New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-05

one OF two courts 81 feet square This court
Will he covered with glass under thc level of the
sllls OF the nrst-story windows.
There Is "A third less important entranc" on
Forteth-st. communicating directly with STARS
and elevators for the service of the puild-
ing. all Of this part OF the building being he
voted 10 practical purposes for the adinihiS'ra
ton Of the library There Will be In this part
the business SUPERINTENDENT. the receiving ana
checking rooms. the catalogue room. accession
rooms ordering. printing and binding rooms
etc
ION the second floor. the Fortieth-st and
Fifth-ave corner there will he n room for Df. j.
s. Billings the director, and "A room for the
trustees also n large lecture room. Tn" north
side. Forty sec md st. Will he devoted mostly
TO special reading rooms and separate rooms for
maps. public documents. newspapers. periodi-
calls. music g., The top floor will be used for
the Stewart collection. which must he kept IN
one room. ard also for other picture galleries,
special exhibitions etc
I'm the rear OF the building is the main sthck-
ROOM seven tiers Of stacks with the main read
Ing rooms Immediately over them. thus giving
direct communication between the STACKS anu
the reading rooms. The location OF the man
reading rooms on the top floor is n mover Ieat-
ure but most satisfactory. as 1t lnsures peri.c'
light. quiet and convenience. III. .n m,,' oI
about 40 feet OF ground between the west eis
walton OF the building and the present PARK.
Tbis viii be treated in an architectural way. to
be in character with the building
THE ARCHITECTS IDEA.
I'm design. the cndeavor has been to make the
building very monumental in character win
classical proportions and very big and impress
sive In scale II will be built either In white mar
bile or Indiana limestone. As n composition. the
elevation expresses the arrangement or the
scheme OF plan carefully presented by the
trustees and the librarian. the arrangement or
interior being made to express Itself frankly on
the exterior the large pedments showing the
main reading rooms the attic over the cornice
indicating the picture galleries. and the windows
large I'm scale on the first floor. IL feet wide
indicating the special reading-rooms. The side
elevations north and south. are simple IN cnar-
acter To express the business purpose to when
this part Of the building Is devoted
'"rhe STYLE OF architecture Is "reminiscences IL ~
IN sed upon classical principles. but modern In
fee,Inp and II has been the purpose OF the
architects 10 express the spirit Of our times fol-
Iovinp and carving out the historical ontinuity
az STYLE (as in all OF their past work. without
ala yishly following any particular period. or
without endeavorng to invent a new style
(See article on this subject by Thomas Hastings.
in 'Harper's Weekly. or May. iS4 and Fep-
ruary 1917 1t Is safe TO say that this Is the
General feeling among the abest and most pro-
1ressye men in the profession.
.'The Ionic order in columns or pilasters IS
used in the main Fifth-ave. elevation. the col
umns are 46 feet In height. including the en-
tablature 1t Is. OF course. the Intention or me
architects TO restudy the building In detail espe-
cialiv 40 as to fairgrounds. The two columns
or monuments on the front corners may os