Evening star., 1896-11-27
alton with the central desk in the reading

The experience In carrying out its con-
strucfion so far proves its merits that no
though several have been devised in COM
petition with 1t in the market. All others
are sheet iron or tray constructions. some
OF tnem rickety, and sll more or less in
this one. The stack and shelving in the
Congressional Library is square, solid.
plain and in every detail the most appro-
pirate and natural holder of books Of every
size. shape and kind. and, all in all. one
which Librarians find no fault with, ex-
cept, naturally. that 1t costs somewhat
more than less complete structures 1t full
fills all the requirements that have been
specified by librarians themselves, the
lack OF which In the past they have great
ly lamented.
The Book Carriers.
"A mechanical book carrier to accomplish
more than the old. simple dumb-waiter is
novelty because never before called for,
nor have the conditions for its satisfactory
operation existed in libraries heretofore.
In this building accommodations for such
an apparatus were incorporated in the
foundation plans. The carrier will consist
of series of trays suspended between a
pair Of endless chains. the route of which
Is downward from the central desk in the
reading room to the cellar thence under
the ceiling horizontally to the foot of the
shaft in the middle Of the book stack
thence vertically upward to the top of the
stack. passing through every story. The
details cannot be made clear without a
working model, but the principle Of opera
tion will be apparent when I say that the
trays and the receiving and delivering
slides may be lfkened to combs engaging
with each other. The back and two ends
OF the tray are solid plates. while the bot
tom and front are a set of long teeth
whose ends turn upward TO form the front
OF the tray. The action may be initiated
IN general by passing the bent fingers of
one hand between those of the other.
The machine Is almost entirely automatic.
To send books from any story Of the stack
the attendant places them on the toothed
receiving Plate throws over a short lever
and goes about his business. In a few
seconds one Of the carrier trays on the con-
tlnuously moving cables comes along picks
up the books, carries them to the central
desk In the reading room and lands them
on delivery slide, whence they drop into q
padded box near the hand Of the attendant,
VINO may pass them at once to the appi-
cant. The volumes are returned 20 heir
proper story OR deck of the stack by
similar operation, the only difference being
that on depositing them on the receiving
plate the attendant must set the lever at
a number on a dial corresponding with the
stack deck for which the book is destined.
railing to correctly set the dial number
Will result In no damage to the book. but
only cause 1t to be carried to the wrong
deck. About eighteen trays will be used,
placed equidistant along the endless cables
which will run at a speed of about 100 feet
per minute. At this rate book starting
from the lower deck of the stack will reach
the reading room in three minutes, or from
the top deck In two and one-third minutes.
The trays will carry anything up 20 the
size of a ouarto, and a thickness of about
three inches Thus single volume. or sew
eral, held together with rubber band or
| other strap may be sent in one tray. and
very delicate books. pamphlets or other
paper matter may be readily handled by
placing them 81 simple pouches or en-
| velopes Of canvas. leather or other ma
terial, as may be found convenient.
Intercourse and service between the GEN.
trail desk and the stacks Is arranged for as
follows: The applicant for book may
write out his ticket at the standing cesk
to the attendant. who may place 1t in the
proper pneumatic tube carrier. which Is
shot in few seconds to that story Of the
stack where the volume is shelved. The
stack attendant receives the ticket, takes
the book from the shelf. places 1t on the
carrier receiving-Dlate and turns the lever.
THE carrier transports the book to the
reading room. Ordinarily not more than
five or six minutes, including the time
necessary to get the book from the shelf
in the stack and start 1t on its way TO the
reading room. will be consumed by the
whole operation. Oral communication be-
tween the attendants at the central desk
and those In the several stories OF the
stacks is had through the pneumatic mes
sage tubes by means of mouthpieces pro-
vided.
"volumes exceeding the quarto size will,
Of course. have to be carried by messenger.
who may use the stairs or elevator, taking
with him. II necessary. by :he latter con-
| veyance. a rubber-tired wheeled truck for
loads greater than he can handle in his
arms.
Capacity for the Future.
Future growth and expansion Of the IL
brary and all Its coordinate branches has
been so literally provided for by the size
and arrangement Of the building that some
surplus space will exist at first.
'The spaces already assigned by their spe-
cial arrangement and construction are, be-
sides corridors and lavatories, the main
stair hall. public reading room three book
bers Of Congress. librarians Office. museum
halls, ,wo rooms for the custodian and
captain Of the watch and a restaurant.
THE librarian proposes to occupy certain
of the remaining spaces as follows: In the
basement story, bookbinding, printing,
stamping and packing; in the first story,
catalogue room. copyright office and work,
copyright archives and reserves Toner col
lection. Smithsonian, special researches and
Washingtoniana; in the second story, ex-
hibition of Americana, art books. early
Printed books and gallery Of the graphic
art.
"Tke werming and ventilating apparatus
has been specially designed for the pc
culiar requirements of the several parts of
the building, because the great rotunda
reading room. book stacks, museums. halls,
Offices and working rooms require each
their own means Of separate control In
general terms the object is attained as
follows: Indirect radiation-that of warming
the fresh air in the cellar and passing 1t
up through flues to the several apartments
| is almost wholly used. The radiators in the
cellar are hot-water coils The water is
warmed by steam heaters. the steam for
which, well as for power to run the
machinery, is all made in a battery of boil
ers located quite outside the building un-
derground in the east front. Here also are
the coal vaults and steam pumps. There
will be no fires in the building, excepting
when made in the three fireplaces in the
two congressional reading rooms, which,
however, are independently warmed by the
general apparatus. High pressure steam is
made alike In all the boilers (sixteen in
number), of which as many may be used
from time to time as the needs of the build
ing require. The steam runs the pumps,
air compressor for the pneumatic-tube sys-
TEN and dynamos for illumination and
power and heats the water for warming the
building.
Electric motors will drive the book-carry-
ing apparatus and ventilating fans, Of
which few are placed in the cellar under
the book stacks and reading room for use
in mild or very warm weather. These fans
may readily be applied In these or any
other parts of the building in future should
they be needed.
mot only has complete apparatus been
provided for the internal service Of the Ii
hror {fco1 ht,ff hoe, hoov,