Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1897-02-26
A GREAT LIBRARY.
The Imposing Bmlding Which
Holds tho Governments Books.
Built for the Express Purpose OF Hold
ins Uncle sana's congregational Littrs-
tare-Grnndest Library B1iis-
ing IN the World.

The library is noble, imposing. mou-
umental structure, by far the finest
building in the national capitol. i'd
many respects the finest public build
Ing OH the continent, and, in ths opinion
of those well qualified to Judge, the
finest library building in the world.
That building of its size. solidity,
thorough construction and elaborate
and artistic establishment should be
completed ready for occupancy for less
Than S7,OO0,O00 is a matter for nationuf
congratulation. Not only will it he
completed for less than the original es-
timate. but within the time limit set
nearly nine years ago. 1t is. therefore,
both q monument of good taste in urchi-
lecture and the decorative arts and
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. fireproof.
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 surmounting
the rotunda Is Of iron and steel. Fire.
proof material hus been used between
the iron girdefs in all floors, and the
PARTITION wallis are OF brick. Fioorsi
and wainscoting. stairways and balus-
trades are nearly all of Marble. and,
there is good authority for the claim
tina, more OF this material has been used
In the building than there ia In any
other building III the world. With the
exception Of the colored marble in the
rotunda it Is nearly ali American
marble.
The library at present contains over
100000 bound volumes. besides 10000
pamphlets. The three book stacks now
completed. together with the alcoves
immediately adjoining the central read
ing-room. will hold 1.l6s,OOO volumes,
which will provide for the growth of
the library for IS years, ut the present
rate of increase. about 10000 volumes a
year. The unassigned rooms will hold
1.o+7.oOO volumes. which will provide
for all additions for 80 years For the
EiON'H NttCt tltsit tutc the mann rooms
OF the first and second stories of tho
north. east and south sides will hold. on
the stack and alcove systems of storage.
, 1920 volumes. increasing the total
capacity to 3.531 900 volumes. which will
be sufficient for about 90 years frop,
this date. The capacity can be still
further Increased by 100000 volumes
by the building OF one-story stacks in
the interior conrtyards, without in the
least interfering with the light in the
second and third stories and only slight
" obstructlng the light in few in
terror corridors of the first or base
mrnt 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
1913 years. Its total capacity being about
100000 volumes.-E. a. Hampstead. in
Chautauquan.