The times., 1899-04-15

newspaper writings as we'll as broadsides:
Its manuscripts, official publications, and
war narratives-will be preserved"
Ihe report recommends the expenditure
OF as much money on continental Ntera-
| ture as upon that of Great Britain. as
America is the home Of many races and
OF many still TO come. The National Lii
| brary should contain, the late Librarian
says, all that is of interest concerning
their history, literature, and ancestry An
appeal is made for full collection OF Ger
man, French, Italian, and Russian litera-
ture. An increased appropriation is asked
| so that the Library may be broadened
The report states that "as a national in
stitution the Library is as yet in its ear
| liest stages. The country scarcely knows
| of its existence nor of the treasures al
ready in It's keeping. While other national
| libraries notably those of England and
France, are enriched by gifts from private
sources, the tendency OF the American is TO
| send his gifts, where they take the form
| OF books, to the library of his college,
State, or town. If the American felt the
same interest In his National Library as
the Englishman in the British Museum IN
a few years We would have one OF tho
three great Libraries Of the world"
1t is recommended that a monthly bull
letin be issued by the Library the publica-
public opinion and in the value OF the in
formation. The recent bulletins on Cuba
Alaska, and the Philippines are cited as
aids to Congress.
Under the title, THE Library of JEFF
ferson," the report contains the follow
ing:
THE foundation of the present Library
was the purchase by Congress from Thomas
Jefferson of his private library in 1915.
he r111rn ner of la ha1n
jefferson was CAST, and the price paid
s23,s50 AT the time of the purchase it was
deemed TO be the largest and most impor-
tant private collection in the United
States
LAS our Library grew the volumes which
thus came with the jefferson purchase
were divided into the various chapters
With the enormous Library increase of the
past generation they have, rs it were been
entombed and forgotten. Remembering
that this private library was the founda-
tion Of the Library of Congress, that it
was directly associated with revered pa
triot, the volumes composing It have been
brought together and assigned to a special
room, TO be known as The jefferson Lii
brary." While this in no way removes the
books of Mr.. Jefferson from their library
offices, they will, 1t is hoped ever remain
not only as an object OF public interest.
man whose words and deeds have been In
terwoven into our history What, In
measure, will prevent the complete real
iZation OF this purpose was a loss of part
of Mr.. Jefferson's collection in the fire
OF 1851. Enough volumes remain. how
ever, TO enable US 10 perfect the tribute Ii
is proposed 10 pay to an immortal name"
The department of graphic arts com
prises 59,soS prints. The Library also con-
tains 25.000 sheet maps, 700 pocket and
500 roller maps. Several pages are de-
voted to detailed description of the old
and valuable maps and charts in the Lii
brary.
There are 4S,5if bound volumes of news
papers and periodicals in the Library.
The newspapers embrace nearly every
State and Territory in the Union. with
4,137 volumes OF foreign journals. There
are 23,397 manuscripts in the Library.
Nearly all OF these are very valuable
The explosion in>the Capitol on Noven-
ber 6, 1898, is briefly referred to. and the
small loss of books remarked upon. II is
recommended that all valuable volumes be
stored In the freproof Library and not
in wood lined buildings"
The benefits of the pavilion for the blind
are shown in the report. There are 2l9
raised volumes in this department, 30
sheets of music, rs magazines, and 1G6
periodicals. There were 479 blind readers
during the year.
Several valuable appendices follow the
report. These deal with loan collections,
examinations, durability of paper. Smith
sonian Institution, Chinese collection. etc
Herbert Putnam, the new Librarian, has
got his duties well in hand and a
careful research OF the work performed is
being conducted II is stated authori-
tatively that no changes will be made in
the staff of employees of the Library Over
1900 applications for positions have been
received within the past two weeks.