Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-07

| adopted by the commission. In the selec-
| ton of plans the commission was assisted
| by Mr.. Henry Van Brnnt of Kansas City,
at that time president of the American In
stitute of Architects, and Mr.. George b.
| Post of New York, an ex-president of the
institute. The authors of the design num-
bered '13" were selected as the architects.
When the envelope containing their names
was opened the successful architects were
found to be Alderman & Ross of New York
city. The plans as presented were found
to be too elaborate for the amount of
| money available, and were returned to the
architects for restudy and modification.
In the meantime, however, under date OF
April II, the treasurer of the Carnegie Steel
Company notified the library commission
that Mr. Carnegie had increa sed his dona-
| under date Of September 49, 1899, Mr.. Car
negie wrote from Skibo Castle, Ardgay,
N. B.. saying that he was glad to increase
the donation by an additional $4,000, max
finish the library according to the preferred
design. and leave sufficient to meet all the
other necessary expenses.
Mr.. Henry B. F. Macfarland, who sue
ceeded Mr.. Wight as Commissioner of the
District, also succeeded him in the library
commission May o. 1900
In accordance with a recommendation
from the superintendent Of construction,
the commission awarded the contract for
the foundation work on June q, 1900, to
Richardson & Burgess of this city, their
price being s1s,1O8 Under date of August
20 Of the same year the commission &C
cepted the bid of Richardson Burgess to
construct the entire building, their price
being, in addition to the sum already con-
tracted for and covering the foundation
work, s277,O0O.
Corner Stone Laid.
The corner stone of the new library was
laid April "a, 1901, at 3 o'clock in the after
noon in the presence of the members Of the
library commission and the board of trus-
tees. A copper box Theoretically sealed and
containing the following named articles was
placed in the stone by Weston Flint the
librarian:
Copy of invitation to the laying of the
corner stone.
Copy of original memorandum of An
drew Carnegie, esq, giving $25U, 900 for Ii
brary building.
List of members of the board Of trustees
List of library employees
Plan of building in pamphlet form.
All publications issued and forms used in
the library
Bylaws of the board of trustees.
Description of the building then occupied
by the library.
Copy of the original contract for the erec-
| ton of the library building, awarded to
Richardson & Burgess, Washington, D. C.
Business card of Richardson & Burgess,
contractors.
Acts of Congress relating to the public
| library.
Reports of the House committee on the
District of Columbia, Fifty-third Congress-
| upon the bill to establish a free public IL
brary in the city of Washington
Building chronology
Reports of the committee on public IL
brary of the Board Of Trade 1S93-l9OO
Annual report Of the president Of the
Washington Board Of Trade, November II,
| 1900
| Observation-Disclosures Of the city and
| buildings, issued by the Board of Trade
! 1900.
| Blanks Of all descriptions used in the IL
| brary 1901.
Address Of Mr.. H. B. F. Macfarland at
| the Executive Mansion,J Wednesday. De-
cember II, 1900 being the commemoration
| of the one hundredth anniversary of the
| establishment Of the seat Of government in
| the District Of Columbia.
! Historic medal concentrating the one
| hundredth anniversary of the establish
| ment Of the seat of government In the Dis
trict Of Columbia, December II, 1900.
Official medal Of the iao ugural committee,
| March 4, 1901.
States of 19o1-sl. SOC, CSC. 1oc., &C.. 1c.
Washington Star, April %, 1901
Washington Post April "A, 1901.
| Washington Times, April "a, 1901
Boyds directory of the District Of Co.
| 1umbia, 1901.
Picture of Andrew Carnegie.
The box containing the above named
| articles was cemented into the niche pre-
| pared for it, and the stone was then placed
| in Its permanent position at the northeast
| corner of the east wing of the building be-
| ing the corner stone in the top course of
| granite.
Contracts for the elevator and the book
| stacks We're entered into separately. the
former with the Marine Engine and Ma
| chine Company for s2.650 and the latter
| with the Snead & Co. iron works for $23,
| 7S9 The book stack used was the one
patented by Mr.. Bernard R. Green. The
| royalties accruing to him from It's use
| would have amounted to $3.50, but Mr.
| Green turned this amount over to the
| building fund and It was deducted from the
| contract price quoted above. The building
, commission expressed its sincere apprecia-
ton of Mr.. Green's action in the matter.
In November 1901. Capt. Beach, the. En-
gineer Commissioner Of the District, was
| succeeded by Col. John Biddle, who took
his place on the library commission. Upon
the death OF Commissioner Ross. In July
| 1902 Mr.. H. B. F. mcfarland, president OF
the board of Commissioners, was chosen
president of the library commission. Mr.
Ross place was taken By Mr.. Henry Litch.