTION BY
FIRE-NoT SUFFICIENT ROOM FOR THE WORKING
FORCE OR FOR VISITORS.
IBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIpUSE.l
WASHINGTON, March 13.-The XLVIth Congress
ought to be called in history the Do-NOthing Con-
grcss7 From first to last it was body distinguished
for loud and magnificent promises, and equally con-
spicuous for the meagrencss of its performances
One of its most objectionable sins of omission was
the failure to pass any bill to provide additional ac-
cOmmodation for the Congressional Library The con-
dition of that library is disgrace to a Government
which pretends 10 civilization and enlightenment.
Congress cannot plead ignorance In this matter, as
it easily and justly might in regard to q great many
important subjects which are brought before IT,
Every member ofthat body might have known, and
most of them from personal inspection and obserVa-
ton did know, how wretchedy inadequate and
crminally unsafe are the present accommodations
of the greatest collection of books maps, engravings
and photographs in the United States.
TRIBCNE correspondent who inspected this
library yesterday, found the following condition OF
affairs: There are in round numbers 100000 vol
umes of books pamphlets and newspapers IN the
collection. These volumes are mainly bestowed in
shelving and were designed by the architect to be
re-proof. Years ago. however. the iron shelves were
filled to their utmost capacity, and now 100000
volumes ranged on plain pine shelves, which are
iEllammable as tndcr, piled in great heaps
upon the floors. A rough calculation showed that
about $4,000 feet of dry pine lumber enter into the
construction of the temporary shelves ana cases.
which fitted into every nook and corner OF the
library. so that fire kndled at any point would
sweep almost simultaneously through every part of
the structure. But this is not all tho fuel found
there TO feed a cOnfagration. In an attic adjoining
the roof Of the old part of the Capitol which is not
re-prOOf are stored 1000 bound volumes OF hles OK
American and foreign newspapers. These volumes
form au almost priceless collection, furnishing as
they do an unbroken diary of events from Colonial
days down to the present time. II these volumes
hould be destroy ed they could never be replaced
About Lalf of them are arranged upon wooden
shelves The remainder are piled upon the hoor III
masses from twenty TO fifty tiers high.
The avc:age time consumed by library attend
ant IN finding aud getting out any particular volume
wnicn person in search of information may desire
to cons u cannot possibly bo less than half IN houI
IN tn same attic is stored tue collection OF public
document, issued by the General Government since
the drst Congress Although this collection Is not
complete, is the most perfect one to be found IN
the Unrd states, and except that possessed by the
b. itish Museum is the best IN the world. Room Is
found for some Of these valuable documents upon
p,ur shelves; the remainder are hrapcd upon the
floor IN great piles like cord wood. These doru-
,ncits arc III great demand whcu Congress is IN scs-
SON. II - wonderful that attendant is ever able
TO fud particular volume that may be called for III
thc apparrntlv confused mass which strikes the eye
or the visitor
This attic is in no scnse frcproof and it Is filled
with every comhu-tlble matter. 1t is thirty feet
above the main iloor and IS reached by three steep
lichts " winding stairs. Should fire once get
star;cl IN this room every thing contained therein
would inevitably be consumed and nothing short OF
a miracle would prevent irretricvablc damage to
the remainder Of the library. Many thousands OF
the volumes which hnye been caIa.ogucd, aud for
,yhch Iuqnrics frequently made, are for lack Of
room, rilcd up in the ca leriC4 or thc main floors
and thus are practically inaccessible. But many OF
tie valuable the library still worse
off, r. the basement and snh-bascmcnt of the Cap
lt,l arc fonr dark aud damp which neither
lighted nor heated. in which books and documents
me stored for lack of better accommodations
These rnurus were condemned ~ unfit for committee
purposes and are really lit for nothing except rs
place, in winch to ,torc coal. NO person can safely
stay in either Of these rooms any length Of time dur
i,gs,x or seven months Of the year. In of these
r,, are Stored the copyright files Of the Govern
mont These important records which are the
ryldcnc, II title and as such are of personal value
to every American author, arc therefore, practically
inaccessible and are exposed TO danger of dcsrnc-
ton, Another Of these dungeons contains the COLI
lection oi public documents issued hy foreign gov
crl,mcnts a collection which certainly ought TO be-
but which is not, kept where il can be consulted.
An arcn under the crypt has been incloscd, and in
L., I,io 10 bIlIpu tho pytrpmplV a. VllulIlp
collection Of maps and charts accumulated under
the opcration OF the copyright laws and in other
WAYS OF course 1t is practically inaccessible and
useless The library possesses very valuable col'c-
tions besides Its be. k. These consist of maps
charts cngravings, chrome and other Autographs
photographs etc. The yaluc of these extensive and
valuable collections Is virtually destroyed, because
there is no space 10 or display any Of the
articles and no opportunity is afforded to consult or
study them. If these collections were properly
catalogucd and arranged where people conId study
them they would form one of the most int estlug
and instructive art galleries in the United states,
for they would furnish a complete pictorial museum.
illustrating the achievements and progress ot Amer
lean art in certain departments during the last bali
century These collections have cost the Govern
mont notbing in labor or money, but hayo been
deposited in pursuance of law by authors and pub
fishers.
The working forco of the library is as poorly ac-
commodatcd as are the books. Into space about
twelve feet by thirty feet are crowded eight persons
employed in cataoguIng and in collating and pre-
barring books To be bound. Tho same space Is also
made TO contain tho reference books used III cata-
oguing the cases containing tho card catalogue OF
the entire library and other necessary library para
nhernaa In the opposite wing OF the library three
mr. four moro persons arc busy. They, OF course
have frequent occasion to consult inc cara catalogue
and their chief from whom they obtain their allot-
,nopts of book.. Every time they make journey