Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-04-09
A GREAT LIBRARY.
Most Magnificent Building Of Its
Kind in the World.
Covers a Block, Cost $5,ooo,Ooo,
and Contains 100000 Books.

OO@@N~~~--~
Ten years after the United States of
America came into existence the IL
brary of congress had its beginning.
Congress was about to move from
Philadelphia. The seat of govern
ment was to be transferred on two
sloops to the District of Columbia.
There was fine collection of town
lots, but not much else, in Washing
ton. So long as they remained in
Philadelphia the senators anil repre-
sentatives made use OF the Loganian Ii
brary. When they came to consider the
needs of the new location they appro.
priated 5000 to buy books, and or
dered a room set apart for them in the
capito. Tho grandfather Of Amhas-
sador Bayard was ono of the committee
which carried out the provision. Two
years later congress employed Ii
brarian at 81 "A day to take care of the
books, hut stipulated that the pay
was for only such time as he was act
ually at work. The early appropria-
tions for the library were $3.50 year.
1t took fourteen years to get together
5000 books. Then came the British
under General Ross, entering Wash
ington in 1914. They burned the
capitol and the library went up in
flames. Tho next year congress made
another start by purchasing the 600
books of Thomas Jefferson for S23,-
$50. In 1851 the library of congress,
as it is officially known, had grown to
about 60, 700 volumes. A fire on
Christmas day destroyed 35, 900 books
and part of tine capitol. From 20,-
600 volumes in 1852 the library has
reached its present collection of $780,
600, and now takes possession of the
finest library building in the world,
which cost S6. 00O,00 and was nine
years in course of construction.
A public building covering a block
of ground and without dark corner
is something novel in architecture.
Yet that is what the new library is.
Such result is made possible by
1899 windows aud by an arrangement
of courts within the exterior rim OF
of halls. The reading room is in the
very centre, but food of light pours
in on the cloudest day. 1t is under
the golden dome. 1t is an eight
sided room, with the elevated desk OF
the librarian in thu centre, and all of
the apparatus for communicating with
assistants around aud beneath. The
desks for readers are in circles faciug
the librarian. The distance across
this octagoual room is 100 feet. R1
tunda is better description than
room, for the ceiling is the vaulted
interior of the dome. The walls of
this rotunda for forty feet from the
floor are of amber tinted marble, rich
enough in polish and color to be mis-
taken at first glance for onyx.
Opening into the rotunda on the
eight sides are alcoves, where ency-
clopedias, books Of reference, diction-
aries and works for which there is al
mos: continuous use will be kept.
These alcoves are on the level of the
floor. Readers will be allowed to go
into them and consult such books as
they may need. Sitting on his high
perch in the centre of the rotunda, the
librarian or his immediate representa-
tive occupies position much like the
lookout's in modern penitentiary.
He not only has every occupant of the
reading room under his eyes. hnt he
can see into every one of the alcoves
which are open to the public. These
reference alcoves will be the only
parts OF the library containing books
to which readers will have direct ac-
cess. The book racks are completely
isolated. ed.-Globe- Democrat