New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-30
LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS.
MR.. sroFFORD AND THE DEVELOPMENT
OF HIS WORK.

ur &c rNGPossED IN PLANS FOR TIE RE
MovAr OF HIS BooKs-cHANGES IN TIE
DIPLOMATIC SERVICE AT WASHINGTON.
Washington April 90 (SpeciaD-The admiraoie
Man Of WASHINGTON which combines says an Oh
s,rla, nrinted in the latter part OF the !aSt cen
tu,v mo, only conveniences regularity. elegance
Of prospect and free circulation OF AR Du' every
thing grand and beautiful that can De ih''o'"
nto a city" is never more evident Una" =" '''7
snrinr when the budding foliage so!tens Inc OUT
lines and adds new beauty. From the appearance
~ the crocrses until frost the public squares are
ere,t flower gardens beautifully laid our anu eN
oujs,elv kept But the chief charni' anu VIVA.
makes Washington remarkable among 'he c''V9 VI
the world Is her trees. which line inc s"'V'',
and render riding and walking. even IN the 'oFriu
weather of summc:. pleasure. The pah''hS vi
trees WAS systematically begun under the regime
Of the Board OF Public Works in lsI2 In the EEL
,ennia wear there over 5000 trees Piantei' an"
each year since hundreds have beeh Pu' III "a.
ground There are something Ike so different
sncces and varieties. To insure uniformity III 'P-
pearance one variety only Is planted on each SUE"
The old and decaying trees and the oighted young
ones OF which a great number are Killed ny INC
leakage Of gas from the underground pipes "''
constantly being replaced by new ones.
The results tina; have been obtained IN inc i's'
thirty wears are marvellous when one co'S"'''
that two different authorities. one military anu o'
civil which as a rue, are supposed 10 cash V'"-
troll the ornamental Horticulture ana arpoilVu''"V
Of the city. The public parks ana 'oVet
reservations are in charge OF the super 49,,
Public Buildings and Grounds. Colonel "is'"'
while the planting and the care OF trees a..
trolled by commission composed 81 " "'','
Saunders Of the Agricultural Departments anu
William r Smith. of the Botanic G"roohS, wa"
Mr. Saul as a third to act - umpire sAo'.1 ny
arise difference OF opinion between MI '"', ''.1
Ar saunders They have worked together 10
some purpose. and as result "asNi"S'0"
are the most perfectly shaded IN me worn,
wound seem, riding about town with the s!or! OF
spring upon it, that the ambitions Oh f'eS.''"'
washington in regard 10 the capita' nave DC"
realized ,ror,o,
-. roner,..s riding alone these harming after
noo,s when all the word smiles with ne" me-
brings TO mind the interesting figure OF MI pan,
croft between whom and Mr.. Spofford there tA's'eu
n long-time friendship. During Mr.. bancroft IA
time these two scholars rode frequently 'oseth'''
- and there is not n country road they have ho' eN
plored in company. Mr.. bancroft WAS an q"
thusIastic rider and kept this exercise uh'll NiS
near the end. Now. although al an age WHY" nv
men are content with a seat in carriage W.
spofford finds riding the best relaxation from '''e
intense mental strain ne is constantly uhaer Jus
now ne is busy with plans for the arranse'ne"'
=, Tho nov library into which he hoT'es 20 move "e
fore two wears are past The exterior OF the "'"u
ing is quite competed. and work on inc l'''''
going on rapidly which is matter OF great -
t,on "a Mr. Spofford who has labored Tor years WIZ
one end in View-that the Na''oi''' '
he worthy OF the Nation.
NJ, STAFFORD came 10 Washington In lS5l' Whe'
he was appointed First Assistant Librarian 10y res
ident Lincoln. Three years later, on the IeS'H''"'
of MIR Stephenson, he was maze hiOraIi""' "''','
ofHca he has held continuously since. HIS remark
able memory Is a subject for wonder ana coIii"e"'
He seems to have the 10000 books winch compose
,ha library catalogued in his mind, and remembers
facts about the most insignificant volumes WIZ"
they were written, by whom ana Wheh 'ne' N"''e
into the library. \ quotation he VIII place al oiVe'
and can give the references on every SUBJECT WIN
ou, having resort 10 any catalogue save that III MS
own mind. HIS knowledge is lim'ess' anu win II
he is generous and helpful seemingly having an
interest In the researches OF each )hdViuuai MI
Spofford Is man OF great nervous Ao''e ~
energy OF indefatigable industry ana possesseu vi
immense power Of concentration. The force wi'hih
IT. ,raeea seems too great for his slender frame
When Mr. Spofford took charge of the library II
Rad not vet recovered from the destructive IRE
Of 1855 and contained only 7o"o volumes In the
thirty wears ne has been in charge the library mas
increased tenfold and long ago outgrew the space
allotted 10 It in the Capitol. The alcoves ana hoors
are pilei with books and documents. while the
immense number Of pamphlets and other copy
righted matter has found an asylum in the cfyp'
MIR Spoffords desk even is surrohhdel Uy sred'
nes and lust az present the library, with It's load
chaos The removal Of this great library VIII be
a colossal task but already Mr.. Sponord is ar
ranging for IT, and neatly tied bundles OF DOCKS
labelled 'for the new library are placed IN heaps
awaiting the suspicious cay when they shan ma a
final resting place in the great building with It's
spacious rooms and galleries anu observation-disclosures
for over 100000 volumes.
In the new library Mr.. Spoford says. students
will have adequate space and secuson No one
who has not tried 10 work at the present library
can understand the inconvenience and the draw
backs to accomplishment of work There is no;
sufficient room the tables are crowded, and quiet
IS impossible where visiting public is permitted TO
make audible comments and where the professional
suide has entry. But 10 will the new build
ing be so great a satisfaction az to Mr.. Spoford,
who has worked AMI waited for IL these many
years Small wonder that he ~ completely
engrossed in evolving plans for the administration
Of its affairs.
1t is a peculiar and interesting fact, which has
been much commented upon. that man can for
years be a prominent figure in official and social
life here and then suddenly disappear beneath the
waters OF oblivion leaving not ripple on the sur
face This Is eminently true of the men who care
nothing for notorety. nothing for the glamour OF
fame. and make effort 10 keep themselves before
the public. A familiar figure the streets here
Is President Grants Secretary of the Treasury
during his first term. Mr.. Boutwell, who. since ht
left the Senate has lived a simple. quiet, unosten
tatious life here practising his profession ant
making very little stir In any way. He is an earnest
thoughtful with iron-gray hair and deep
set kindly eyes, who looks about sixty years old
but whom the biographical dictionaries write as
seventy-seven. Even a feeting glimpse OF hin
gives one q OF power and force. His career
has been an interesting lie Democratic
Governor OF Massachusetts in the early hfties
Commissioner OF Internal Revenue under Presiden