Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1897-01-08
A GREAT LIBRARY.
Tho Imposing Building which
Holds tho Governments Books.
Built for tho Express Purpose OF Hold
ina Unc;e SANS congregational Litcra-
tnrc-Graldcst Library uuiid-
ing In tho World.

The library is noble, imposing. mon
umental structure, by fur the finest
building in the national capital, in
many respects the finest public build
ing on the continent, and, in the opinion
Of those well qualified to judge. the
finest library building in the world.
That building of its size, sol:dity,
thorough construction and elaborate
and artistic establishment should be
completed ready for occupancy for less
than S7.C00,0G0 is II matter for national
congrntulation. Not only will il be
completed for less than the original es-
timate> hut within the time limit set
nearly nine years ago. II is. therefore,
both monument of good taste in archi-
lecture and the decorative arts and q
testimonial to the ability of the gov
eminent, acting through it's regular Of
ficlals. TO plan and direct great public
works. to finish them within the time
originally fixed and to keep within
original estimates of cost-nnd these
IRE no slight gains.
The building ", of course, flreproof.
Little that Will burn has been used in
Its construction. The exterior walls
nre OF gray granite. The interior or
court walls are of creamy white glazed
brick. The framework of the roofs
and ceiling OF the dome surrounding
the rotunda Is of iron and steel. Fire
proof material has been used between
the iron girdcrs in all floors. and the
partition walls are Of brick. Floors.
ard wairscotlng, stairways and balus-
trades nre nearly all of marble. and.
there Is good authority for the claim
that more of this material has been used
In the building than there is in any
other building in the world. With the
exception of the colored marble In the
rotunda II is nearly all American
mar!,le.
The library at present contains over
10000 bound volumes. besides 2a0,CO0
pamphlets. The three book stacks now
completed. together with the alcoves
immediately adjoining the central read
ing-room, will hold 1.16s.O0C volumes.
which will provide for the growth of
the library for IS years, at the present
rate of increase. about 10000 volumes n
yenr. The unassigned rooms will hold
1.oi7.0C9 volumes. which will provide
for all additions for so years. For the
growth after that date the main rooms
of the first and second stories Of the
north. cast and south sides will hold. on
tho stack and nlcove systems Of storage,
1.3e2.c00 volumes, increasing the total
capacity to 1851. 600 volumes, which will
be sufficient for about 90 years frop,
this date. The capacity can be still
further increased by 100000 volumes
hv the building of one-storv stacks is
the interior courtyards, without in the
Least interfering with the light indhe
second and third stories and only slight.
iy ohstruct:ng the light in few in
terror corridors of the first or base
mrnt floor. Unless theiudditions shall
lie more numerous than is now expected
the new building will. therefore. prove
ample for the needs of the library for
49, years, its total capacity being about
4,noo.coo volumce.-E. A. Hampstead in
Chautauqnan.