The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-19
John Russell Young Talks of Our Big Book
Collection, and Tells Where 1t Is
Strong and Weak.

Young, "and that IS that one OF the best
places 10 leave their money TO is the
National Library. The British Museum
Library was founded by the GIFT Of
man named Hans Sloan. 80 years ago.
II was first kept in one OF the dueal pal
aces and for a tine was called the Kings
Library. George ". desired 10 sell II at
one time, when he was hard up. but
when ne found that he could not do so
he gave IL TO the people. Ii has since
been largely increased by gifts. Just now
/ understand that there is a fine collec-
ton OF Burns works in this city. II IS
owned BY William r. Smith. the super
intendsnt Of the Botanical Gardens and
is said 10 be one of the finest Burns COL
lections in the world. ! have understood
that he expects 10 give il to the Masonic
Library OF Washington, but l have writ
ten him that he should give Il 10 the Ma
tional Library. Why should not some
rich man buy a collection OF this kind
and give IL 20 the library? Take some OF
our millionaires. such as John Mackay.
Rockefeller and others. What better
monument could they leave for them
selves than a big collection OF some kind
10 be known in the library as their col
lection, and 20 be always called by their
name? / would like TO see national pride
aroused in the library. II IS a library for
the people, and We hope 10 make IL so
accessible that it viii be at the command
Of everyone who Genes TO Washington"
Washington as a Literary Center.
lis not Washington already one Of The
best literary centers Of the union?'
Yes. IL IS" was the reply. 1T is fast
becoming the seat of great collections.
The National Library is only one OF a
number. There should be a general cat
alogue published Of all the books in
Washington. stating where they may be
the best medical library of the world.
This IS known as the library of the Army
and Medical Museum. II has more than
10000 volumes and about 10000 pamph
let's comprising. IL is said. copies of
about thTee-fourth Of all the medical lit
erature published, and copies of nine
tenths of all the medical books pub
lshed within the last 10 years. Doctors
now come from all parts of the country
to consult this library. Along some lines
II surpasses the library OF the British
Museum, and that of France. The
Smithsonian library is very rich in
scientific matter. 1t contains something
like 300, 600 volumes and pamphlets. There
will be about 100 eco of these books stored
in the National Library and accessible
there. Then each of the great depart
ments has a library. The Patent Office
library is one of the finest of its kin,t
IT contains about 5000 volumes and is
rich in scientific works and periodicals.
The State department has many vaIua-
bic books and manuscripts and the War
department and Navy department are
rich in publications along their own lines
The geological survey has a fine library
Of travel and science, and there are 9TH
er collections Of value. all of which are
open 10 the public. A great deal OF
scientific work is steadily going on in
Washington. and there is no reason why
It should not be the chief literary center
Of the country"
In the New Library.
At this point Mr. Young spread out the
plans Of the floors OF the library and
showed me how he expected TO arrange
the different departments. We first took
the third floor plan
Here said he, we viii have a lee
ture room. which will seat 800 people. and
which may be used for scientific and lit
eTary conventions. We shall use one Of
the rooms for the Smithsonian Institution
collection. so that II may be right near
the lecture room. In the south gallery
we viii have a collection of the graphic
arts Of the United States. making here
an art gallery in which people can see
what our people have done along these
lines since the government has been
founded. This collection is the out
growth Of the copyright law. but hitherto