Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1897-02-26
A GREAT LIBRARY.
The Imposing Building Which
Holds tho Governments Books.
Built for the Express Purpose os Hold
tng Uncle sara's congregational Litsra-
tere-Grnndest Library Buiiss-
ing In the World.

The library Is noble. imposing. mon
umentai structure, by far the finest
building in the national capital, ia
many respects the finest public build
ing on the continent, and, in the opinion
of those well qualified to Judge. the
finest library building in the world.
That n building of its size. solidity,
thorough construction and elaborate
and artistic establishment should be
completed ready for occupancy Tor less
than $7.OO0,0O0 is a matter for nationul
congratulation. Not ouly will IL be
completed for less than the original es-
innate. but within the time limit set
nearly nine years ago. 1t is. therefore,
both monument of good taste in archi-
lecture and the decorative arts and
testimonial to the ability Of the gov
eminent, acting through its regular of
hcials, TO plan and direct great public
works. to finish them within the time
originally fixed and to keep within
original estimates Of cost-and these
are no slight gains.
The bdilding u, Of course. fireproof.
Little that will burn has been used in
its construction. The exterior walls
are of gray granite. The interior or
court walls are OF creamy white glazed
brick. The framework OF the roofs
and ceiling OF the dome surmounting
the roturda is OF iron and steel Fire.
proof material has been used between
the iron girdefs in all floors, aud the
partition walls are OF brick Floors
and wainscoting. stairways and balus-
trades are nearly all of marble. and.
there is good authority for the claim
that more Of this material has been used
In the building than there is in any
other building III the world. With the
exception OF the colored marble in the
rotunda it is nearly all American
marble.
The library at present contains over
100000 bound volumes, besides 22O. COO
pamphlets. The three book stacks now
completed. together with the alcoves
Immediately adjoining the central read
ing-room. will hold 1.l6s, 900 volumes,
which will provide for the growth Of
the library for Is years, at the present
rate of increase. about 1000 volumes a
year. The unassigned rooms will hold
1.0I7.00o volumes. which will provide
for all additions for 50 years For the
growth after that date the main rooms
OF the first and second stories of the
north. east and south sides will hold. on
the stack and alcove systems of storage,
1922. 200 volumes. increasing the total
capacity to 3.537 600 volumes. which will
be sufficient for about 90 years fropt
this date. The capacity can be still
further Increased by 100000 volumes
by the building OF one-story stacks IN
tor fnr~... - ~ Al.
least interfering with the light I'm the
second and third stories and only slight
~ obstructing the light in n few in
terror corridors of the first or base
mcnt floor. Unless the additions shall
be more numerous than is now expected
the new building will, therefore. prove
ample for the needs OF the library for
l25 years. It's total capacity being about
100000 volumes.-E. a. Hampstead. in
Chautauquan.