The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-24
THE CORNERSTONE LAYING
Commissioner Ross to Handle the
TrOwel at the Public Library.
No Ceremony to Attend the Eycnt-A
Number of Articles to BE Placed in
the Stones-Thc Establishment of
the Institution and Its Growth.

No Ceremony to Attend the Eyent-t
Number of Articles to BE Placed in
the Stones-Thc Establishment oi
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 in
place. The occasion will be marked by
no particular ceremonies. as it has been
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 of
the Library Commission. consisting of
Commissioners Mcfarland, Ross. and
Beach, Col. Theodore Bingham, Superfn-
| 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 little ceremony as any other
stone in the building. Commissioner Ross
! will WELD the trowel. The northeast
| corner has been chosen in Difference to
Masonic tradition. The stone will 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, 1928, 1899 1890
Blanks used in the library, 1901
Observation-Disclosures of the city
and buildings, issued by Board of Trade.
1900
Historic medal concentrating the one
hundredth anniversary of the establish
rnent of the seat of government in the
District of Columbia, December L. 1890
Address of Mr.. H. B. F. mcfarland at
the Executive Mansion, Wednesday. De-
cember j., 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, 50 cents, 25 cents 10 cents.
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. 1s92-le0O
Washington Times. April "a, 1901
Washington Post" April q. 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 library
was begun by the newspapers. The idea
was that the workingmen 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 all gifts Of books or any requests
for the maintenance of such an institu-
ton, and it provided; that all persons liv-
ing in the District should be allowed the
privileges of the library including the
use of the books at their homes.
The act carried no approximation. but
certain funds Were provided In the District
Appropriation bill of 1898, amounting TO
about $1,000, for salaries and mainte-
nance. The trustees appointed and the
organization completed at the beginning
by the District Commissioners has re- |
manned intact.
The trustees and officers are as follows:
Board of Trustees-S. w. Woodward b. /
II. Warner, ]. b. Larner A. r. Spofford. !
j. T. Dubois. r. r. Perry, T. W. Noyes, |
4. J. Bell, r. H. Thayer
Oficers-President, Theodore ". Noyes; /
Vice President. Brainard H. Warner; Ii !
brarian, Secretary, and Treasurer, Wes- !
Committees-Books: Spofford, Thaycr. |
Woodward. Employees: Dubois. Wood |
Larner. Building: Warner, Dubois, Thay /
er. Finance: Larner. Bell. Perry. Book |
binding. etc: Thayer. Spofford Larner. /
Legislation (speciaD: Hell, Warner Thay- 1
er. Donations Especially: Woodward, War
ner. Bell.
The building at 1926 New York Avenue. /
" hich is occupied by the library at pres
ent was opened to the public December
16. 1893, for registration, and January 10, !
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 were invited to submit designs
for the building and Messrs. Alderman
& Ross of New York secured the award.
Mr.. Carnegie added 100000 to his dona-
ton at later date to cover the increased
cost Of building material, and after sew
eral attempts to complete speciiica tons |
the contract for the erection of the
building was awarded to Richardson Il |
Burgess August l. 1900. for the erection
Of the building at a cost of SI7.OOO, which,
with the cost of the foundation work in
GUIDED, would reach $3.50 000.
Nebraska Senators-E Elect.