The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-27
souR NEW BUILDINGS AT Harvard

Mussum Of Fine Arts. Two Dermiteriss
and . o2o0, 900 Reading Room.
CAMBRIDGE, Feb. 20 Especial Core
spondence. IA few months ago tho an
nouncement was made that this spring
work would be begun on two new build
ings for Harvard university, museum OF
6ne arts, to cost $4,000. and the new
Conant dormitory, to cost $4,000. For
both of these structures the money has
been given during the year. This week
there 10 more good news: from some per
sons, who will not let their names be
known. the university has received $15O. COG
for another new dormitory, and 500. OO0
more for q new reading room, to be at
tached to the library. So during tho year
1893 Harvard will be pushing work on at
least four new buildings.
The money for the art museum came
from the estate of the late Mrs. Elizabeth
FOgg, of New York, and for the Conant
dormitory from the $127, 600 left by Edwin
Conant. This dormitory is to contain
high-priced rooms. but tho other new one,
for which tho money has como in this
week, will be built for the special accom-
mediation of students of small means. It
is to be placed On the east side of Divinity
avenue, north of the divinity library, and
will face west. The structure will be q
large one, so planned that great number
of rooms can be supplied at q moderate
price, The need for these dormitories is
certainly very pressing, for the university
has grown so rapidly within the last few
years that not more than one-third OF all
the students can now be accommodated IN
the regular college dormitories. and in
consequence the men are scattered all over
Cambridge.
The new reading room, however, IS the
more important building of the two, be-
cause it affects the welfare and comfort of
every man in college. The need for a
larger reading room has become so press
ing that few years ago the undergrad
yates and graduates joined in . movement
to raise the necessary money; and q con-
siderable sum had already been collected.
The facts in the case were briefly stated by
President Eliot in his last report. The
new building will adjoin the south side of
the stack of the present library. The new
structure will be of light colored brick,
and plain style has been adopted, so that
additions may easily be made in later
years. The space covered will be about
10000 square feet. The reading room
itself will be . rectangle about 100x70
feet; and in it seats will be pro-
vided for about 400 persons. Around
the walls will be placed the reference
books for the various courses. Opening
from three sides Of this central room will
be a series of small rooms for the depart
mental libraries, and for consultations
and conferences between the various in
structors and their pupils. These confer
ence rooms will be only one story high ;
and above them. will be large windows
furnishing an abundance of light. On the
third side of the big reading room will be
a semi-circular delivery room. where
books may be called for and delivered. An
electric plant will be added to the building
to light the library at night.
The work will be begun as soon as posi-
BILE, so that the room may be occupied
within year. The old reading room will
be turned into bookstack. When these
improvements are finished Harvard will
have the finest reading room in respect to
space, light and convenience in the
United States.