The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-26
THE NEW LfBRARY BUILDISG.
An Interior Impressive In Artistic Beauty
and characterization.


WARRINGTON. d. C., Oct. AL
though the new library building Will not
be completed until year from next jan
vary, the work OF construction mas pro
gresscd sufficiently to give an luca OF
the beauty and magnihcence which VIII
be presented TO the world when the
building is finished. There Is certainly
not IN tins country. and probably not Ia
the world. an interior so impressive In
its artistic beauty and splendor OF or
namcntation as that OF the new library.
The main entrance. or First street,
facing the CAPITOL Will, when completed
be "A work % rare beauty and architec-
tural art. but it viii hardly prepare the
visitor for the spiendor OF the INTERIOR
The foyer ahd grand staircase halls are
finished in white Cartaia marble OF the
pcrest type al exQuisiteiy carved The
n.sln sta.IOasts. one on either SIDE OF the
} a. which wind ia "A scmi-circle 10 the
floors above are more magnificent thaI
anything In the Capitol Ihey are OF
white Italian marble. with ricniy carved
balustraaes. The columns OF the stair
case hall are OF the same pure white. al
most transparent, marble, ana ana the
whole gives 10 the interior an appearance
OF splendid purity of color that cannot
fail to impress the beholder
The glory of the building. however. IS
the ro'unea. located in the centre OF the
building underneath The big cold-coVeieu
dome This is finished in different kinds
of marble. The base of the walls Is a
chocolate-colorcd marble from the quar-
ries of Tennessee. Above this the waits
are formed in panels OF marble OF yell
lowish tint while the columns, which eN-
tend 10 the roof. are Of Numidian marble
imported from Africa. These columns
are OF a rich reddish-brown color when
blends tremendously with that OF TIE
other marbles used. The rOtunia ~
10 be the main reading hall OF the build
ing. In the centre VIII be Inc desk OF
the librarian. and about IT VIII be ar
ranged the pneumatic tubes ana DINER
annliances which will be used in main
tanning constant communication win
the Capitol. From this point also VIII
be operated the underground electro car
which will be used 70 convey DOCKS 10
and from the Capitol. The upper floors
of the building all lead to the rotunda.
where they terminate in galleries formed
by small columns Of Carrara marble
The corridors Of the building are an
finished with panels of the same hi.h-
grade marble that marks the rotunda
and the grand staircase hail. except
that II varies in color. In some OF the
corridors each panel differs from the
Others. either IN color or the KIM OF mar
bic used. while in others nothing but the
pure white is seen. The whole will give
a splendid idea Of the many kinds OF
stone the marble ouarries OF the "ofic
afford. for nearly all are represented.
The construction of the new nbrnry
has been carried on under the supervision
OF Captain Green, and the excellence OF
the workmanship has been due to MS
ccaseless care and vigilence. The splen-
did specimens of Cararra marble used IN
the interior Of the building were furnish
"a by Evans a. Co. Baltimore. They
have been the most extensive import
ers Of this high grade OF marble In the
United States. and when bids were cslieu
for easily secured the contract.
The exterior of the building, win the
execution OF some work required upon
the steps at the main entrance. has been
finished. and a large force of men Is AT
work placing the grounds about the bulld-
ing i'm order Asphalt sidewalks are be-
ING laid. and the grounds are being gran
ed and top-dressed preparatory 10 tnelr
laIng seeded with grass. There are 70
be fountains at the south and north fronts
OF the building. and flowers VIII be grown
IN circular beds at each corner or the
square the building occupies. rms WORK
will be finished in a very short time, so
that from the outside the bullding VIII
have all the appearance OF a completed
ruoture.-Baltmore sun.