The Washington times., 1902-09-01
Magnificent Building Com
pleted Within Two Weeks.
PROGRAM is NOT ARRANGED
Ceremony of Formal Acceptance Will
Likely Take Place in 0ctober-Provi-
sion is Made for 100000 Volumes
Plans for Repairing Grounds.

| TO the Commissioners. The last INSTALL
ment of $50,O00 of the $3.50, 900 Andrew
Carnegie donated to- the District of Co.
lumbia for the building has been paid
and the magnificent structure is prac-
tically completed.
The committee in charge of the new
library has not definitely decided upon
the date for its formal dedication but
1T is stated that ceremony will occur
some time during the month of October.
when Mr.. Carnegie, the donor, will be
present and participate In the exercises.
/ About all that now remains to make
the building finished structure is the
completion of the handsome white mar
Bile stairway leading to the second floor
from the main entrance hall.
Some weeks ago it was thought the
building would be ready for occupancy
to-day, but fitting the intricate pieces of
marble in the stairway caused a DELAY.
though for all practical purposes the
structure will be ready for occupancy
the middle of September. The main
staircase will be completed by October /.
Work of Finishing.
Workmen are engaged in putting in
the mosaic floor in the main entrance
nall, which will be used as the delivery
| room. and the woodwork in several of
| the rooms is being painted. The walls
of the rooms will be tinted with a light
grayish green and all the apartments
wi
tinting. The book stacks are receiving
the touches of the painters brush and
finishing touches are being given to
different parts OF the building. The
machinery for heating and ventilating
is all installed and a test of the appa-
ratus will be made within few days.
large part of the rubbish incident
to the construction has already been
cleared away and during the coming
week the contractors will remove the
fence now inclosing the park.
The parking has been very much cut
up by the stone and other building ma
terials. and when the structure is COM
pleted Colonel Bingham. Superintendent
of Public Building and Grounds, will
take charge and put it into shape. u
will be graded and laid out to harmon
ize with the architectural construction
of the library, $4,000 having been ap-
propriated at the recent session of Con-
gress for this purpose
The main entrance of the building
faces south. The approach will consist
of three series Of platforms .and steps.
extending from the pavement to he
doorway. The immediate approach to
the front entrance has been completed
and forms a part of the building. Just
hGfnrn n ctp I,oJ 30
are reached the.e Is large semi cir
cular stone berch. or exhedra. where
visitors may rest If they desire. On the
back of this bench Is the following
motto: "A University for the People,"
Circular Driveway.
In the rear of the building is an in
clined circular driveway with retaining
walls, where the wagons conveying
books to and from the substations OF the
library may pass. The substations will
be conducted on plan similar to that
of postal substations. and after the style
in vogue in other large cities.
In speaking OF the new library build !
ing Mr.. Bernard r. Green, superntend- |
ent in charge of the construction of the |
building said:
Il think this building will be regard |
cd as one of the architectural gems of |
the city. 1t has a splendid location In a |
beautiful park. embowered in a small |
forest of some of the finest trees we
have in the city. When the whole work
is completed. the building uncovered by |
the removal of the inclosing fence, and |
the park Is laid out and graded, il will |
be found that the space of the park has |
not been seriously encroached upon by |
the building. In fact ! believe the park |
will be vastly more attractive with the |
building in it than it was before
Accommodate 100000 Books.
THE capacity arrangement and |
sdaptability of the building for its pur-
poses will be equal to the best munich
Pal public libraries of the country. It |
has been designed with a great deal of |
care with this object in view. The |
building will have capacity for as
many volumes of books as will ever be
required of 1t in this city, where ready |
access can be had at any time to the |
Library OF Congress for those rare and |
seldom used books which are less fire.
Guenily called for. AS now arranged |
the new structure will accommodate
100000 books, while in the stack room
there is space for two more tiers of
shelving. which will accommodate 1O0,-
600 volumes more. This is all accom-
plished in the most compact way, and
the book space will not encroach upon
that necessary for other purposes OF ths.
The public reading room will be in
the east end on the main floor. while
the children's reading room will be in
the west. The newspaper room will be
In the east Oh the second floor and tho
large room opposite will be used as a
lecture hall. In addition to these large
ooms there will be rooms for privat.
study. for Offices of librarian and trus
logung accessions.
Massive in Appearance.
THE building is massive and strong,
IS BELTS a monumental design for Al
permanent building in the nations cap
tal. No attempt has been made at or
but the library will be 1
handsome and imposing structure"
A large room in the basement will h..
Used for bicycles while other spaces IN
hat section of the building will be used
or store rooms and various purposes
rhe engine and boiler room is located
n sub-basemcnt. Everything about
he structure is modern and convenient.
md special care has been taken to nt
or store rooms and various purposes.
All the furniture, such as tables.
hairs. racks, etc, has arrived and il
stored at the library awaiting distribu-
ion TO the various rooms when the
yorkmen have finished their part The