Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1893-10-18
A GREAT LIBRARY.
Magnificent Edifce No,c Being Erected
fH Washington.


The congressional library at Washing
ton is slowly approaching completion. So
far as applies to he supersiructure and
general outline Its massive dome was
erected this season, and the sun glisten
ing on its bright white metal roof is seen
down the Potomac miles away.
The building is 46S by 336 feet, not
counting the main entrance and stairway,
which projects 3S feet beyond the reclan-
gular lines. The long corridors aud
great rooms. together with the massive
walls, in the present rough interior, give
the impression of Il fortress. The other
portions of the building are dwarfed
when compared with the reading room
umer the great dome which towers over
100 feet overhead.
The building is built around hollow
square, the outerportion or curtain being
only 35 feet wide from the ex'erior wall
to the courts within. The space inclosed
by the four curtains is ab lut 36C by 235
feet. In the mdl Of this rectangle Is
built the grand octagoual reading room
Connecting the reading room with the
curtain are three wings running north.
east and south, dividing the unuccupie'l
space into four spacious courts. 16l feet
long by 100 wide. The wings leading
from the reading to the outer curtain are
Of uniform height with the remainder OF
The building, three stories aud a base
meni. They are given up entirely L"
book stacks and are arranged with floors
about six feet apart aud narrow alcov,s,
which will erable attendants to find any
book without disturbing his neighbor.
The architectural style of the library
of Congress is Italian renaissance, like
that OF lis companion structure, the Ma
Ional Capitol. The walls are cnld
gray granite, which from distance is not
unlike marble. The first story is rough
hewn, the stone laid in courses like the
gray bricks. There is no carving on tbi,
story except n frieze, which marks The
line of The first and second stories. The
stone of the latter story is cut rough, aud
wider and more elaborate frieze sepa
rates it from the upper story, which Is
finely cut and carved. The cornice and
the frieze over The third story Windows
are beautifully carved in simple, chasie
designs
This description applies 10 three el'.
valious of the building, the north, eat,
and south On the corners there aIe
more carving and other corner effects, iu.
cludiug carved faces on the keystone Of
tile arches over the windows of the Sec
snd story. These faces form a most
interesting series embracing a character
isIic counlenauce representing every dis
tinclive race and people on the earth, and
in an effective way demonstrating Ib,
cosmopolitan character of temple erect
e1 Tor the preservation Of useful kuowl
edge.
The west front, which faces the Capi
tol, is perhaps the most beautiful archI
leclural effect in America. Following
the general style Of the other three eleva
lions. il begins on the ground floor with D
rough hewn base growing more elaborate
as it rises. The fourth story IS richly
carved. The columns. in pairs, huge
fingers Of granite, single piece IRON
base to capital, support cornice that
might have been dug from the sacred soIl
of Greece, The buried remains OF The work
of one of the fathers Of architecture
Cherubs and scrolls and wreaIhs chiseled
ia the very granite tell to ihe world that
here j. 10 be the home ofculure aud refine
ment, the palace ofthe "art preservaIiye
of all arIs-prinling.
The dome which overtops the library,
us if in Difference to the dome Of the Ma
lional Capitol is sublime, yet not aiming
to excel The grandeur OF It's ueighbor
The building will cost s4,O00.00O and
will eventually be made TO accommodate
100000 volumes.
Tn Illinoi. there + an old law on the