The sun., 1895-03-31
NEW LIBRARY, NEW IDEAS.
MIR. sPoFFoRD,s PLANS FOR THE
INSTITUTION At WASHINGTON.
The Reading Reou to he the Fi.est In the
Worid-A Rapid Transit Esiirosd for
Beoks-The Problem OF Moyirc = Big One.

The Reading Reou to he the Fi.est in the
Worid-A Rapid Transit Esilrosd for
Beoks-The Problem of NJ Movirg Big One.
WASHINGTON, March 29.-A. r. Spofford, the
Librarian of Congress, has been watching with
great satisfaction the progress toward compile
tion of the magnificent new Congressional Lii
brary building. 1t has beon under roof for q
year, and work is being rapidly pushed upon tho
interior by force of workmsn of the higher
grades. All the lower interior marble work has
been put in place. and the central reading room
under the great dome, Mr.. spofford says, will be
the finest Of the kind in the world. To THE
SuN correspondent, who visited tho build
ing yesterday in company with its en-
gineer, Bernard c. Green, It seemed as
II this statement of Mr.. Spofford was
nowhere belied by the facts, fo-. although filled
with scafTodings the beauty Of the interior, the
walls of which ar covered with fine carvings
and stucco work, strikes the visitor at glance.
Not alone, however. will the beauty and grace
fulness of the sculpture and carvings hold the
eye, for during the summer tho unoccupied
spaces above the arches and between the pillars
will be adorned with mural paintings by some
of the best known of Americas allegorich
painters. including Edwin II. BlashAsld, John
La Farge. and Elihu Nedder. Mr.. Spofford e1-
poets to be in the building in two years, and to
put in operation number OF ideas of his own.
which he thinks will better the service to the
public and the library conditions generally.
One of the most important devices which Mr..
Green is working on is a railroad for the rapid
transit of books from the repositories to the
readers on the first floor This railroad will OK
tend all over the building. and will probably be
operated by electricity. 1t is both vertical and
horizontal. and the books can be shifted rapidly
with the least damage to their bindings 1t was
Tn fhns1 oh htch Nu1
not, in the course Of time. prove destructive for
the old way Of carrying by hand, although
primitive to degree. is still the least injurious
when care is exercised by tho employees.
Mr. Spofford intends that the great sightsee.
all hours Of the day, arading through the main
reading rooms and jostling those at work along
the nS Of epsr hs sns
turb tho readers. Sightseers will be taken to
the galleries above on the sides Of the circular
ting general view Of the room and seeing to
better advantage the beauties Of sculpture and
the lantern. He intends to have additional
accommodations for tho use of students
on to work seriously % have an sen
at one of the tables and about four feet of space
will be allotted him. SO that there will be ample
the desk. In addition to this curtains will bo
placed at his side and at the rear. screening him
and purposes the student at the new Congress
sonal Library will be as secure from Interrupt
his own study or library. These students will
also have immunity from noise. for the disci-
Hne will be- strGt @ ia and the of those
at tho Capitol a tunnel will be used. Through
small electric tramway. books viii be Ots trans Un
ported between the library and the Capitol with
Il Is taxes % about five minutes minutes for page from rom
either wing of the Capitol to 20 the library. get
books. ana return: Mr. spoiII9rd pI9 thinks IN that
plished in less than four minutes. Mr. Spofford
and Mr.. Green are looking into tho subject Of
electric motors for this work.
number Of books. pam mphlets. musical COMPOST,
from from their present home to the new building
Mr.. Spofford has been giving study. and. al
,hHuE9 he has mot finally decided upon the de-
idea Of the way he intends to do it and how tho
volumes will be arranged in their new quarters.
tric tsN railway between the Capitol and the the
ears eeH of Which should be Covered. 'se SO
as to protect the volumes from the
rap s' sGehi sGs least soqa
damaGe The old horse and cart method used
lie that this method may be resorted to IN tho
case of much material not important enough
considered that there are 200, 900 volumes in
the present Congressional Library. which,
through lack of space. have been piled one upon
another in the alcoves on tho floor, and where
ever there was room; it will be seen that such a
stupendous undertak ing as this book moving
must be accomplished with much regard to sys-
TEN and arrangement. The 100000 volumes
and all the publications of music and
the graphic arts. These last. since the passage
of the Copyright law of July. 1891. h We in.
creased to n great degree. SO that now almost all
the south wing of the present library and tho
crypt below the centre of the dome OF the Capt.
to are filled with this material. 1t has been one
OF Mr.. Spotford's ambitions TO perfect the sys-
TEN in his Copyrigh hit Division. which at present
he is unable to do on account of the lack of
facilities. In the new building the files can he
kept in order. and the copyrighted articles can
be arranged in such form as to be readily found
for vestigation should occasion demand it,
One OF the i'm portant features OF the new IL
brary building will be its art gallery, in which
intended to be used for this purpose Is OF ble
227 feet long by % feet broad. In this room. in
addition to the oil paintings by famous Ameri-
can artists which will adorn the walls. will be
arts The collection will be composed OF draw
ings. Autographs. chromos. photographs. and
models of printing and illustration by American
artists. printers. and manufacturers. This ex-
OF Mr.. Spofford, and will be added to from time
to time as new copyrighted articles worthy OF
public attention come to his notice.
For the use of Senators. Representatives. pub
rooms will be allotted SO that they may have
entire privacy These rooms are separate and
distinct from the general reading room and the
Congressional reading room. An idea OF the
known that, In addition to all OF these numerous
rooms and galleries. there are accommodations
for about 2.2OO. 900 volumes. or three times the
number in the present library.