National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-02-04
ooNoRgssIoNAL LIpRARY.
Additional Accom- n,odaiiet . nur the Viii.
Ions OF nesks.


An engineer Of this city after long consideration
of the subject, has proposed 10 the uouse Joint
Select Committee on Additional Accommodation
for the Congressional Library that the present.
damp, unhealthy, useless, and unsightly Terraces
on the west front Of the Capitol be removed and
building for the extension of The Congressional
Library he constructed In their places. In iheir
place could be erected building 75i feet long o.
feet high, aud from 20 TO 100 eet wide belng just
the shape required for library. A couu or pas.
sage should be left between this addition and the
Capitol, TO be connected with the main building
by ornamental arches In the middle aud az the
two wings. similar to the present connection at the
middle entrance.
the PROPOSED GRAND STAIRCASE
on the west front would enter through the centre
and compose part Of the building. Such strue-
ture would admit light and air from the front aud
rear, and even from the roof II would also open
out to light and air the present dark aud damp
Easements of the Capitol, and make the rooms
useful for many purposes. II would connect with
the present library by staircase and also an oio
yator, which would furnish easier access than 30
enter the high Capitol by steps from the west
Such location would have AT least four advantages
over building on square east Of the Capitol. II
would save the 81 10000 10 be paid for the ground
y would connect with the present library. and
thus be more convenient 10 Congress- aud u would
be far more convenient 70 fourhflhs Of the reading
public of the city than II
PLACED EAST or THE CAPITOL.
And last but not least II would odd 40 feet TO the
apparent height OF the west front and thereby
greatly improve Its artistic appearance. II is oh.
yions that the Capitol is too long, low, and marrow
for its height, and the dome j. too large and high
for the low building. The proposed ndditiOn
would correct this on the west. and by removing
the present north and south terraces and substl-
uitng terrace buildings this would also improve
these two frOuts beside adding over coo feet moro
Of building for the library other purposes which
are needed. Room for n grand hall Of art for
stRtuary aud paintings wuulC also be furnished In
the proposed building and the parapet walls ol
the top would furnish excellent places for national
stetunry, Tor which no room Is now found or soon
will be, either In around the Capitol The order
| of architecture OF
THESE TERRACE BUILDINGS
would be the same as the main building. and the
| material marble or grnnite. notable precedent
for such terrace building in front OF great ma.
tional structure may be seen IN cut in the
Somerset House, 500 feet long by 300 wide as high
| as the Capitol, and with q dome, with beautiful
order OF architecture, and In which nearly ON,
| thousand government Offices wide, high ter.
race structure runs along the whole front of thii
| noble building and adds greatly to It's artistic
beauty. 1t also fronts on park the same as would
| the proposed terrace additions to the Capitol and
the Congressional Library but it Is doubtful II Ia
utility Is as great would be the proposed terrace
| additions TO our Capitol. And finally, as the IL
| brary has been once burned and may be again II
any time also the Capitol itself the proposed ter.
race buildings on the north aud south sides and
| especially the west, may have solid arch roofs
inte.laid with water-pipes aud hydrants, not only
| to put out any fire that may occur in the library
but also to furnish a wide, strong level way f0l
engines, hose carriages, and ladders to operate
upon any fire that may occur in the high wes
centre and wings OF the Capitol.