Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-11-18
CARLOADS OF BOOKS.
TRANSFERRING THE CONGRESSIONAL
LIBRARY TO ITS NEW HOME.


A Yramway and Small Cara UtEiRed-E1OW
the Collection Was CLASSIFIED and Ar
ranged For Removal-A Word AbOut the
New Library aad It's Equipment,
The enormous task Of moving the
congressional library from its old home
in the capitol to the new and handsome
modern structure which has been erect
ed especially to receive it is under way.
Within the last few days great quanti-
ties of duplicate volumes, foreign par
liamentiGy reports and other publica-
tions for which there is NO demand have
been transferred. 1t was intended to
postpone moving day until after the ex-
ira session of congress, to obviate con-
fusion in the arrangement of the vol
umes, which would be irritating to
members who find it necessary to have
daily access to the collection OF works
of reference in the preparation Of
speeches and to prime up for participa-
ton in the debates. But Librarian
Spofford has devised comprehensive
scheme by which the great library can
be taken TO its new home without con-
fusion.
The collection will be classified and
each division arranged by authors al
alphabetically. These divisions will be
subdivided into CLASSES and each class
arranged alphabetically by authors By
an ingenious system Of juggling with
the alphabet the library will be ar
ranged so that any one of the 685, 900
bound volumes and $50, 900 pamphlets
can be reached at a moments notice. 1t
is probable that temporary elevated
railway will be constructed between tho
library building and the capitol for the
transfer of the books Over it small cars,
propelled by electricity, will travel. 1t
was at first proposed to utilize the largo
tunnel between the two buildings
through which the books will be trans
ferred from building to building after
the library is installed, but the elevated
railroad plan was adopted in preference,
as it will run on a level from the main
floor Of the capitol to the main floor OF
the new library and will not necessi-
tate the lowering and eleyating of the
books, which the use Of the tunnel
would entail.
Three gigantic fireproof book racks
have been provided in the new building
for the reception of the library. The
two larger are each 60 feet high, 1l2
feet long and 40 feet wide, and each Of
them will hold 800, 900 volumes, or
more than the present entire contents of
the library of congress. These great
honeycombs of iron are so constructed
that any class or division may be ex-
tended indefinitely without any trouble
and furnish 43 miles of shelving. If the
volumes now in the library were ar
ranged side by side, they would extend
about IA miles, so that the present
shelving facilities will be ample to care
for the growth of the library for several
years to come. Space has been provided
for the erection of other stacks, howev-
er, which will contain 2,700,000 vol
umes, and 1000, 1000 volumes in addi-
ton could lie stored in the courtyard.
1t is expected that the library of con-
gress will some day be the largest in
the world, and the new building has
been constructed with view to provid-
ing accommodations for the growth Of
centuries. When the collection has
reached 100000 volumes, every one
of the books will be accessible at a mo.
ment's notice.
The NATIONAL library of France is at
present the largest in the world, con-
tanning 2,225, 900 books, the British
museum has l,7O0, coo volumes, and
the Russian national library 1000, 600
volumes. The congressional library
holds fifth rank in respect Of magni-
tude, and the Boston library is little
more than half as large, possessing
400, 900 volumes
The largest books in the library of
congress are bound files of old fashion
ed newspapers. Among the heaviest are
Bibles printed in the middle ages with
brass clasps and covers of wood an inch
thick. There are at present 10000
bound volumes of newspaper files, and
at least two newspapers representing
each political party in each state and
territory are bound regularly, in add
ton to many newspapers published in
the principal cities. The library of mu.
sic has not been bound and contains
some 1000, 900 compositions, all con-
tributed under the law by publishers