The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-28
THE CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY.

Confusion Worse COMPOUNDED Among the
Books for Lack of Room.
Washington Letter.
Strolling into the Congressional Library, a
a sight Of unspeakable sadness met my eyes
Scattered about the floor, piled on boxes and
tables, neglected and slowly going to ruin wer
many thousands OF volumes. IL Milton wers
accurate in speaking of a book as sacred and i'm
mortal because it contains the real essence. of
humanity, the neglect shown by Congress'be-
comes almost criminal Mr.. Spofford, whose
hair has grown gray in the service of literature
stood behind the librarians desk. A cluster Of
pamphlets was about his feet; the very chair on
great stacks OF newspapers, bound and unbound
hemmed him in on all sides.
There are 500, 600 volumes in my custody"
said Mr.. Spofford, sadly, land we have shelf
room for only 300 600 The rest are in nine crypts
below the rotunda and in other dark and remote
apartments two flights under the library, or are
piled about the floor, as you see Every square
foot of space has been exhausted. and there is
not adequate space for either books or readers.
The situation is critical"
What progress is making in the direction OF
the new library buildingP
"As many as eight or ten drawings have been
made" was the answer, land the joint commit
Tee of Congress will probably urge the matter at
an early day. If you will see the architect, Mr..
j. l.. Smithmeyer, he will tell you about the pro-
posed building"
II think the final design has now been reach
ed said the architect, when found an hour later.
''rhe building is intended to stand east of the
Capitol, fronting the open plaza The form now
agreed on is combination of several previous
designs. Its exterior is in tho cinquecento style
italian renaissance), and shows basement,
heavily rusticated with severe forms; an entrance
story, also in rustica. but less severe and with
greater development in height, and second or
principal story still higher and more fully de-
veloped. The front elevation develops a center
building with five bays, three of which contains
the entrance doors to the building in the first
story. fanked on both sides by towerlike pro-
jections This central portion is the highest in
development. The ends of the facade or corners
of the structure are accentuated by sturdy pavil-
ions three stories high. surmounted by balus-
trade and corner blocks, and they project from
the line of the curtains. These pavilions are
likewise three stories high, but without an attic,
and connect with the center portion. The two
side facades are SubordiIated to the front, and
show the centers as slightly emphasized and as
connecting the curtains and pavilions like the
front. The rear elevation is treated effectively,
but palmer in development"
How about the approached" was asked.
The principal feature of the approaches is
inclined double circular carriageway, with wide
central stairs. The front doors in the basement,
which are Immediately below the main entrance
doors, are reached by level drive under cover
OF the first story main entrance steps. The cen
ter portions and paviions of the bel etage are
tains remaining plain The windows of this
story are provided with stylobates, pilasters and
,aps, with alternate irregular aud segmental
pediments. The'use Of sculpture is res tricted to
the spandriis of the main entrance doors and to
portions of the attics, with few minor parts,
such as keystones for example,
1T will be q somber structure, I feara"
''No. It will be handsome Notwithstanding
the fact that in its general treatment the build
ing is void of lavish ornamentation. The large
masses are judiciously proportional and possess
sufficient architectural development to character
ize the special functions of each portion Of the
structure, giving to it the expression of quiet
and dignity desideratum deemed most suit
able for monumental structure, especially for
library building. The materials to be used are
granite for the basement and marble for the up.
per stories. The design endeavors to harmonic
with the Capitol structure in relation to their
combined architectural effect, in close pro xirity
to which it is contemplated to be erected
''Now as to the interorl
'The central rotunda will be one hundred feet
in diameter, octagonal in shape and from it
corridors will radiate to every portion of the
vast structure. The accommodation for the
general reader consist of an octagonal room
one hundred feet in diameter which is just the
size of the beautiful Pcton reading room in
Liverpool There are, besides, a number of
larger and smaller separate rooms, assigned for
special subjects and for the study of them; also
separate rooms for Senators and members of the
House of Representatives: also rooms for the
thousands of maps, charts, engravings, manu-
scripts and rare specimens of Typography. There
are also liberal provisions made for the proper
exhibits of the numerous articles of the graphic
arts in the copyright department.; also for the
newspaper files, music pamphlets or files. One
special room is set aside in prominent part for
Washingtonana. This is a room in which
everything will be collected that pertains to the
making up of true and complete history Of
George Washington"
In the most solemn style, suitable to the hour
and the crisis, it may be asked. why does not
Congress acts