The Washington times., 1902-07-29
VIII Probably Be Opened
to Public Early in
October.
FINISHING THE INTERIOR
Donor of Building to Be Invited to Take
Part in Dedicatory Exercises-Books
of Old Library to Be Moved Into the
New Structure When Completed.

The Carnegie Library, which has been
in course Of construction on Mount YER
non Place for the past two years. will
be completed within few weeks. The
exterior OF the building is already prac-
tically finished and workmen have been
engaged for some time past putting the
finishing touches to the interior. The
furniture. book stacks. gas fittings. and
other material are stored in the build
ing ready to be put in place as soon as
the contractor is through with his work.
1t is not known when the furniture
will be put in place and the books moved
in from the Washington Public Library,
and no arrangements have been made for
the formal dedication of the building.
Considerable time will be consumed in
placing the grounds and approaches to
the building in shape. and IL will be per-
haps In October before 1t Will be actually
ready for occupancy.
1t is desired that Mr.. Andrew Carnegie.
the donor Of the building, shall be pres
ent at the dedication. He is now in
Scotland and will not return to the Uni
ted States until late in the fall. The
ceremony OF opening the building will
accordingly be delayed until that time.
The beautiful structure now so nearly
completed on Mount Vernon Square had
its beginning in gift of s250.000 to the
city OF Washington BY Mr.. Andrew Car
negie on January IL. 1899. The gift was
made at the suggestion of Mr.. B. II.
Warner. who had personal conversa-
tion with Mr.. Carnegie on the subject.
This munificent gift was. on April II,
1899. increased by $4,000 and in Sep
tember of the same year by $50. 900 more.
swelling the fund for building the
to s350,O00. This sum was given
on condition that Congress should pro-
vide site for the building. The in
crease OF the gift was In consideration
of the enhanced price of building mate
rial
Provisions of the Act
Under the provisions of an act of Con-
gress. approved March 3. 1899. portion
Of Mount Vernon Square was set aside
dition that building operations should
begin within twelve months and that the
structure should be completed within
three years. A commission was named
in this act to take charge of the erec-
ton of the building. consisting OF the
District Commissioners. the officer in
charge of public buildings and grounds
md the president of the board of trus-
lees of the Washington Public Library.
This commission worked out a general
1lan for the building and appointed Mr..
Bernard r. Green. architect OF the
library of Congress. architect to take
,harge of the construction of the ediice.
n the selection Of plans the commission
lad the benefit OF the advice and assist
ince of Architects George B. Post, OF
New York. and Henry Van Brunt, of
Kansas CITY. The plans submitted by
dessrs. Ackerman & Ross. of New York,
we're accepted. They were afterward
considerably modified. owing to the cost
II the structure provided for therein.
The foundations OF the building were
aid late In the year 1s99 while the
Irchitects were at work upon the plans
or the superstructure On August 1,
800. proposals were invited for the
general structure, and a contract was
inferred into with Messrs. Richardson
Burgess for the erection OF the build
ng, complete and equipped, except
ook-stacks, elevator, lighting fixtures,
nd furniture, for the sum OF S277.000
Size of the Building.
1 ne DCilding consists OF rectangular
entral pavilion. Ill feet 5 inches long
nd 30 feet 10 inches broad, with equal
wings east and west. respectively So
Get 6 inches long and 81 feet 10 inches
road. The area OF the building is H.
OF square feet. or about seyen-e -eighths
f Mount Vernon Square The building
as Il basement and a first floor intend
d for the library proper. 1t is con-
tructed of white marble, and is re-
arded as an excellent building for its
ost. 1t is in the Ionian style OF arch
lecture.
The library trustees, in their last re-
ort to the Commissioners, requested a
pecial appropriation by Congress for
be purchase of books, in order to in
rease the value of the library to the
ublic Immediately. Owing to the finan-
Ial condition of the District. this ap-
ropriation was not made, however. and
,r the present only the books now on
and will be available. 1t is hoped,
owever. that Congress will make
oecial appropriation for the purpose at
lie next session. SO as to put the new
brary on footing to compare favora-
ly with similar institutions elsewhere.