The times., 1899-10-17

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The annual report Of the board OF trus-
tees Of the Washington Public Library was
submitted 10 the Commissioners Of the
District yesterday by Theodore ". Noyes.
President Of the board. The report gives
history OF the project for the new library
building 10 be erected with the money do
mated during the year by Andrew Carnegie.
The story OF the original donation by Mr..
Carnegie Of the law passed by Congress
last March setting aside Mount Vernon
Square as the site for the building, and
OF the competition OF architects on the plans
for the building. and finally q fun de-
scriptson of the plans chosen, are included.
The FIRST part of the report is devoted TO
Mr.. Carnsgie's gift and the legislation by
Congress. 1t is recited that Mr.. Car
negie made his offer of $3.50, 900 for the
library on January u, 1899, the condition
being that Congress should provide site,
and that, on March 3, the day before the
end Of the session OF Congress, a law was
passed designating Mount Vernon Square as
the site and prescribing rules for the COM
petition OF the architects on the plans.
The law is given in full as it has been
published heretofore. The commission des-
ignated by Congress 10 superintend the
competition Of the architects was COM
posed Of the Commissioners of the District
Of Columbia, the officer in charge of public
buildings and grounds, and the president Of
the board OF trustees of the Washington
Public Library, together with two other
persons. 10 be selected by the architects
competing.
The additional persons selected under
the law to act with the Commission in ad-
judging the competition were Architects
George B. Post, of New York and Henry
Van Brunt. of Kansas City. The later IS
President OF the American Institute of
Architects and the former is an ex-presi-
dent of the same association. The judges
Of the competition, after considering the
plans OF twenty-four architects, fond
most acceptable the designs submitted
by Messrs. Ackerman & Ross, of New
York, and they were appointed architects
OF the building
Details of the Building.
Their accepted design as re-studied and
modified meets admirably the requirements
Of the programme OF competition, and is
described as follows:
The structure proposed is about pa feet
long-east and west-and about 1l2 feet on
the line of greatest depth-north and
south. II harmonizes in proportion with
the site Mount Vernon Square being about
$40 feet long and 255 feet wide. The IL
hrary building is designed 10 be in the
centre of the square east and west, but
Will stand much nearer 10 the north than
the south line IN order that worthy ap-
proach may be secured for the long south
front, and that the architectural attrac
uveness Of the front may be enhanced.
The first floor Of the building contains
the most important rooms of the library.
The main entrance, located il the centre of
the south front, viii lead into the recep-
tion hall, where the only attempt at note
worthy decoration viii be made. Just in
side the doors stairways on both sides viii
extend TO the floor above and 10 that be-
low. Passing these the library visitor viii
come al once TO the delivery counter,
which faces the south entrance TIE
counter is SO arranged as TO attract imne
diste attention, and 10 avoid delays in the
service Of those who enter the building.
Attendants Will issue books from the de-
livery counter as rapidly as the volumes
desired may be secured from the stacks or
shelves. as the case may be. The ceiling
OF this main hall is TO be about forty feet
above the floor. A skylight viii be ar
ranged scientifically 10 admit maximum
OF light with a minimum OF heat from the
rays OF summer suns.
Arranged around the rear Of the de-
livery counter which viii be semi-circular,
are to be the administration rooms Of the
library. Entrances will be provided on
either side OF the delivery counter, but
they viii be for the use OF library officials
only. the public generally not being al
lowed IL the rooms where the business af-
fairs OF the institution are conducted The
administration rooms viii include the pri-
vate Office OF the librarian, rooms where ac-
cessionE will be received and handled, and
where cstaloguers will be at work. The
book stack forms the northern wing OF the
building. 1t was found absolutely essen
tial in order TO bring the cost OF the build
ing within the amount available to reduce
70 a minimum the ground space occupied
by the book stack. and 10 carry IL up FIVE
tiers TO the full height Of the building. The
capacity OF the book stack go, 600 volumes,
is. however, in connection with the open
shelf facilities. accommodating from $4,000
to rs 600 volumes, believed TO be ample for
the purposes OF the library. The stack
is SO situated that it can be extended and
enlarged without interfering in the least
with the architectural effect of the build
ing The delivery counter, situated as Il
Will be, will give the officials at work be-
hind il, complete inspection facilities and
fun view and control OF the public read
ing room and the corridors.
The Public Reading Room.
I'm the east wing, 10 the right Of the
main entrance. viii be located the public
reading room. II viii occupy a space o.
5000 square feet and viii be lighted by
broad windows reaching TO the ceiling. The
west wing will be divided into two depart
nents e-half being given over TO open
shelf accommodations for books and tbs
other half to the use of the children. Tn,
reception room will be in the western Sec
fion OF the building. This room viii be il
close communication with the open-sheli
room and VIII be provided with wall shelly
ing. The open-shelf room will contain
1900 square feet and the reception room
z56 square feet The chiidrens room is Of
the same dimensions as the open-shelf de-
partmenf and viii be separated from the
latter by a temporary partition which may
be easily removed. Thus, IL the growth OF
popularity OF the open-shelf facilities de-