Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-11
The New National Library and the
Importance Of its Proper Location.


To the Editor OF the EVENING STAR.
Now that there seems to be a revival as to the
question OF a new library building, allow me to
make few quiet suggestions connected with
IL, which, II they do not prove acceptable to
those engineering the NATTER viii serve at least to
show that people outside Of particular circle
feel an abiding interest what Is doing in that
direction. And, In the first place, it will not l
presume, be pretended by any one that the propo-
sition. as 1t now stands, has reference to a Con-
gress1onal Library proper because for purposes of
that kind the present library is more than annie
while its location is the only one that could possi
bfy enable II TO fulfil its legitimate requirements
In that respect.
sentd TO Us Is that of National Library for the
Tree Use OF all the people, which, for magnicence
as 70 an us details. external and Internal shalt
vie with the celebrated libraries OF Europe. / do
not know that / have anything TO say against
such an establishment, II the American people
desire It; but what do want to say, Is that III the
plan In question is To be carried out the building
for its purposes should not be In an Isolated
position on Capitol Hill, convenient only to a sin
sc line or street railways, but it should be nearer
the center of the city and its population present
and prospective: And In this respect no locality
cofnmends Itself so much to consideration as the
one where stands the Smithsonian Institution. In
The nrst place the site at that point belongs TO the
OF the public treasury In Its purchase. 1t affords
ample room for building OF the most enlarged
dimensions, and allowing space for almost in
definite extension IL the future. Secondly: It is
accessible by street cars from the suburbs OF the
city In twelve different directions or points and is
besides near the center OF radius around which
runs a street railroad. the Capitol, North O and
South Washington, touching an indefinite number
OF points In ITS circular course and including with
present population OF the city. Thirdly II is con-
venient BY short and pleasant walks TO the most
public and central parts OF PENNSYLVANIA avenue
and will therefore be sought for and frequented by
the popular masses who throng that great thor
5nghiare Fourthly; It viii bring the library
scum, OF which it naturally forms a
counterpart: national museum and
Lastly, and more important than an Is the homo
gca.oiSntSS between the Uses and PURPOSES OF a
great public library and the original intentions of
James Smithson as expressed in his Will, whereby
he bequeathed all his property TO the establish
mcnt at Washington of an Institution "for the in
crease and dinusio OF knowledge among men,
Doubtless to his mind library presented itself as
the main instrumentality for such increase and
diffusion" and as an evidence of this we find
among his requests IN connection with the nluuifi-
cent sum he left for the purpose. small, select
library, the nucleus, as IL were, for larger and
more comprehensive one. Such also was the view
which Congress took OF the matter in accepting
the gift: for in the art OF August TO- 1916 organlz-
Ing the Smithsonian Institution, by sections and
6deScribiny the building 10 be erected It is pro-
v1ded that IL shall include hall suitable for the
feception ana Arrangement OF e li5rary," and
tlat The books OF SmithSon shall be deposited
there BY sectien OF the same act
the 'regents are required to make an annual aver
age appropriation OF twenty-five thousand dollars
for the formation OF library OF works pertaining
To all departments OF knowledge" This provision
mas never as yet been repealed, but Is operative to-
day, although the learned SavanS who controlled
the institution April 1856 then succeeded in secur-
Ing the passage OF an act through Congress trans
terrag the library OF the Institution TO the library
or congress, literally consiSning il to the tomb OF
Ue Sapulets," where its identity seems to be now
iCsI The day OF resurrection, II is to lie hoped
however, is az hand. when the institution viii he
remans:ed To the original purposes OF its founder
as guarant1e, by the Congress ot aS46 and preced-
ing ones; and when the magnificent site or rather
one OF the series OF SITES contiguous to IL will he
utilized for national library building It's adj
vantageS In all respects for the purpose indicated
are superior to any other designated and incOm
parabIy so TO the isolated and expensive one east
OF the Ca pitol. SMIrusoN
Washington, March 10. iSS2.