The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-09-25

The Imposing Building Which
Holds the Government Books.
Built for the Express Purpose OF Hole,
Ing Uncle Sans Congressional LAtern-
ture-Grandest Library Build
ing In the World.

The library is noble, imposing. men,
umental structure, by far the finest
building in the national capital, in
many respects the finest public build
ing on the continent. and, in the opinion
of those well qualified to judge. tho
finest library building in the world.
That building of it's size. solidity.
thorough construction and claiborne
and artistic establishment shc1.i be
completed ready for occupancy for less
than 100000 is q matter for national
cougratulation. Not only will it ba
completed for less than the original es-
innate, but within the time limit set
nearly nine years ago. 1t is, therefore,
both a monument of good taste "a archi-
lecture and the decorative a-:A and q
testimonial to the ability Of the gov
ernment. acting through its regular Of
ficials, to plan and direct great public
works, to finish them within the time
originally fixed and to keep within
original estimates of cost-and these
are no slight gains.
The building is, of course, 6-vproof
Little that will burn has been used in
its construction. The exterior walls
are of gray granite. The interior OF
court walls are of creamy white glazed
brick. The framework of the roofs
and ceiling of the dome surrounding
the rotunda is of iron and steel. Fire
proof material has been used between
the iron girders in all floors. and the
partition walls are Of brick. Floors
and wainscoting, stairways and balus-
trades are nearly all of marble, and
there Is good authority for the claim
that more Of this material has been used
in the building than there is in any
other building in the world. With the
exception of the colored marble in the
rotunda it is nearly all American
marble.
The library at present contains over
$50, 900 bound volumes, besides 100000
pamphlets. The three book stacks now
completed. together with the alcoves
Immediately adjoining the central read
ing-room, will hold 1.16s. 900 volumes
which will provide for the growth OF
the library for IS years, at the present
rate Of increase, about 10000 volumes
year. The unassigned rooms 1ill hold
1 .o47.ooo volumes. which win provide
for all additions for 50 years. For the
growth after that date the main roome |
of the first and second stories Of the |
north, east and south sides will hold, OF |
the stack and alcove systems of storage |
1 1922, 600 volumes, increasing the total |
to 1851, 900 umes,whicb viii |
be sufficient for about 90 years frop
this date. The capacity can be still |
further increased by 1.1oo. 900 volumes
By the building of one-story stacks j.
the interior courtyards, without in the
least interfering with the light in The
second and third stories ard only slight
y obstructing the light IN few in.
terror corridors Of the first or base
nent floor. Unless the additions shall
be more numerous than is now expected
The new building will. therefore. prove
ample for the needs of the library for
LBS years. it's total capacity being about
{ 600 900 volumes.-E. A. Hampstead, in