The Washington times., 1902-04-06
Expected to Be Completed
by August 1.
A MAGNIFICENT STRUCTURE
Hoped That Congress Will Make an Ap-
preparation for Improving Mount Yer
non Square, in Which the Marble
Edifice Is Located.


of the District Of Columbia will undcubt-
edly be finished and ready for occupancy
by the first day OF August. Mr.. Weston
Flint, the librarian, stated to The Times
representative that he hoped everything
would be ready for them to move into the
building, now in course of construction
on Moeit Vernon Square, ON the first OF
July
The contract for the erection of the Ii
brary was signed August %, 1900, and the
building was to have been completed the
first of March The time of completion
was extended, however, and now the con-
tractors say that there is no doubt that
they will he able to turn the building
over to the Library Commission as fin
ished thing by the first of August. The
reason for the delay is said to have been
the delay in the delivery of the iron nee
essary for the erection of the building
When the building is thus completed
the surrounding ground and approaches
will require grading. paving. and eurp-
ing. and this work must extend even to
the street sidewalks around the park
The architects OF the library, in consid-
ering the effects upon the building OF its
approaches and environment, have de-
signed a plan OF treatment OF Mount Yer
non Square, adapted to the architectural
and practical purpose of the structure.
while preserving the characteristics Of
the reservation as q public park.
Beautifying the Park.
1t is hoped and confidently anticipated
that Congress will pTovide by app-oDria-
tion fer The prompt execution of this plan,
or enc similar in general effect, as an
item in the Improvement and care Of the
parks of The city, under the supervision
and control of Col. T. 4. Bingham. the
superintendent of public buildings and
grounds, who is also by Law member Of
the public library commission and is thus
in a dual capacity familiar with and in
terested in the proper treatment OF the
library and its environment.
In pursuance cf the general policy Of
park development in Washington, the 10
cation of the library building in Mount
Vernon Square was permitted to with
draw an absolute minimum of park sur
face from public use, and the attractive
ness 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 lirary and OF
returning to the people a more beautiful
and beneficial, if lessenod, park area
Mount Vernon Square contains 1870, ,21s
square feet. The area occupied by the IL
brary building is 1897 square feet This
location of the library upon less than
one-seyenth. of The area should be utilized
to secure for the remaining six-sevenths
which VIII render this remainder more
valuable for public use and recreation
than the comparatively neglected Mount
Vernon Square. The library, in the centre
OF the reservation, will also enjoy in quiet
and in healthful freshness and GOODNESS
the full benefit of its park surroundings.
Needs of the Library.
When the building, completed, equipped
with furniture. and embellished as to its
approaches and surroundings, is thus ded-
icated to the public use, library skeleton
is provided which must be clothed with
flesh and blood and animated into useful
activity. The building is mockery for
library purposes without books and an
adequate force TO render the books quick
ly accessible 20 the public.
The acceptance of Mr.. Carnegie's gift
of a library building carries with il the
pledge OF suitable maintenance of the Ii
brary by Congress, upon which the do
nation was conditioned.
Can Accommodate Many Books.
Up to this time the plea for apPropria-
tions for books has been weakened and
rendered practically ineffective by the
fact that the library's temporary rented
quarters have been overcrowded and the
limited cataloguing force overtaxed
merely by donated volumes. Congress
was slow to provide more books when the
library could hardly catalogue and shelve
those it had. Now conditions are COM
pletely reversed. Instead of overcrowd-
ing, ample areas in the new building are
TO be enjoyed. The $4,000 volumes which
overflow the present quarters will be lost
in the new building which from the out
set can shelve 177,470 vlumes. omitting
from the calculation portable cases or
book presses. The book stack (ihree
tiers) will accommodate l5S,7GJ volumes;
public reading room. 7,770; children,s
room, $500: open-shelf room, $500; total
177.470.
The completion of the book stack to the
fell FIVE tiers viii give room for 105 500
volumes more. When the new building is
dedicated and thrown oren 10 the public
It should have at least the shelves on the
first floor and the first tier of the book
stack filled with cataiogued books ready
for public use. total of 1850 volumes
OF this number nearly $4,000 are now
available. and about 49 coo mVst be pro-
vided.
Donated Collections.
When the library is housed ia u hand
some hreproof building, with ample areas
so that donated collections may be safely
handled and credita bly, displayed. renewed
impetus will be given to such donations
by benefcent citizens. These gifts can be
held together in special alcoyes. If theii
nature permits, SO as to retain identity
as the collections OF their donors. They
will be safe, carefully cared for, and will
contribute in the highest degree TO tbs
public welfare The librarians reports o
donations for the last two years show tins
Iiberality and public spirit of Washing
tonians in this particular, even without
the encouragement and invitation 10 sucf
donations which conditions in the new
building present.
Reputation Built on Quality.