The evening times., 1896-12-08
HOME OF 4 GREAT LIBRARY
Report Of Architect Green Sent
to Congress.
WORK NEARLY COMPLETED
Building VIII Be Ready for Occu-
pany by the End Of Next Febru-
ary-AlI the Appropriation Not Ex-
hausted Detailed Statements
About the Structure.

The report upon the construction OF the
new library building was today submitted
10 the Senate by Capt. BERNARD X. Green,
United States army. in charge of the work
1t was ordered printed
1t states that at the date OF the
last annual report the work of construction
proper had been practically completed,
and much of the interior finish and fully
thI ec-fourths OF the exterior work or
grading. curbing. paving and putting IN
proper order the court yard. grounds and ap-
pToaches had also been done.
Since that time the work has continued
actively and uninterruptedly, with the
result then anticipated, that the building
is now nearly completed in all particulars.
Capt. Green then shows the actual op-
Grafton OF the year ending December and
states thatthe average lumber orwOrkrnen
employed, other than those of contractors,
was about $50.
WORK NOW IN HAND.
At the present time the work in hand is
the construction of the Okcarrying ap-
paratus for service between the book stands,
the public reading room, and the Capitol,
construction of the pneumatic tube and prl-
vate telephone lines to the Capitol through
the tunnel; adjusting and finishing or the
woodwork OF tie table fixtures and desks
in tie public reading room; placing the last
OF the door and window hardware; electric
lighting fixtures; plain painting, and placing
OF the few remaining mural pictures snd
bronze figures; the bronze doors of th'.
Ina:I entrance: construction; OF the fountain
in the west approaches; and the planting
OF shrubs and dwarf trees IN the grouilis
to complete their design
All of this work is rapidly drawing to
close, and the building VIII, without 'lOub5,
he entirely completed in every particular,
ready to be placed in the hands OF its per-
| IaaneBt custodian, for occupation and use.
by the end of February next, 1887.
The total cost of the building Will be
| about $4,000 less than the limit fixed
| by Congress.
The amount appropriated since October
| 2, 1883, is So, $50 900: and there has been
expended to date 50, SCI ,1l5.9 90, ieav-
ing "A balance unexpenGed Of S314,452,
| which will complete the building.
The report then briefly recommends the
! principal facts relating TO the design and
| construction of the building as itnow stands.
FOR IMMEDIATE ACCOMMODATION
1t states that nesrly all OF the materials
\ and a very considerable part OF the labor
! were obtained by contract through public
advertisement, but some was done by di-
Iectly hired labor.
Ali parts OF the building have been ar
| ranged for the immediate accommo odat tionof
! the Library and the growth Of its accumu-
| lations and functions for many years 70
come.
The ultimate capacity OF the build
ing for books without encroachlng on the
| paviil,ons, reading rooms, museum halls
| or other parts OF the west front, or any
part OF the basement or cellar is up
wards OF 4,5oO,0oO volumes, or some
| what less than 100 miles OF shelving.
The execution OF the work was under the
oh 81, his
| year, and since then tyy Capt. Green, who
| has been assisted by Architects John L..
! Smithmeyer, Paul PelZ. Edward Pearce
| Casey, and Electrical Experts Charles W.
| Newton and DR.. Cary T. Hutchinson.
The sculpture and mural paintings were
! executed by Sculptors Herbert Adams Paul
! w. Bartlett, Thodore Bur, George Bis
| sell, John j. Boyle, Charles E Daiin,
John ponoghue. Daniel c. French, John
Flanag gan, Augustus g. Gsudens, Frederick
Macmonnes and others. and Painters Wal
ter Shirlaw, Elihu Vedder, Kenyon Cox
Walter McEwen, W. B. Van Ingen and
! others.
WORKMANSHIP OF THE BEST.
| All of these artists are American citi-
| Zens, and the report says the building
| throughout is the product of American tai
| ent and skill in architecture and art and
| practically so in Workmanship.
The quality of its materials and work
manshp is of the highest and most perma-
| nent order, as becomes its monum entail de-
| sign and purpose
In conclus Capt. Green says:
THE multitude Of delicate and beautiful
| ornamental details, both within and with
| out the building and grounds, liable to
| injury by thouEht!ess persons, impel me
| to respectfully repeat the recommendation
| made by Gen. Casey in the last annual
| report that some provision OF law be
| enacted at the present session of Congress
| to protect the work frcm DETACHMENT and
| irreparable injury