Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-24

the applicant will be supplied with card
of membership. The directors have decided
to adopt the "Indicator System" and they
now have one in course of construction at
the steel works. 1t took some time to finish
it. as there are 8, 900 small blocks of wood in
connection with it, and these had all to be
carved out by hand.
The volumes will all be arranged in al
phabetical order in the catalogue, and any
person desiring to find any book will only
have to look at the indicator to find whether
it is in or out. The letters and figures on
the face of the indicator will be made to cor
respond with the letters and figures on tie
catalogue.
The Welsbach incandescent system for
lighting the interior has been adopted. 1t
has been decided that the library shall be
open f1r admission from 10 o'clock in the
morning until the same hour at night.
The library building stands out promi-
nently on Burton street, one of the prettiest
and most centrally located thoroughtares in
the borough; is within stones throwof the
Pennsylvania Railroad depot, and not over
800 yards from the Baltimore and Ohio.
In 1886 Mr.. Andrew Carnegie conceived
the idea o! furnishing the workingmen of
his big mill with such a place for the edu-
cation of the mind. He purchased aplot of
ground with $50 feet front on Burton street,
extending back along Parker avenue 100
feet (from the Parker heirs, the sum paid,
it is said, being $1,000. He then donated
$50, 900 for the completion of building.
This sum is
ONLY ABOUT oNE-HALF
Of what the building really cost, however.
The structure is of solid rough-faced stone
from Ohio quarries, three stories high, and
of the Romanesque style of architecture. 1t
surrounded by beautiful walks and a road
way.
The main entrance, which is on Burton
street, is surmounted by a heavy stone arch,
above which the stone work is carried up TO
Romanesque gable. On each side are the
entrances to the store of the Carnegie Coop
erative Association, which occupies the en-
tire first floor. These entrances are in the
form of round bay windows, and run up into
atapering roof
In the gable of the center is bust of Mr..
Carnegie, and Immediately under it is carved
"Carnegie Library" Just under this and
extending entirely across the front is a
carved stone frieze five feet high.
The side elevation on Parker street is
much the same as the front, excepting that
there is only one entrance. The roof is of
iron throughout; also the rafters and beams.
The beams and girders were all turned out
Carnegie's Homestead mill, and are very
heavy structures, the brams all being 12-
inch. The building probably contains l, 900
tons of iron. The structure is 100 feet
square. The side and rear walls are of fire
brick of immense thickness. No wood was
used except for fnishings and floors.
The first floor, as stated above, is devoted
10 storerooms. The floor space is 61xS6 feet.
The Office of the store is in the center, i'm
nediately behind the wide stairway, which
winds from the main entrance to the library
ibove.
A CHARMING READING ROOM.
At the right of the staircase, fronting on
Burton street, is the reading room, large
enough to accommodate several dozen read
ers comfortably. Next comes the Office of
the librarian, Immediately over the main
entrance, and the entire Parker street front
is the library proper, with innumerable al
coves and snug little retreats between the
immense bookcases.
The library room is Sc feet long BY 30
feet wide, and contains cases for over 5000
volumes To the left of the library and
back of the reading room is the lecture hall,
one of the principal features of the building.
1t is furnished with a good stage, is fitted
out handsomely and has a gallery. Its
seating capacity is about 300. The building
is heated BY steam, and these facilities are
complete There are ten registers on the
first floor
The entire building is finished in carved
hard wood, and is considered one of the
neatest aud prettiest structures in Western
Pennsylvania. The architect who prepared
the plans, was Mr.. James 7. Steen.
The officers of the library are: President,
james Galley; Vice President, W. J.Vance;
Secretary, John A. Lapsley; Treasurer, w.
r. Balsinger; Directors, Thomas Mcdonald,
W. A. McDeyitt, w. r. Edwards, w. M.