St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1897-05-15

has cone to bc cne of the best
equipped law libraries in the country.
The regular library received an
appropriation in 1882 of $4,000, for fur
niture and repairs.
In lS4S the new library received a
bonus of $2,412 for its enlargement; and
| in 1850 the usual appropriation 81 900
for the. same was increased to So, 600 by
act of congress.
BY 1851 the library of congress had
become the pride of the nation, having
increased to $4,000 volumes; but again
sustained a check by the fire of Decem-
Der 24 of that year, when 81, 900 volumes
were destroyed.
Congress Immediately made an appro-
pliation of $4,000 to replace this loss,
and again, in 1852, another appropria-
| tion of $72, 600 for the repairs of the Ii.
brary room, and $4,000 for the pur-
chase of books to make good the loss OF
those destroyed by the fire.
John j. Stephenson was appointed
librarian of congress in 1861 by Abra-
ham Lincoln. He only remained in
office three years, when, upon his resig-
nation, A. R. spofford, the present in
cumbent, was appointed.
1t is needless to recite the various
acts of congress whereby additions Of
books have been made to the library;
the most notable one being the Smith
sonian collection (then numbering
1000 volumes, but now 0,000, or al
most one-half of the stock of the whole
national library, whereby the most
valuable collection of scientific books
extant has been added to the national
library; for, by the Smithsonian sys-
tenn of exchange, whereby copies of
their publications are exchanged with
Jackson appointed John S. Meehan, OF
Washington, librarian of congress. He
continued in Office until the accession
of Lincoln, and died at the advanced age
of 72, having continued in office 80
years.
Heretofore the library had been for
the exclusive use of senator's and repre-
every scientific society on the face of
the globe, they have obtained practical
ly complete library of all scientific
works.
The library at this date contains up.
wards of 755,ooo books, 25o,ooo PAM
phlets, 100000 sheets of music, $4,000
maps and 10000 engravings, photo
graphs, Autographs, etchings, photo
gravures and pictorial illustrations in
general. BY this it will be seen that
the library has outgrown it's accommo-
dations, for its room at the capitol
only gives shelf space for $4,000. Be-
cause of the marvellous growth and de-
velopment of the library, Librarian
Spofford, in 1872, recognized the neces-
sity for the rental, purchase or erec-
tion of new building. He was dill
gently engaged for "A years in the
effort before decisive act of congress
permitted the cornerstone of the pres
ent beautiful library building to be
laid: A description of this architec-
tural conception cannot be given in
limited space; it stands preeminent
over all public buildings. and is, with
cut doubt or qualification, the greatest
and most beautiful building in the
world.
/ The work Of removing the books from
the present library room in the capi,
tol will begin shortly, the transfer to
be made by wagons and not by the
small underground tunnel, as is cur.
rently believed. Shelves in the new
library are now being correctly mum.
bered in accordance with those in the
capitol room, so as to prevent confu.
sion
The present librarian has been ir
charge of this great collection of liter