The times., 1901-04-24
THE CORNERSTONE LAYING
Commissioner Ross to Handle the
Trowel at the Public Library.
No Ceremony to Attend the Eyept-A
Number of Articles to BE Placed in
the Stones-Thc Establishment of
the Institution and Its Growth.

tie Stones-The EEtabiis hment a
the Institution and Its Growth
This afternoon at O'Clock the corner
stone of the new Public Library building
! in Mount Vernon Square will be put IL
place. The occasion will be marked by
no particular ceremonies, as it has beer
| decided to postpone the big celebration
until the date of the dedication, which is
expected TO occur within a year. The
laying of the cornerstone this afternoon
| will be superintended by the members oi
the Library Commission. consisting OF
| Commissioners Macfarland, Ross. and
Beach. Col. Theodore Bingham, Superin-
| tendent of Public Buildings and Grounds
! Theodore Noyes. President of the Board
of Trustees; Bernard r. Green, Superin-
| tendent of the Library of Congress- and
| Weston Flint
There will be no speeches made. and
| the stone will be put in place with al
| most as little ceremony as any other
stone in the building. Commissioner Ross
will WELD the troweI. The northeast
! corner has been chosen in Difference to
/ Masonic tradition. The stone win con-
! tain copper box, which will hold the
| following articles:
Copy of invitation sent those present.
| List of members of the board of trus-
! tees
| List of library employees
| Plan Of building in pamphlet form.
All publications issued and forms used in
the library.
Bylaws of the board of trustees
Description Of building now occupied by
the library.
Building chronology.
Reports of the board of trustees and
librarian, 1898, 1899 1900.
Blanks used in the library. 1901.
Observation-Disclosures of the city
and buildings, issued by Board of Trade.
1900
Historic medal commemorating the one
hundredth anniversary of the establish
ment of the seat of government in the
District of Columbia, December Il. 1900
Address of Mr.. II. b. F. Macfarland at
the Executive Mansion, Wednesday. De-
cember L, 1900, being the commemoration
of the one hundredth anniversary of the
establishment of the seat of government
| in the District of Columbia
Official medal of the Inauguration Com
mittee, March 4, 1901.
Silver and minor coins of the United
States. 1901, 81, so cents, 25 cents 10 cents
3 cents. 1 cent.
Copy of the original contract for the
erection of the library building
Reports of the Committee on Public
Library of the Board of Trade, 1S93-l9O0.
Washington Times, April "a, 1901.
Washington Post" April a 1901.
Washington Star, April %, 1901.
Copies Of the acts of Congress establish
ing the library.
The Public Library. which is to occupy
the magnificent building now under con-
struction, is by no means an old institu-
ton. The movement to establish a library
was begun by the newspapers. The idea
was that the worklngmen and the school
children of the city needed some sort of
library facilities, and the movement was
much assisted by the cooperation of the
District Commissioners, the Board of
Trade, the school trustees. and the various
labor organizations. Finally, in June 1895,
by an act of Congress, the library was
established on the basis desired. The act
authorized the District Commissioners to
accept ell gifts Of books or any bequests
for the maintenance Of such an institu-
ton and it provided that all persons ltV-
ing IN the District should be allowed the
privileges of the lihrary, including the
use of the books at their homes.
The act carried no appropriation, but
certain funds were provided in the District
Appropriation bill of 1898 amounting TO
about $12, 600 for salaries and mainte-
nance. The trustees appointed and the
organization completed at the beginning
by the District Commissioners has re-
mained intact.
The trustees and officers are as follows:
Board of Trustees-S. w. Woodward. b.
II. Warner, ]. b. Larner. A. r. Spofford,
J. r. Dubois, r. r. Perry. r w. Noyes,
c. J. Bell, r. H. Thayer.
Oficers-President, Theodore w Noyes;
Vice President. Brainard II. Warner; Lii
brarian, Secretary, and Treasurer. Nes-
Committees-Books: Spofford. Thaycr,
Woodward. Employees; Dubois. Wood
ward, Warner Rules Perry, SpOfford,
Larner. Building: Warner, Dubois. Thay-
er Finance: Larner, Bell, Perry Book
binding etc. Thayer SpOfford, Larner
Legislation Especially: He'll Warner, Thay-
er. Donations (speciaD Woodward War
ner. Bell.
The building at 1926 New York Avenue
which is occupied by the library at pres
eut, was opened to the public December
l6 1898 for registration, and January TO-
1893. for the regular issue of books. Dur
ing the first twenty days following the
opening 5.2i3 books were taken out for
home reading The last annual report
shows an average circulation of 400 books
a day, with about 10000 borrowers regis
tered.
The public library had been but a short
time established in its New York Avenue
building when, at the verbal suggestion
of b. II. Warner, Andrew Carnegie Of
fered to give $500 toward the erection
of suitable building for an institution
adequate to the needs of Washington,
provided Congress would provide the
site After much labor on the part OF the
trustees and friends of the institution
Congress accepted the offer and author
lied the use of Mount Vernon Square.
Architects We're invited to submit designs
for the building and Messrs, Ackerman
q Ross of New York secured the award
Mr. Carnegie added S10O 900 to his dona-
ton at a later date to cover the increased
cost Of building material, and after sev-
eral attempts to complete specifications
the contract for the erection of the
building was awarded to Richardson &
Burgess August I, 1900 for the erection
of the building at a cost of $2T7 000, which,
with the cost Of the foundation work in
ciuded would reach S3500O0.