Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-10-29
The View state library nulIdlng.


The state library annex at Montpelier has
been substantially completed. The assem-
bling of the legislature found the exterior
finished. The library proper, which occu
pies the upper floor of the building, save on
ly room for the historical society, is so far
completed that the library has been removed
to it, and the final work on the supreme court
apartments on the first floor is now being
done. As our readers know, it was the final
decision of the commissioners, unwarranted
as we believed, to erect the building as an
annex to the state house, instead of a seps-
rate building as was the intention of the legis
lators of 1884, though their act was so loose
ly worded that it did not name the location or
state whether the building should be sepa-
rate, or a wing or annex of the capitol. The
building is 4S feet by "A in size and stands
just in the rear of the west wing of the cap
itol, beyond which it projects for the greater
part of its length. The two floors are on
level with the floors of the capitol and con-
nection is made with the north side of the west
wing on both floors by a suitable structure
provided with double fire proof doors. Ex-
cavation was made for the building 80 that it
stands on the solid rock. The walls of the
front side and end which show from the
street, are of rock-faced granite; the rear
walls are of brick. The erection of the
building was taken advantage of to provide
in the basement for new heating apparatus
for both the state house and the annex and
for suitable water closet conveniences. By
this means an additional expenditure of some
$500 was involved, but the old arrangements
of both kinds were very imperfect and un.
satisfactory, and we think the expenditure a
wise one. The new plumbing arrangements
are of the most thorough and modern kind,
and the heating arrangement is such that the
state house and annex can be heated sepa.
rately or together and the separate apparatus
provided for heating each can be used for
either alone or for both as may be desired.
The floors of both stories are of iron beams
or Orders with brick arches between, and the
building is substantially fre.proof.
The library room proper is Az by 80 feel
in size and is abundantly lighted by IS win
dows each by II feet. The room is finish
cd to the roof, which is supported by heavy
iron trusses, the latter showing inside the
finish The general effect is good, except
that decided improvement is possible at some
time in the future by the choice and applica
ton of suitable colors, more especially to the
cornice ceiling and iron rafters, by an artis
accustomed to such work. The book stack,
are of iron with wooden shelves. The one
tier which has now been put in gives accom-
mediation for $4,000 volumes, and is NOR,
than equal to the present requirement of thu
library. Provision is made for two additions
tiers of stacks above these, which will give
room for upward of 1OO,O 900 volumes. Th,
historical society's room, which opens from
the library in the rear, is 20 by 40 fee
in size and has a handsome fireplace will
mantels of carved marble. The passage wa,
which connects this floor with the main build
ing opens from the old library room and con
meets thence with the corridor and lobby o
the Senate and HouEe.
The supreme court apartments on the frs
floor consist of the court room proper, 26 b,
40 feet in size, judges room and lawyers
room, with suitable toilet rooms. Besid
these there are two rooms which may be use,
as legislative committee rooms, or as judges
or lawyers rooms for consultation, as may b
desired. The arrangement of this foo
seems to be convenient and satisfactory il
every way. The building is unquestionabl
thoroughly well built, and we have no doub
the state gets value received for all the mon
ey that has been put into it. by convenient
ly charging such items as were possible to tn
Sergeant-at-Arms's account for state house re
pairs the expense is cut down to within 1924