Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-03-07
Heaps of Valuable Books aud Works Of
Art Ia the Congregational Library.

Heaps of Valuable Books aud Works of
Art Ia the Congregational Library.
Chicago Nr,rs
/ was astonished 70 see the confusion in
the Congressional library. About 1854 the
present apartment VAS fitted up in the
west end of the Capitol tuiliing. 1t is en-
tirely FIRE proof, bet DOT dus. or moth proof
All the galleries, stRirRsys. book cases and
floors are of iron, and the whole was orisi
nally intended 10 accommodate about 200. :
900 volumes, bat into this space is crowded
but few less than SOC, 0G0 books Not
only is every shelf crowded 10 the bursting
point, but thousands Of volumes are laid
sideways on the tops Of the rove At the
end of every shelf is huge pile Of ir
regular.sr7ed volumes reaching f'om the
floor to the top Of the shelving. In many
instances two extra cases have been placed
in the aisle, rendering passage through it
well nigh impossible AID to'ally obscuripg
thousands OF books il the permanent
shelves. Wherever there is room the as
sistaDts start huge piies Of books, which
they are unable 70 fed room for in the
shelves cav several Of these which were
FIVE feet square at the base and twelve feet
high. Ali the window shelves are loaded
and temporary shelves have been AFFIXED to
the outer edges Of staircGses, eto Rept At.
ed efforts to secure bstier quarters for the
library have failed, and in despair Librarian
Sfoford seems to have given up oil hoEes
and looks for ward to the time when the ELI.
tire library will be enc solid mass Of books
1t Is national disgrace that il is 90, and
il is besrt-breskipg to bnok-HoTm 10 see
hundreds Of thousands OF cooks practically
thrown away aad taoussujs of volumes 10
the most expensive biudioss. editions de
luxe, etc standing, OF rather lying, in such
positions ss to utterly ruin the besut fol
morocco, Russia, or calf bindings. The
books in this gresshbrsry are actually rot
ten from Dust, moths, and misuse. The
almost priceless Force archives sre tied
up IN bundles that have not been opened
for q year In the vaults beneath the
Capitol are thousands of tons Of copyright.
ed material, manuscripts, pamphlets,
music, etc. The aystsm under which
books were frat received and tstalogued
has been overwhelmed by the influx Of
literature and, cave the bare entry in re-
ceiving books, no record Of location, etc ,
is kept. Any one is at liberty 10 enter and
examine any book in the hbrary-if the IS.
sistsnt can find it. | believe o hundred
books could be stolen in day from that
library and not be missed in a year. I
found that it was the Practice Of new con-
gressmen to borrow at the beginning Of
their frat session 9 Get Of the speeches OF
Webster, Clay, Calhoun, Madison, Hamil-
ton, Jefferson, Jackson, or whoever be
may choose to be his political saint |
These volumes be hes csEted up TO his
house and keeps durisg bis entire stay in |
Washington. 0ftener than not it Is bis
frst introduction TO or knosledge Of the
statesman. Spofsrd is especially well
versed iu matters npon which congressman
xish il formation, Zach as political economy,
American bistor7, and statistics, and he
has made himself 90 valuable ia This way
hat he is sure of his position. The salaries !
% the library range from $1,000 to $4,000.