The Washington times., 1901-10-17
WORK OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Annual Reports of the Trus-
tees and Librarian.
Progress of Construction of the
Carnegie Buiiding-Needs of the
Institution in Its New Quarters
The Number OF Books and Readers

| Institution in Its New Quarters
The Number OF Books and Readers
The annual report of the trustees Of the
| Washington Public Library. of which
Theodore w. Noyes is president, was sub
mitted to the Commissioners yesterday
afternoon. This report was accompanied
by that of the librarian, Weston Flint.
The trustees devote considerable space
to the question OF the removal OF the
library to the new building, now ap-
preaching completion in Mount Vernon
| Square. The needs of the library, in its
| new home, are set forth in detail. as well
! as the requirements of the institution
while it remains in temporary quarters
on New York Avenue. Progress on the
new building is thus described by Mr.
| Noyes in his report:
( THE contract for the erection of the
building, which was signed August %,
| 1900 by Richardson e Burgess, of Wash
| ington. reuuired completion of the work
| by March J. 1902. A year ago operations
| had just begun on the superstructure of
| the library building. the Vermont Marble
| Company ! II undertaken to dress and
| deliver all G. the marble required for the
| exterior walls before September /, 1901,
| and the Bay State Pink Granite Com
| pany, Of Mil. ord, Mass, had similarly
| agreed with the general contractor to fur
| nish all of the granite for the basement
| story in season to be set in the walls by
winter. James H. McGill of this city,
| had the subcontract for the steel work
| of the interior structure, floors, and roof.
with material to be supplied to him by
| the Carnegie Steel Company.
THE progress of erection of a building
| having finely selected and dressed ma rble
| or granite walls is necessarily regulated
and limited by the quarry work which is
| naturally slow as compared with tine
preparation and manufacture of the other
building materials According to the
contract programme, however the gran
lite walls of the basement were completed
January II, 1901, and he steel beams of
the first or principal story were laid
shortly afterward.
Large quantities of the marble had
been prepared at the quarries, and began
to arrive IN carloads at the opening of
spring, VIXEN building of the walls was
resumed This work has continued with
out interruption ever since; the last of
the marble was delivered when due and
all of the exterior walls have now been
completed in readiness for the roof, while
the two wings were ready in the middle
of August
''-All Of the cut granite for the beautiful
exedra, pedestaIs. and steps of the main
entrance approaches has been delivered
and will shortly be put in place. Salts
factory progress has been made with the
exterior marble carving on the main
front from models by Philip Martiny,
under direction of the architects.
The interior walls, excepting those of
the court, have kept pace with the ex-
terror, and the steel work OF the second
story floor has been laid, but now, un-
fortunately. the first delay in the general
progress of the building is occurring
While waiting on the sub-contractor for
the steel framework of the roof. Several
weeks are likely to be lost on this ac-
count
With reference to the approaches to
the building, Mr.. Noyes says:
THE architects of the library, in con-
sidering the effect upon the building of
its approaches and environment, have de-
signed plan of treatment of Mount Yer
non Square adapted to the architectural
character and practical purpose of the
structure, while preserving the charac-
teristics of the reservation as a public
park. 1t is hoped and confidently antici-
pated that Congress will provide by ap-
preparation for the prompt execution Of
this plan, or one similar In general effect,
as an item in the improvement and care
of the parks Of the city, under the super
vision and control Of Col. T. A Bing-
ham, the Superintendent of Public Build
ings and Grounds, who is also by law a
member of the Public Library Commits
sion, and is thus in a dual capacity IA
miiar with. and interested in, the proper
treatmentof the library and its environ
ment.
In pursuance of the general policy of
park development in Washington the To-
cation of the library building in Mount
Vernon Square is to be permitted to
withdraw an absolute minimum of park
surface from public use, and the attrac-
tiveness of the remainder Of the park is
to be enhanced and its public benefits in
creased in compensation with the result
of furnishing an attractive setting of
green for the marble of the library and of
returning to the people a more beautiful
and beneficial, If lessened, park area"
The Superintendent of Construction" |
continues the report. estimates the an
nual cost for coal, for heating only. at
5000; for electric current. 81 800, and for I
miscellaneous supplies 1900 In his opin- /
ion, the mechanical and working force
necessary to operate the heating ap-
paratus, attend TO minor repairs. clean
ing, handling, etc, will be one engineer, /
at $500: one fireman. $40; one workman,
$3.50 and four charwomen at $3.50.
He suggests also that a small appro-
priation for additional furniture, in the |
nature of special library equipment, |
should be asked from Congress at the I
coming session. The building fund will |
supply the important and substantial (
pieces of furniture pertaining to the 1
building proper. and also meet those Ii /
brary needs III this regard which are OBJ /
vious and urgent in advance OF actual re-
moval TO the new building"
MT Noyes emphasizes two great wants /
which Will exist when the new building IS /
completed. These are books and an ade-
quate library force. lie says:
when the building, completed, equipped /
with furniture and embel,ished as TO It's /
approaches and surroundings. is thus ded- /
icated to the public use a library skele-
ton is provided which must be clothed |
with flesh and blood and animated into
useful activity. The building is a mock |
cry for library purposes without books /
and an adequate force to render the books !
quickly accessible to the public
The acceptance of Mr.. Caruegie's gift /
of library building carries with IL The