The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1897-04-28
WASHINGTON NOTES.

WASHINGTON NOTES.
Ten years after the United States of
America came into existence. the Con
gresSional library had its beginning.
Congress WIS about To move from
Philadelphia. The seat of govern.
ment WAS 10 be transferred ON two
sloopS 10 the District of Columbia
There was a fine collection of town lots
but not much else in Washington. So
long rs they remained in Philadelphia,
the Senators and Representatives
made use of the Loganian Library.
When they came to consider the needs
of The new location they appropriated
$4,000 to buy books. and ordered n
room set apart for them in the Capitol
The grandfather of the present Ambas
sador EaNard was one of the commit
Tee which carried out the provision
Two years later Congress employed
librarian NJ 81 Il day 10 take care Of
the books, but stipulated that the pay
VAS for only such time as he was ac-
tually at work. The early approprlu
TONS for the library were $3.50 Il year
II took fourteen years 10 get together
$1,000 books. Then came the British.
under Gen Ross, entering Washing
ton in 1911. They burned the Capitol
and the library Went up In flames. The
next Year Congress made another start
by purchasing the 4. roo books of
Thomas jefferson for S23,95O. In 1871
the Library of Congress. rs II is official.
~ known had grown to about 10000
volumes. \ fire on Christmas Day de
stroHed $4,000 books and part of the
Capitol From 10000 volumes in 1882
the library has reached its present col
lection Of Soao0o, and now takes pos
session of tile finest library building in
tho world, which cost $4,000. 900, and
MAS nine Years la course of cunstrue5
ton.
public building covering II block of
ground and without dark corner Is
something novel in architecture. Yet
that is what the new library Is Such
result is made possible by 500 win
doWs aud by an arrangement of courts
within the exterior rim Of halls The
f'auil'E room Is IN the Very centre, but
Hood of light puurs iii on the cloud
lest day II Is under the golden dome.
Il Is an eight sided room, with the ele-
Nated desk Of the librarian In the cen
Ire. ana all OF the apparatus for com
mhhicatIng with assistants around and
beneath The desks fol. readers are In
circles tacing The librarian The dis.
tahce ACROSS this octagonal room is
fe0 feet kutunda is better drscrfn.
ton than room. For the ceiling is the
Naultcd interior of the dome.
Opening into the raunda on The
eight sides are alcoVes. where eneveIa.
pacdiaS. books of reference. diction-
uries. and works for which there are al
most continuous use Will he kent.
These algovcs are on the level Of the
floor. Headers will be allowed 10 20
into them aud consult such books ms
they may need. Sitting on his high
perch in the centre OF the rotunda. the
librarian or his Immediate representa-.
tive occupies position much like tie
looSout's In - modern poniinniinIY. IIe
mol only haS every occupant of the
reading room under his eyes, but he
can see IN every one of the alcovcs
which are open to the public, These
reference aleoNe1 Will be the only part
OF Inc library containing books To
which readers viii have direct access
FROM tine eight corners of the rotun-
d'i' p'lWeeh the PAIRS ct AlcoN"s. rise
'1' llaSSlNe marble columns which
support Tie golden dome. Ihey are OF
aeep'f ahd richer coloted marble thnn
lial Whlch lofulS me walls. Forty
leel above The hoor Il spacious gallery
chcl'I'S lht f"luhda. from TINS Wis
'otS VINO come on sightseeing bent
VIII look down upon the pracllcal OPP
tf"ll"ii 81 the library only those per
sons VINO WISH 10 read or to consult
Doors VIII make use oi The main floor
VI lh' Io'uiiaa. MI others must go TO
me gallery. III lhlS way the librarian
eNl'ectS TO hhtke the featiihg room u
pl"'' iof STUDY without interruption,
al'houGh he VIII nave from 2'o to 300
re'derS uhder ms supervision when the
room ~ tll- On The edge Of the gal
hIS are pefchrd sixteen bronze ne
9fes. On one SIDE OF the roiunda, al
most on leNcl WIN the gallery, IS
marble clock, SIX icei across the Face.
FROM Inc vantage OF the gallery the
visitor VIII gain comprehensive idea
oil the workings of the library. Look
ing down, he VIII see the applicant for
book come into the rotundH by WAY
OF curtalhed aisle, aud make known
MS request ON slip ot paper ut III"
great central desk. lie viii follow the
movement of the attendant 10 tele'
phone so nicely adjusted that wills
per viii convey the order, Turning
about and looking through the heavy
plate glass into the book stack. he viii
md the attendants on one Of the nine
iioorS receiving the messages n Tho