Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-23
THE NEW LIBRARY BUILDING.
Preparing Plans for the Structure on &
Reduced Scale.


NEAR As PossIBLE-How THE BUILDING WILL BE
Observation-Disclosures sPoFfoRD SATISFIED.
The sundry civil bill provides 100000 for the
new Congressional Library building, and place
General Casey Chief Of Engineers in charge OF the
preparation OF the necessary plans and the con-
struction OF the building. In accordance with the
provisions OF the law General Casey has force at
work preparing the plans, and expects them to be
completed before Congress meets IN December,
and II they are approved he will have everything
IN readiness to begin building in the spring. The
law requires that these plans shall be subject TO the
inspection and approval OF the Secretaries Of War
and Interior, but they will doubtless be considered
oy Congress before work is commenced. The mat.
ter Will be brought to the attention of Congress In
the annual report OF the Chief OF Engineers, II not
as special measure before the report is submit
ted. congress will undoubtedly therefore have
ject
TALK WITH GEN. CASEY.
General Casey In conversation with q STAR 70
porter to- day said that the plans which are being
proposed will not contemplate the expenditure Of
one cent beyond the limit nxed by law. Whether
the building when completed will answer the re-
Quirements OF the Congressional Library or not Is
matter which he has nothing to DO with. He in.
tends to make the building complete and as ~ much M
city as "a 900 will permit He intends to follow
architecturaliy the original Smithmeyer plan, but
Of 81 the S uDon
also be followed.
REVISING THE PLANS.
Mr.. p. j. PelZ is the architect who is In charge
OF revising the plans As an associate Of Mr.
Smithmeyer In devising the original plans, he was
considered eminently fitted to modify them. The
superintendent OF construction, b. K Green, nine
draughtsmen, and three watchmen-about hall
as large force as was employed under the former
S,tafQ vuill
the same site as was originally intended, in the
middle OF the square, but OF course will not cover
SO much ground. Gen. Casey has decided on this
although delegation OF residents OF Capitol Hill
urged him to set the building to one side, so that
Pennsylvania avenue can be opened again through
the grounds.
THE GROWTH OF THE LIBRARY.
Gen. Casey said to-day the plans will not make
any provisions for the future growth Of the library
Being building complete In ITSELF although there
may be plenty OF room, no additions can be made
to 1t without inJurng materially the architectural
effect II in the future additional room is required
1t will be necessary to construct another building
and this will require more ground.
HOW THE WORK WILL BE DONE.
II the plans are approved, and Gen. Casey Is
authorized to construct the building, he will begir
IS soon as possible making contracts for the ma
terial, 80 as to begin work when the building
season opens. The work OF construction Will be
carried on after the same methods adopted on the
west wing of the state, War, and Navy Depart
ment building. After contracting for the mate
rals they will be placed in the building by con-
tract, except where careful inspection would not
detect any departure from the specifications. In
such cases the work will be done by day labol
under the Government. MIR. Green, who superin
tended the construction OF the War Departmen,
building will also have charge OF the Library
building
WHAT LIBRARIAN sPoFFORD SAYS.
Mr. A R spofIord said to a STAR reporter to-day
that he is entirely satisfied with the outlook for
new Library building. Now that all the ob1ec
tions which were raised to the erection Of the
building as originally intended have beer
will progress as rapidly. as possible. The
building operations can be begun, VIII, he said
permit OF q thorough consideration OF the plans
which are being prepared, 30 that some OF the pre-
nminary contracts can be entered into and the
work pushed forward rapidly. AS to the character
Of the proposed building, Mr.. SpO1Ord said
it would follow as nearly as possible
the plans as originally prepared, and he was salts
ned, he said, that building could be erected for
$AOOO,OOO, which would be suitable for the
Library, and would AFFORD ample provisions for the
growth OF the Library for the next twenty years.
After that time an addition could be made or
eide. AS for himself he was OF the opinion
that all OF the ground to the northwest would
eventually be required, but that was not o matter
for present consideration. He would be satisfied
with the building, which would provide for the
next twenty years, and is well pleased with the
prospects OF securing 1t at as early date as pos
stble.