The evening times., 1895-10-25
BEAUTY OF TIVE BB|LDIke"
New Library Structure IS a
Model Of MagMficenee.
FINISHED BY JANUARY, 1897
No Other Interior In THIS Country Is
So Impressive In Its Artistic Beauty
and SpIendor OF OrnamentatiOn.
Z. Grand Staircase. Finished In White
Carrara Marble.

Although the new Library building will
not be completed until n year from next
| January, the work OF construction has pro-
| gressed sufficiently to give an idea Of the
beauty and magnificcnse which will be
presented to the world when the building
is finished.
There is certainly not in this country,
| and probably not in the world an interior
| so Impressive in its artistic bca1t and splefi-
, dor OF oriiamentatiOn as that Of the new
Library.
The main entrance, on First street facing
| the Capitol, Will, when completed, be Il
| work Of rare beauty and architectural
art. but it will hardly prepare the visitor
| for the sp!eDdor OF the interior. The foyer
| and grand staircase han are finished in
white Carrara marble Of the purest type
all exquisitely carved.
The main staircases, one on either side
of the han, which wind in seIni-,irclc
To the floors above, are more magnificent
| than anything in the Capitol. They are or
white Italian marble, with richly carved
bainstradcs. The columns OF the staircase
hall are OF the same pare white, almost
transparent, marble, and the whole gives
to the interior an appearance OF splendid
purity Of color that cannot fail to impress
the beholder.
IN THE ROTCNDA.
The glory of the building, however, is
the rotunda, located in the center OF the
building underneath the big gold dcovcred
dome. This Is finished in different kinds
OF marble. The base of the walls is u
cbocolate-colOred rble from the quarries
OF Tennessee. Above this the walls are
formed i'll panels of ma bic OF yellowisb
tint, while the columns, which extend to the
roof, are Of fSumidianmarb leiinported from
Africa.
These columns are OF n rich, reddish
brown color, which blends barnoniously
with that OF the other marble used. The
rotunda is 10 be the Rain reading hail OF
the building. In the center will be the
desk OF the librarian, and about it will be
arranged the pneumatic tubes and other ap-
pliances which will b. used in maintaining
constant communication with the Capitol.
From this point also will be operated the
underground electric car which will be
used to convey books to ana from the
Capitol. The upper floors OF the building
all lead to the rotunda, where they ter
inmate In galleries formed by small col
uInils OF Carrara marble.
The corridors of the building are all fin
ished with panels of the same hiSh-grade
marble that marks the rotunda and the
grand staircase ball. except that it varies
in color.
SPLENDID SPECIMENS.
In some of the corridors each panel differs
from the Others either in color or the kind
of marble used. while in others nothing hut
the pure white is seen. The whole will
give a splendid idea of the many kinds OF
stone the marble quarrics of the world af-
ford, Tor nearly all are represented.
The construction OF the new library has
been carried ON under the Supervision of
Capt. Green, and the excellence OF the
workmanship has been due to his ceaseIess
care and vigilance. The splendid specimens
Of Carlrra marble used in the interior OF the
building were furnished by Evans * Co.,
Baltimore. They have been the most ex-
tensive importers Of this high grade OF
marble in the United States and when bids
were called for, easily secured the contract.
The exterior of the building, with the ex-
ception OF some work required upon the
steps at Observation-Disclosures asbccn finished,
and a large force OF men is at work placing
the grounds about the building in order.
Asphalt sidewalks are being laid, and the
grounds are being graded and topdressed
prepa ory to their being seeded with grass
There are 10 be fountains at the south and
north fronts OF the building and flowers
will be grown in circular beds at each corner
of the square the building occupies. This
work will be finished in Il very short time SO
that from the outside the building VIII have
all the appearance ofa completed structure