The times., 1899-07-18
THE new LIBRARY DESIGN
Less Than Ten Plans Left From
Which to Make Choice.
The Matter to De Dccided This Af-
ternOOn. Say the Commissioncrs-
over Two Hundred Drawings on
Exhibition ut the City HnIi-Eic-
giant and EIaborte Work shown.

A design for the public library to be
erected in Mount Vernon Square at a cost
of S250,00O with funds donated by An
drew Carnegie will be selected shortly
after O'Clock this afternoon. Twenty
six architects submitted designs. The
choice has narrowed down to the designs
of less than ten architects. Accordingly,
about sixteen architects were shelved yes
terday, and the award will be made to
one of the aforesaid less than ten
The Library Commissioers are very dip
lomatic in their work and refuse to state
the exact number Of architects yet re-
naming in the competition. Less than
ten" is all that can be learned, but this
assertion was accompanied by the positive
statement that a decision will be reached
tomorrow afternoon" is. some time
today.
The full Library Commission saw al the
two hundred and some drawings submit
ted to illustrate the twenty-six ideas for
a building. offered by that many competi-
tors, for the first time yesterday. When
the plans were received on July u Com
missioner Ross. President of the Library
Commission. was in Lewistown, III. Only
four members were therefore present
when the packages were opened. After
the return of Commissioner Ross Captain
Beach became indisposed for two days
and was unable to return TO his desk. He
managed, however, to reach the District
Building yesterday to inspect the designs.
The members are Commissioner John
W. Ross, President of the Library Com
mission: Capt. Lansing II. Beach. En-
gineer Commissioner of the is.rict; John
b. Wight, President of the Board of Dis
trict Commissioners; Col. Theodore A.
Bingham, Superintendent OF Public Build
ings and Grounds, and Theodore W.
Noyes. President of the Washington Pub
lie Library. The architects were repre-
sented at the adjudgement by the repre-
sentatiyes chosen by themselves, namely,
Henry Van Brundt. of Kansas City. and
G. b. Post, of New York. president AMI
former president, respectively, OF the
American Institute of Architects. The
only other person present was Moncure
Burke, Secretary of the Library Commits
sicn.
When the seven judges, for the two rep
resentatives OF the competing architects.
are, by an act of Congress, regarded as be-
inG on the same plane as the Library Com
mission members themselves, stepped into
the room where the scores of drawings
were arranged, they had a difficult task be-
fore them. On the walls and on tables
were more than geo drawings. Only TWEEN
ty-six different designs were filed with tbs
Commission, but about eight times that
number OF various elevations and floor
plans were submitted. This was required
in order that the judges might thoroughly
understand the different designs before
making the award. The drawings sent in
by the twenty-six architects represent
prospective views, front and side eleva-
tions, basement. first floor, and second floor
plans. and front and side cross section
views.
Four votes are necessary for decision
there being seven in all. 1t was at first
thought that the adiudgement would occu-
py fully a week. In that event it was in
tended that Messrs. Nan Brundt and Post
would leave the city after polling their
own two votes and return later after the
five members OF the Commission had de-
cided upon their manner of voting. Such
headway was made yesterday, however
that it was decided to request the two
architects judges to remain in Washington
| until tonight, in order that final selec-
tion might be made about o'clock thi:
afternoon. This was agreed TO and another
meeting viii be held today.
The drawings before the Commission are
both elegant and elaborate. Some appear
almost as beautiful as the new Library o.
Congress, and it is believed that some o.
the designs rejected yesterday were thrown
out for the very reason that they would b'
too costly. The building is not to cos
more than s250,0OO, and it is understood
that several of the designs were so ex
| tensive that the structure would cost abou
| 5000 600.