Evening star., 1896-12-08
Mr.. Bernard B. Green Makes an Ex-
haustive Report.
DETAILS OF TIE WHOLE GREAT WORK
What Sculptors and Artists Have
Done to Beautify 1t.
T H E C ST OF I T

of Congress. has submitted the following
report to the chairman of the Joint COM
mittee on library:
Sir: In accordance with law I have the
honor to submit the following report upon
the construction of the building for the
library of Congress during the year ending
December L. 1896:
'All previous reports since the passage of
the act of October 9. 1885, have been made
by Brigadier General Thos. Lincoln Casey,
U.S-A-, who was placed in charge of the
building by that act. His death occurring
suddenly on March 25. 1896. received the
honor of appointment as his successor by
the joint resolution of April 2. 1896.
''At the date of the last annual report
the work of construction proper had been
practically completed, and much of the in
terror finish and fully three-fourths of the
exterior work of grading, curbing, paving
and putting in proper order the court
yards. grounds and approaches had also
been done. Since that date the work has
continued actively and uninterruptedly
with the result then anticipated. that the
particulars
The actual operations of the year have
been mainly the following: ,
completion of shelves for the book
stacks: placing the cast iron and steel book
shelves in the two tiers of alcoyes sur
rounding the rotunda or public reading
room: completion of interior marble work:
laying the mosaic, tile and granite floor
covering of the halls and rotunda. including
the basement of the latter. completion of
plastering and stucco work: completion of
the wood floor covering of rooms; all
plumbing work of the fourteen lavatories.
SEPARATE wash basins. etc: completion of
the nine elevators. hanging the remainder
of the doors. excepting the three pairs of
bronze doors of the main entrance: con-
struction and completion of the forty-six
large panels of ornamental glass ceiling
lights in the north, east and south cur
tains. second story, and IN the main stair
hall; construction and completion of the
interior ornamental glass work of the
eight great clerestory windows of the ro-
tunda: completion of the ornamental wood
en- wainscOt and flooring of the two con-
gressional reading rooms and librarians
office; construction and essential compile
ton of the mahogany central desk. cata-
logue counter and reading tables combined
with the iron warming and ventiating
pedestals. and the book-carrying apparatus
etc. or The rotunda or public reading room
completion of the electric dynamos. en-
g1nes and switchboard in the cellar, and
the electric wiring of the building; INSTALL
ing fourteen electric yentilating fans
manufacture of electric lighting fixtures
lot the building: continuing the construc-
ton OF the book-carrying apparatus be-
tween the public reading room and the
north and south book stacks. constructing
the chief part of the similar apparatus in
the tunnel communicating with the Capt.
tol: completion of the combined pneu-
matte and speaking tube system between
the public reading room and the several
book stacks; decorative and plain painting
throughout the building; placing nearly all
OF the special mural paintings and archi-
tectural sculptures: completion, In the
spring of the year. of the stone work of
the approaches: removal. in the month of
March. of the two remaining old brick
buildings, occupying the northeast corner
OF the grounds. and used until then for
the office of the works: sales and removal
OF old materials. tools. etc. by auction
and the completion In the spring of the
year. of the whole northeast quarter of the
grounds by grading. curbing and paving
and also laying the remaining half of all
the granolithic walks about the building
The asphalt pavement of both the front
and rear driveways of the building was
laid in December. 1895. On June 8 the last
OF the scaffolding. including the travelling
scaffold in the vault of the dome. was re-
moved from the main rotunda and on July
81 that of the body of the main stair hall
was also removed. The base of the dome
vault, left open to accommodate the cir
sular track of the travelling scaffold, has
been closed and completed. The average
number of workmen employed during the
year. other than those of contractors, was
about two hundred and sixty.
List of Contracts.
The formal contracts that have been in
force during any part of the year are
shown in the following table:
Details to BE Finished,
AT the present time the work in hand
Is the struc ton of the book carving
apparatus above referred to for service be-
tween the book stacks, the public reading
room and the Capitol; construction of the
pneumatic tube and private telephone line s
to the Capitol through the tunnel; adjust
ing and finishing of the woodwork of the
table fixtures and desks in the public read
ing room; placing the last of the door and
window hardware, electric lighting ixt Ires
plain painting and placing Of the few re-
manning mural pictures and bronze figures
tae bronze doors Of the main entrance. con-
STuction of the fountain in the west ap-
p<oaches. and tie planting Of shrubs and
dwa1f trees in the grounds to complete
their design. All of this work Is rapidly
drawing to close and the building will.
without doubt. be entirely compile: I'd in
every essential particular ready to be
placed in the hands of Its permanent Gus
tOdian for occupation and by the end
Of February next. 1897. as foreshadowed
n the last annual report and as estimated
N the original project of December J, 1883
Mis-. Doc. No. Il. 50th Congress. second
SESSION.. which the act of March 2,
1889, authorizing the construc ton of the
present building was based. 1t is possible.
however. that some bronze pieces of the
fountain. one statue and a portion of One
of the bronze doors will be somewhat de-
layed beyond that time. but not to inter-
fere with the occupation and use OF the
building.
Statement of Funds.
Amount appropriated since October 2,
1885, $3.50. 900; balance of appropriation of
April 15 1885, s245. J7 "a; total. S. 567 o.;
amount expended prior to last report.
s5,I97 5212T: amount expended since last
report Stl63. .594.65: total expended since Oc-
tober > 1885, s. sci, 1852; unexpeuded De-
cember L. 1896, 1914, ,io2.O2
No additional appropriation Is required to
complete the building.
THE end of this great work being now
SC near at hand and its completion already
practically realized. this may be regarded
as the last of the regular annual reports
called for by law to be rendered to Con-
gress at the commencement of each ses-
sion. and the present proper time to re-
count briefly the principal facts relating to
the design and construction of the building
as IL now stands. When the end of the
work is reached, as above anticipated, a
supplemental report will be submitted con-
tanning & detailed statement Of the cost.
'-The first act of Congress providing for
the construction of the building was ap-
proved on April Is, 1856 Its terms adopted
the plan submitted by John l.. Smithmeyer,
created a commission consisting Of the Sec
retary of the Interior. the architect of the
Capttal and the librarian of Cop-