Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-25
Work of Embellishing New
Building to Begin Soon.
DESIGN SUBMITTED
Mr.. BERNARD R. GREEN De
sCRIBES DECORATIVE PLAN.
The Colors to Be Carefully Toned for
the Actual Lights OF
Apartments.

3ngton Public Library, which STANDS In MI.
Vernon Square. and is one of the notable
benefactions of Mr.. Andrew Carnegie, Will
soon be undertaken. An elaborate scheme
of interior decoration has been received
by the library commission from MIR. Albert
r. Ross architect of the building. for
warded through Elmer T.. Garnsey. one of
the most skilfu and highly regarded deco
Yative painters in New York. Mr.. Garnsey
was the leader in the main interior color
decoration of the Library of Congress
The members of the commission in the
city, District Commissioners Henry l..
West and II. c. Newcomer. acting engineer
commissioner: Mr.. Theodore w. Noyes
president of the board of library trustees,
and Colonel T. w. Symons. officer in charge
of public buildings and grounds. have ap-
proved the color scheme submitted by the
architect and decorator. with the excep-
ton that the red panels proposed in the
delivery room are held under Amusement
their color to be decided upon later Dy tne
commission.
The interior decoration Of the library
building is made possible by the additional
gift of $4,000 made by Mr.. Carnegie short
II after his visit to this city upon the oc-
casion of the dedication of the building.
Six thousa nd dollars of the amount Is to
be spent in the painting The remainder Is
to be employed in increasing the book stack
details about the building.
Decorative Plan Described.
The library commission received the de-
sign through Mr.. Bernard r. Green, the
superintendent of construction. In his let
ter of transmittal Mr.. Green describes the
decorative plan. He says:
In accordance with the authority of the
commission granted at it's last meeting.
y. ed
the Public Library building. Mr.. Albert X
Ross. stated in my report OF July 49,
1893, with the view of securing his services
Tor the appropriate interior decoration OF
the building to be paid for out of the fe-
cent supplemental gift of Mr. Carnegie In
doing this l fixed the total cost OF the work
at the originally estimated sum OF s6.no
believing that amount to be sufficient lor
Il satisfactory piece of work, and the fixing
Of a limit as the only practical method or
Ce filming the limits of work OF that char
acter If placed in the hands of a trust
worthy painter.
The design, which l present herewith.
Las been thus prepared and submitted by
MIR. Ross through Mr.. Elmer q. Garnsey.
one of the most skillful and highly regard
ed decorative painters In New York, whom
he especially recommended. l take pleas
urt in adding my own recommendation
from the favorable acquaintance made with
Mi Garnsey as the leader In the main In
terror color decorations Of the Library OF
C ngreSS.
The General Scheme.
The scheme of decoration Is specified
in general follows:
NO painting is included for the basement
rooms outside of the entrance hall and the
two toilet rooms, nor within the book stack
room All painting will be in oil color.
thoroughly and carefully done, on both
walls and ceilings
''Basement-The plaster surfaces of the
entrance hall and toilets are to be painted
!n tones of ivory and gray; the staircase to
he in Caen stone color.
First story-In the delivery room the
pilasters, columns and ceiling beams or
Orders. constituting the main structural
features. are to be in Caen stone color.
The ceiling panels to be in buff. with border
stencils in gold; gold line to be carried
around the corner. The wall panels are to
be in old red. with borders of buff and tan.
In the rooms of the east and west wings
the walls will be gray olive tint and the
ceilings in light buff. In the six smaller
rooms. including the librarians office. sur
rounding the delivery halls. the walls will
be in light tan color and the ceilings light
bun
Second story-The staircase walls will
be in Caen stone and the vaulted ceiling
old blue. In the exhibition hall the cornice
and pilasters will be in Caen stone to cor
respond to the staircase and main delivery
hall. the frieze panels in buff and the wall
panels green. The capitals of pilasters,
lions heads and garlandS in the frieze and
border lines of the panels will be gilded.
in the smaller rooms to the east and west
of the exhibition hall. including the d.
rectOrs room. the walls will be In tan
color and the ceilings light buff The lee
ture hall and corresponding hall in the east
wing will have walls Of gray olive and cell
inSs in light buff.
Other Effects Proposed.
dation of the scheme describing the general
effect. but il the working of it up in the
building the colors will be carefully toned
for the actual lights OF the apartments, and
more less minor enIichments. like the
picking out of ornaments in the elaborate
ceiling and cornice work of the main de-
livery hall, will be added as far as the limit
of cost fixed upon the work will permit.
Mr.. Garnsey proposes to furnish all labor
and materials and execute the work COM
plete, in accordance with the above descrip-
ton and the sketches submitted, for the
sum OF $1,000. The scheme appeals to me
as entirely appropriate for the architecture
of the building and very practical for it's In
terror illumination of the library. / there
fore have the honor to recommend its adop-
ton AS follows:
The limit fixed for the cost to be Sc. 900.
which is the amount of Mr.. Garnsey's prop
osition. AS. however. the architects COM
mission of per cent would be part OF the
expense. the limit of $500 should be placed
on Mr. Garnsey's contract
Basis of Approval.
The approval of the commission with re-
gard to the decorative scheme. including
several minor changes, was based upon the
following recommendation by Mr. Theodore
W. Noyes. president OF the board of trustees
and member of the commission:
Il move that the superintendent OF con-
struction be authorized to contract with
Elmer h. Garnsey for the decoration of the
interior of the public library building for
the sum of $1,000. and that the architects
Zee OF 500 be appropriated in addition to
this amount.
That the so-called future children's room
In the basement be added to the list of
rooms TO be decorated under Mr.. Garnsey's
contract, and that 1t be painted as a reading
room
That the general color scheme proposed
by the architect be approved except in re-
spect TO wall panels of the delivery room
ana that the color design for these panels
De determined by the commission In CONSUL
1auon with Mr.. Ross and Mr. Garnsey at
the time when the painting is done"
On a Charge Of vagrancy.