Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-03
THE NEW LIBRARY BUILDING.
Superintendent Greene Expects to Have
the Cellar Story Completed This Year.

vast expanse of muddy excavation, the
bottom of which is almost entirely covered with
huge blocks of granite; few low brick walls,
three or four lofty derricks, half a dozen
rough frame Sheds couple of piles of lumber,
and thousands Of brick all hedged around and
shut out from the gaze of the passer-by by
several thousand feet of high wooden fence.
That's the site Of the six-million-dollar Con-
gressional library building as it appeared to a
STAR reporter who yesterday walked past the
Waterman and the vicious-looking dog who
keep guard over the entrance on I'd street
southeast When it is not raining there is a
force of at least $50 men at work. and their
number Is being continually added to- At
present labor is directed to the masonry for
the foundations and to the erection of the area
walls and footlngs for the cellar story The
combination of brick and granite in this por-
ton of the work will be in the nature of rev.
citation to builders. The brick used on the ex-
terror will be enaneled and of an ivory-white
tint, and the contrast with the solid-colored
and rugged granite will be strik-
ing one, utterly unlike anything ever
seen here up to the present time.
American manufacturers have been noisily
critical of the action of the library authorities
in purchasing the enameled brick from an
English firm, but the facts developed show
that when those bricks were contracted for
such bricks were made, and its proprietor
although urged to compete, made no bid Now
there are several native firms engaged in the
manufacture of the enameled article but they
cannot as yet compete with their British rivals
The English brick is fully one-third larger
than the American building-blOck, while the
price of the former is "a little less than that of
the latter. In color and construction the Amer
lean brick suffers somewhat by comparison
1t IS Superintendent Greene's purpose to
have the entire cellar story complete this fall.
SO that everything may be roughly rooted in
before the snow comes to stop work until spring.
Then the granite super structure will be COM
menced. The material to be used in this is that
for which bids were opened last Saturday De-
livery will commence very soon after the award
has been made by Gen. Casey. Just now the
numerous samples are being thoroughly tested.
the contract will 60 to the firm or individual
whose granite will be best adapted for the par
ticular work to be done.
The red brick used is made here and the
Undetermined brick is received through a
Washington contractor. The sand and broken
stone for the concrete foundations are fur
by Westinghouse and the excavations con-
tract is also in the hands of local firm.
Our STORE will be closed the entire day to-
morrow, as advertised elsewhere. ELpHoNso
YoUNes CoMPANY.-AdoertiseDe
TRIP TO THE OCEAN.-The IS excursion
tickets to Atlantic City, Cape May, and Sea Isle
City, announced by the Pennsylvania Railroad.
are now on sale. Rapid transit through Phila.
delphia by cable cars, cars running directly
from Broad-street station to the ferry. Baggage
checked through.