Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-05
Functions of the Congress
sionaI Library Explained.
TO AID SERIOUS RESEARCH
Designed to Cooperate in the Ad-
vancement of knowledge.
MIR. PUTNAM's ANNUAL REPORT
Collection of Books and Pamphlets
Now the Third in Point of Size
in the World.

Inc question OF the privileges or the
library is given considerable space In the
report of the Librarian of Congress, made
public today. The librarian notes that in
general "the purpose of the administration
is the freest possible use of the books
consistent with their safety; and the Wild
est possible use consistent with the con-
venience of Congress.
Some time before the removal OF the
library from the Capitol to it's present
building, the privilege of drawing books
on deposit, which had been open to all
residents of the District of Columbia. was
withdrawn. AS there now exists Public
Library for the District, a lending library.
with considerable and fast-growing col
lection OF books and a duty to the gen.
eral reader, the inability of the ordinary
resident to draw books from the Library
of Congress for home use is not so COM
plete deprivation. 1t appears, however.
from the librarians statement, that where
the books required are not to be found in
the Public Library they may sometimes
be drawn from the Library of Congress il
needed for specified serious research
research calculated to advance II bound
aries of knowledge Especially Is theis
customary where the applicant is MEM
Der of the faculty-not mere student
of some institution of learning, or other
wise in position where the result of his
use of the books will be a matter of
public concern The method pursued in
such cases is the issue not of a perma-.
nent privilege but of q special permit good
for the particular exigency or c limited
period. i
Size of the Library.
The Congressional Library, now the
third in point of size in the world, con-
tanned 1.433,s4S books and pamphlets and
some 100000 other articles at the close of
the last fiscal year. The net gain in mis-
cellaneous books and pamphlets during
the year was 1904 The most notable
single acquisition-not included in the
count-was the celebrated Yudin library
of works on Russia and Siberia. Though
nominally a purchase, this collection OF
over $4,000 volumes was practically a,
gift to the library, since the owner parted
with it for little more than one-third the
sum expended in gathering 1t.
- This purchase is considered noteworthy
as an indication Of the broadening scope
of the library and its increasing value to
scholars. There is no other collection on
Russia and Siberia of such size in Amer
lea, and perhaps none SO valuabe In
Europe outside Of Russia. 1t is rich In
local history, ethnography and institu-
tional history. The material includes cer-
tain manuscript records of the early Rus
sian settlements in Alaska.
AHOtHeT dCQulSlllOH is d COt-
lection Of 1900 works on Japan, mainly
in the Japanese language. The books and
manuscripts were selected in Japan by
Prof. Asakawa OF Yale, whose purpose
was to secure a good working collection
for the student of Japanese literature,
history and institutions.
Important Gifts.
Among the important gifts were the
Shoemaker and the Kaufman collec-
lions and valuable manuscripts and pa
pers of the period of Washington, JEFF
ferson, Madison and Monroe by bequest
from Mr.: ]. Henley Smith. Other gifts
and purchases of especial value, inclN-;
ing collection of forty-six rare books
and 113 prints presented by Mrs. Ridgely.
Hunt. are also listed.
The reports Of the various divisions are
summarized. while that Of the manuscripts
division Is printed in extenso as an ap-
pendix. In this field among the notable
additions by gift were the letters Of
Justice John Mclean of the Supreme
Thomas of the Christian commission in
the civil war. two revolutionary orderly.
books, series Of twenty-five papers re-
lating to the trial of Col Thomas Butler!
and thirty-two letters addressed to Cyrus
w. Field. The purchases included the
letters of Judge Joseph Holt Of Washing
ton. and of Gov. William Plumer of New
Hampshire, the papers OF Edward NC
Pherson. 800 letters of Thaddeus Stevens,
and many other items of interest. Under
the law of 1903. The Pickett papers (diplo-
matte records Of the Confederate states)
were transferred to the library from the
Treasury Department, and interesting
Confederate and other records from the
Post Office Department.
Increase in Documents.
The division of documents shows an in
crease of so per. cent in the number of
volumes and pamphlets handled. the total
being 1925. Special attention las been
given in the. past year to developing the
collections of foreign documents by OBJ
tanning the volumes necessary to complete
sets in the library. The report contains
a list of the countries with which interna-
tional exchange relations have been estab-
lished.
Among the special collections to which
large additions were made during the
year is. the maps division. which now has
a total of 10000 pieces: the music divi-
sion. which now has total OF nearly 500
600, and the prints division, which has
total OF 255OOO.
Marked progress was made in cata-
loguing and classification. and a consid-
cradle incre ase-oyef II, per cent.in tie
distribution of printed cards to subscrib-
ing libraries. Of which, there are now, LEGO
benefiting by this service, service uniaae.
and national. -
The total expe nditures Of the library
exclusive of printing and binding; sos, 900
amounted to $4,000, of which $131 600
went for the maintenance of the building
and grounds, and $4,000 of the remainder
was offset by receipts Copyright fees,
etc) covered into the Treasury.
Sailing Vessels Change Owners.
Capt Robert Bradshaw of Alexandria
has sold the sailing sloop Northumberland
to parties in Anacostia, who will, 1t Is
stated, give the vessel a general over
hauling and fit her out for pleasure pur-
poses. The Northumberland has been
used for cunning trips on the river, and
is handy little craft. She is a vessel OF
nine tons burden, is 40.7 feet long, and
was built at Alexandra in 1892.
Capt. Bradshaw has purchased the sloop
Water Lily from Bob Grady, coiored, and
will have her overhauied and fitted out
for winter fishing on the river. The
Water Lily about three rnonths ago ran