The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-19

co,xrsgssea. 1ss7, By Frank O. csrpsnts-.
WASHINGTON. =. g. September =.
rk7-r Rad ar hours chat today with
NJ. John Russell Young ss 20 his plans
for the new National Library. He had
fist returned 10 hfs home. after going
ever the various rooms with Ar. Spof-
ford and the chiefs q the different d.
visions. and had before him a set II
plans. showing che floors and fast how
each part % THIS great book palace ID 20
~ arranged. Mr. Young's home is now
on New Jersey avenue. WITHIN a few
blocks q the library. In going % Sc
him I walked BY the front % the Nation
81 Capitol down the central stairs %
which q wooden trough or chute has
been built TO carry the boxes cf books
from the old library down into the
wagons IN which they are 20 b carried
20 the new ! saw scores q Worknen
bringing these boxes on their shoulders
out OF the capitol and putting them into
the chute. Men stood ar the bottom %
catch the boxes as they came tying
down ard a. soon as che wagon was
loaded I noticed that there wss another
there 70 take fts place. Already several
hundred thousand books have been
moved. and e f. expected that long be-
fore Congress meets this vast collection
o. volumes and pamphlets viii be stored
away IN its uew home.
The New Librarian of Congress
Before 7 give my interview with Mr..
YOUNG. let me tell you something about
the man. some ~ she papers seem 70
look upon him a. a politician rather than
Us 4 literary man. This is mistake.
~. Young 81 almost q born htterateur.
lie began 20 write for me newspapers
long before ne vas out Of his teens He
has been student All his lie. and today
De has one OF the largest private libraries
r. the United States. His collection Of
Americana at Philadelphia numbers sew
eral thousand volumes and he has rare
editions OF nearly all the greater authors.
Ills literary work has been carried on
Al over the word For years he was the
head 81 the New York Herald bureau in
London aud as such spent much time IN
the British Museum Library. He has
also worked for months IN the National
Library - France. He has had access
20 the collections OF Spain AZ Madrid.
and there is hardly a great library o. the
world which he does not know. As q
writer he ls noted for the purity Of his
English and when be talks his language
g. the purest Angio-S8Eou. 50 worGed
that C could 20 Published without re-
vision lie has always received high sal
aries. 7 am told he got $1,000 a year
from Nr Bennett Of the Herald he
must have been well paid when he was
vice president Of the Reading railroad.
ard 7 imag lns his work today Is done
mere FOR The love ~ It than for the g.. 600
salary which be gets from the govern
fneut.
How Mckinley Appointed Young.
II has been stated that Mr. Young's ap-
polutment was a severe blow 90 Aims
worth r. Sp0nord the old librarian of
congress This a. a mistake. Mr. Spot
ford himself wrote the president that he
DID not wish 10 be continued as chief
and in his letter he himself suggested
that Mr.. Young be chosen as librarian.
When President Mckinley offered John
Russell Young the position, Mr. Young
said he could not accept Il on account
81 his friendship for Mr.. Spofford. Said
re:
Mr.. President. Mr. sp0ford and
have been friends FOR over thirty years
We Ike each other and I would not for
the world 60 anything that would affect
our relations"
Upon this President Mckinley showed
Nj Young Mr. SponoTd's letter. and
some weeks after that Mr. Young ac-
cauted the appointment. The relations
cf the two men are az the hest nature.
They are working together. SpofTord ac:-
ing as literary assistant and Young as
administration head. executive manager
aat On short as hbrarlan-in-chief.
Uncle SANS Hooks
asked Mr Young 10 tell me some
tEing ~ the size ~ yncle Sans book co.,
lection. he replied:
ZIG Is hard % say as vet just what II
g. For years thousands Of pamphlets
uud volumes have been stored away in
boxes. packed up ia bundles and piled
1u iu an sorts % shapes IN the basement
ar tho capitol We know that we have
altogether about 1905 books and 250el0
= mphists making q million in au We
have. ] judge something Ike 30 60 UNI
bound periodicals $50 so pieces IF music
au3 AZ least @ a0 MAPS In addition -
these there arc manuscripts. pictures and
a vast amount Of material. the value 81