The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-27
NEW STATE LIBRARY,
10 ADVERTISE N ONCE FOR BIDS.
The Plans OF tho building and the site of
Its LOoatiOn--Much Criticism Expressed
AZ the Action of the BOARD.

The state Library Board was in session
for three hours yesterday afternoon and
discussed the working plans for the new
Library building, which il to 10 erected on
the slope of The Cspltol square ia front Of
the stables connected with the Executive
mansion. Dir. w. NJ. Poindexter. the archi.
tect. was present and explained the details
OF the plans. it was decided to advertise
for proposals for the construction OF the
building, which are 70 be received until
noon OF September 10Th. Each bid is 10 be
accompanied 10y a certified check tor s., 600
ana the bidder whom the contract will be
awarded TO is 70 give bond OF 80. 900 for
his compliance with the provisions of the
specifications. The general instructions
and specifications can be seen at the Office
OF the architect. 1920 street. Washington.
and at the Capitol after August %, 1872.
DIssATIsFAcrIoN.
There seems to be a good deal of dissatis-
faction among the public IN regard 10 the
selection of the location OF the Library build
ing.
have talked 10 quite a number of bust
moss men on the subject during the past
few days and have yet 70 find one who Is
in favor OF the location. All were more or
less 0utspOken IN their objections and
thought that far more suitable site might
have been selected. Some of them sug-
Gested that The square be chosen on which
the ola City Hall now stands while others
were ln favor Of an enlargement of the Cap
itol building. A few suggested that IL
might have been good plan TO add another
story 10 the building on Eleventh street
where the Court OF Appeals IS at present
located.
TIKI SELECTED SITE.
The site which has been selected by n
mslonty Of the library board and against
which Governor Mckinney and Auditor
Marye protested at the time. is al the east
cry end of tho Capitol Square in front Of
the southerly end OF the stables The
building is 10 be constructed in the shape OF
an / and the wing IL 10 be erected between
the stables and the Davis House. la order
TO get access to the building from the
Squsre 10 Will be necessary to cut q roadway
through the prettest part of the park and
several of the shade trees will have % be
sacrificed. Besides az least a dozen trees
Will have 10 be cut down TO clear the ueces-
sary space for the building. In order TO yet
the building material on the grounds 1t Is
intended 10 cut down the flower garden on
Governor street II this plan IS carried out
it will necessltate the cutting down of the
ground at least twenty feet for distance Of
shout two hundred yards
STATED BRIEFLY.
The objections which have been raised
by the several parties whom I have con-
Versed with against the construction of the
building on the site selected can be given
briefly as follows. The building would be
cut of entirely from any breeze coming
from the west and north, aud any wind
from the south would only strike the upper
floor The front of the building is to be on
the west side. aud the large porch which
IS % be constructed there would not be 8
very cool place in summer time. IL IS claim
Cd 10y a we'll known civil engineer in this
city that the foundation for the building
viii cause good deal of trouble.
There is q spring running through that
part Of the park. and IL Is said
that at the lower end Of the building 10 Will
only be possible 10 lay the foundation after
piles have been driven. On account of the
s.Oping condition Of the ground the lower
end will be 40 least twenty feet below the
upper end: as q matter Of fact all the rooms
i'm the basement will have 20 be under
ground. When asked whether the appro-
priatiOn Of 1900 600 would be sufficient ia
construct the building. the same engineer
said that IN hls opinion that amount would
do 10 erect the building with, while the
mem bers Of the library board say that the
building will be completed without ex-
cseding the appropriation.
TO RUpAIE TIE CAPITOL.
Mr.. n. r. Gaines. superintendent Of public
buildings and register of the land otice'
when spoken 10 on the subject called my
attention To- the fact that within few years
II viii be necessary 10 repair thoroughly the
top Of the Capitol building the timber Of
which is decaying verv rapidly. He added that
oueof the timers who recently put a new gut.
ter on the roof told him that the timber
was AZ rotten that it would not hold nail.
8ir. Gaines thought that II would be more IN
tbe interest of economy TO enlarge the CAPT
t0l building If a separate Library building
was erected it would necessitate the employ
meut of an additional night Waterman, 20.
lcaman and laultOr.