Evening star., 1901-04-23
THE CORNER STONE
CONTINUED from Second Pagc)

the basis of an elaborate program of com
petition Architects George B. Post of
New York and Henry Van Brunt of Kan
sas City. the latter being president of the
American Institute of Architects were
Iected TO act with the commission in ad
Judging the competition. The designs sub
Initted by MesSrs. Ackermau < Ross of
New York were decided upon and they
were appointed architects of the building
Meantime, Mr. Carnegie increased his
gift of $4,000 by SJhVn in April. 1879. the
extra amount being made available to
cover the cost Of furniture and equipment
for the library. architects and superin-
tendcnt's commissions and other incidental
expenses. He contributed a second addi
ton of $4,000 in september to cover the
Increase in the price of building materials
Mr.. Bernard r. Green of the Library of
Congress was appointed to superintend the
{, instruction Of the library building.
The original design adopted by the com
mission proposed building consisting of
rectangular central pavilion with equal
wings east and west, respectively. all haV-
ing Il basement and two stories. To save
cost and to concentrate the interior ar
rangemenS of spaces the dimensions of the
original plan were at the very beginning
reduced somewhat by the library commits
sion both in the length of the central
pavilion and in the width of the wings,
Bnd other notifications tending TO economy
Of construction We're suggested to the
architects
The working drawings prepared by the
architects after this first revision Of the
plans We're a scale of detail. materials
and workmanship So elaborate and eXpen-
siVe to far exceed in cost the fuhuS
available Proposals for the construction
of the building secured In May. 1900, upon
HE modified drawings considerably eN-
cteded the amount available and were
necessarily rejected. while the plans and
Specifications Were subjected To further re-
vision.
Finally the desired end attained.
On August 1. 1900. proposals for the gem
eral construction were invited by public
advert isement upon the finally amended
drawings and specifications. and contract
was made with Richardson 4 Burgess
OF this city for the erection of the building
complete and equipped with all apparatus,
excepting book stack, elevator, lighting hX-
lures and furniture. for the sum of S2Ii.-
0up which. with the cost of the omitted
Items. foundation work. commissions TO
architects and superintendent of construc-
tion, and miscellaneous expenses. will ex-
haust the S:s50Ot1 donated for public libra
~ purposes by Mr.. Carnegie.
The Proposed Building.
The building now in course of construc
ton is to consist of rectangular central
pavilion Ill feet inches long north and
SOUTH and 80 feet 10 inches broad. with
equal wings east and west. respectively.
each 6S feet 6 inches long north ard SOUTH
and a feet 10 inches broad. The structure
will thus have a maximum width the
basement line of 20 feet 10 inches at it's
front teast and west and a maximum
depth of III feet inches in it's central pa
yiliOn on the north and south line.
The building is to stand III the center of
Mount Vernon square. east and west. but
is to approach at its rear close to the
north line of the square, thus placing con-
siderable park space south Of the struc-
ture and enhancing its architectural effect
as its long south front and main entrance
are approached.
Th. area of Mount Vernon square is 1.O-
2lH square feet tJU9 feet inches by 255
feet inches. The area To be occupied by
the library is 1I.01 square feet Thus
nearly seVen-eighths of Mount Vernon
square are untouched ny the new building
and the park space available for public
Ise includes the ground upon which the
best trees are growing. The park surround
iES the library building will furnish it a
setting of green and VIII increase both its
comfort and its attTaCtiveuesS. ON the
Other hand. the location Of the library upon
a small fraction of the square will insure
Srfaler care and attention and expenditure
oil money in developing the remainder of
The park for the purposes of public use and
recreation. 1t will not be permitted TO re
main neglected and unkempt.
Ihe basement is but partly below the
ground level and is admirably lighted we'll
Ventilated. and i'll every way serviCeable
for any library use. In the central pavii-
Ion the basement is occupied by the en-
trance nall and bicycle room, the lavato-
res. packing room, receiving rooms lunch
room. bindery. and the boiler room extend
1hS down TO the Sub-bd Sement. The east
wing Is devoted to store rooms and rooms
Tor the 1anitor and house cleaners and
stEuhWn'nen. In the west wing the base
mtht Is one entire room not Vet assigned
his may ultimately become the chiIdren's
reading room when the demand for iuye-
niiA accommodations outgrows the space
provided on the first floor for this purpose.
or "hen the childrens room on the first
h""r : needed to enlarge the open-shelf
accommodations.