New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-23

PLAN FOR A Bull OF blsEsAlfih
CAPACITY.
Washington. Dec 22-i.ast October a law was
passed by Congress repeating the existing law for
the construction Of building for the accommodation
Of the Congressional Library and providing that The
proposed building should be constructed under the
supervision Of the Chief of Engineers of the Army.
Under this law General Thomas L. Casey, Chief of
Engineers, assumed charge OF the work on October j.
All operations were at once stopped and the con-
tractors informed that their contracts were
scinded. On November II new plans for the building
were completed and submitted 10 the Secretary
of War for approval II he approves them, General
Casey will Immediately begin work the structure.
In the plans the same style Of architecture as
proposed in the plans of John L miihmeyer IS
retained and also the number and height OF the stories,
the general arrangement and relative location OF
rooms The centre building and the reading room,
General Casey states In his report to Congress, are
essentially unaltered, but the length Of the whole
building has been considerably reduced The ex-
tcme outside dimensions Of the new building, not
including the projection of the centre building on the
west 'front.' 1913 feet north and south by 31s feet
and inches east and west This Is reduction OF
30 feet IL 1-2 inches on the north and south line,
and an increase of inches the east and west line
The front walls will be OF light-colorcd granite,
and the remainder of the building chiefly of brick and
i-on-fre- proof construction thrOu -hout-a sma
quantity only of plain granite being used in the
courtyard walls The construction of the building
is to be solid and substantial and generally plain in
the Interior excepting the rotunda or rcading-room
and the main stair hall vesubule, which will be-
suitably enriched in marble, iron and stucco In the
preparation of the plans and estimates special pains
have been taken TO secure the largest and most APP
pIoprate building for the purposes of the Library of
Congress that the limit Of cost viii permit, without
sacrificing the dgnifed and monumental Character
demanded by its object and location. To this end
the exterior retains the Same degree OF finish that
old hccfv rlI Tho
terror enrichment Is to be confined almost entirely to
the main stair hall and rOtunda The arrangement,
dimensions and general character of the design arc
also in harmony with tho suggestions Of the present
Librarian Of Congress. Book alcoyes, stacks and
shelving provided for 16s 600 volumes Of books
AT the present rate of growth of the library, say
900 volumes per year. this shelving would be filed
In about nineteen years from this time, about
thirteen years after the completion o. the building,
the construction of which Will occupy six years.
The remaining space not absolutely required for all
minIstraton and for the display of engravings maps,
current periodicals. etc, Will accommodate 1O47 900
volumes more, making ultimate total capacity in
the but ding of o,215.OOO volumes This space would
filed the rate Of growth assumed In about my
four years from the present time. Meantime tho
surplus space amounting TO probably 26,UOO square
feet of floor might be occupied. General Casey sug-
cests for other offices OF the Government.
The cost Of the building is lr"ited by law TO 1900,
OOO increased by balance from previous approplfa-
tons Of 100000 The general outline OF the build
ing as designed I'm General Caseys Office, presents 10
the unprofessona eye somewhat Of the appearance of
the Capitol Building except that the centre building
is larger than that Of the Capitol, and tine wings
longer and narrower
General Casey also submits modified
plan Of building, estimated TO cost
S6,OO3 no. upon which he comments as follows:
These changes do away with the extremely crowded
arrangement Of book magazines in the courts-darken-
ing each other and converting the courts into wells
and give instead OF ten small courts wells, four
large court yards OPEN light and airy, and which may
pyramidal book magazines, connected with the read
Ing room, and constructed 50 as not 10 obsruct 10 any
serious extent the light and air 20 the main walls. As
represented in this set Of plans, the books would at
first occupy only the alcONcs I'm the reading room and
the stacks I'm the magazines adjoining II north south
and east The full capacity OF these spaces alone Is
COS 900 volumes, and they would accommodate the
growing library for period Of thirty -four years from
this time. Occupying In future the first and second
stories OF the north east and south curtains with
acOVes and stacks the capacity would be increased Ia
q 537 900 volumes, lasting ninety light years. Add
ing The court yard magazines above described. the
capacity would b. again increased to 1852, 900 vol
unies which would not BE- reached until the lapse Of
1874 years Until required by the library proper the
available floor space for use OF the Government other
than the library would be about $4,000 SQUARE feet
The building constructed by this plan would occupy
and utilize the excavation, concrete foundation, and
drainage system already provided and would be com
pleied In about eight years
In In, modified des On the connections between
the wings and the centre building are CONSIDERABLY
wider than IN the design under which General casey
Is working; otherwise the plan Is much the same