The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-03-08


ti"n Given by Andrew Cnrne=ie-A
White Marble Building. Provided
With All Modern Conveniences.
The date for the laying of the corner
stone of the Public Library Building.
which was presented 70 the District Of
Columbia by Andrew Carnegie, viii soon
be fixed While the time for the ceremon-
les. which Will doubtless be Of an elabo-
rate nature, has not Yet been definitely
determined upon it is understood that the
exercises VIII take place some time dur
ing the month OF April
Work on the structure has progressed
to such q point that the rearing Of the
stone walls above the first floor Will soon
begin. The Library Commission, OF which
Commissioner John ". Ross is the presi-
dent. viii hold a meeting soon TO fix
date for the ceremonies and arrange
programme to be carried out
At present work on the Library Build
ing Is almost entirely hidden from view
by a high board fence, which encloses a
large part of Mount Vernon Square, at
the corner of Ninth Street and New York
Avenue. About all that can be seen from
the adjacent streets is the upper portion
of the huge derricls, which have been
used in laying the foundation and in
swinging the huge steel girders and beams
into place. The walls now extend about
six feet above the level of the ground and
the steel structural work on the first floor
is being attended TO- For the past week
work has not been as rapid as usual, on
account Of the cold weather. It viii, how
ever, be pushed rapidly from this time on
The general public of Washington
knows little Of the new building which is
TO be erected, save the fact that 1t IS 10
be located on Mount Vernon Square, the
general appearance Of which has suffered
greatly since the ground was first broken
/ there some time since. If 1t was known
! that one OF the handsomest buildings in
! the District. from an architectural point
| Of view was to be erected, keener in
| terest would be manifested.
The building is not to be very large, but
! every line viii be artistic 1t viii be con-
! strUcted Of white marble, and of a sim
| PIE style Of architecture.
The windows viii be wide. arched at
/ the top, and constructed with an idea to
| afford the interior of the structure as
! much daylight as is possible This viii be
! an advantage of inestimable value and
| inasmuch as there are no tall buildings
on either side tc obstruct the light of
. the sun, it Will probably have facilities
| Of this kind such as are eQualed by few
/ similar institutions.
| The building is only two stories in
! height, IN addition to the basement, the
! ceiling Of which is about six feet .boye
| the level of the ground. IN this manner
! 4 Sufflclency OF daylight will be afforded
/ The lower floor as well as the floors above
/ The exterior decorations Of the building
/ viii be imposing. but simple.
| The erection Of the big fence around
| mount Vernon Square has resulted in the
| killing OF the greater portion of the beau
/ fDTmErI.
| Care has been taken that as many OF the
! trees as possible should be left intact and
/ consequently the new library will be sur
! rounded by large number of splendid
| shade trees Of different varieties Shrubs
| VIII be planted when the structure is
! completed and eV~ry possible effort will
| he made to beauty the grounds sur
/ rounding the structure.
| The plans for the library have under
/ gone but slight change since drawn by
| The architects The interior was planned
/ with careful consideration for the needs
/ and accommodations Of such an institu-
| JlOA modern ana lmpl owed IN every res
/ psCt- Especial attention has been paid
/ 10 the requirements of children. Nearly
| half the patrons of the library are from
! ten 10 eighteen years Of age. COnSe-
/ queutly their interests are important A
| large readlng-TOOm for children VIII be
! located on the first floor and another IN
the basement Children's literature viii
| De carefully selected.
/ The first floor of the building viii be
/ largely taken up with Office rooms Here
/ VIII BE located the general reception
/ room. The librarians office. the catalogue
and reference rooms. as well as the laTgt.
( reading-rOom- The woodwork Of these
/ rooms VIII be highly polished and there
viii De many ornaments on the walls and
! ceiling
/ Future expectations have been " Il pro
! yiced for. II is the intention 10 have
public lectures by WeII-znCwn authors
| and for this purpose q Iecture-room viii
/ De- built on the second floor In addition
! there VIII be or this floor 4 special mag
zZIue and newspaper room, room for the
! accommodation OF the Library Commission.
/ study han. and stock room All OF
/ these viii be spacious and viii afford
ample accommodations The basement
+, VIII contain binGery, in which books
/ DAMAGED in circulation Will be repaired
| There viii also be a packing and re
{ ce1-lug room and q lUnChrOOTn- tOEeth y
! With another room Of ample proportion.
/ which viii be used for storage purposes.
! One feature Of the library which win be
probably UneXcelleG by any other similar
/ institution is the splendid collection OF
( the history Of all tho States Of the Union.
! \ large collection of historical works on
/ Ohio has been donated 10 the library
! and II is understood that other donations
/ lection Of the District viii be very1 com
! plete
| Mount Vernon Square, the site Of the
! new Library building Is one Of the most
| historic spots IN Washington L was
| formerly known as the Northern Lib
| erJy- II was the site of old market
! which was composed Of q large number
! Of dilapidated sheds that were cytsOres
! TO the community The market place
! nearly became the scene Of bIOodShtNi on
/ this account Years ago, when Alexander
/ Shepherd started the reform movement
/ which resulted In the present beautiful
/ grades and streets Of Washington the