New-York tribune., 1907-07-28
PROGRESS ON LIBRARY.
Work Far Enough Along to GiUe
Idea of What 1t VIII Be.

On the big lot covering two city blocks facing
Fifth avenue and running from 10th TO 42d
street where nine years ago the old receiving
reservoir squatted, there now stands the New
York Public Library building. one or the nnes'
buildings in the city to-day. For eight years It's
construction has gone slowly forward, until now
the exterior is practically completed. and be-
ginning has been made on the interior An eX-
ceIent idea of the outside effect OF the building
can be obtained now before the ugly boarding
necessary to prevent damage to the newly set
stone is placed around the lower part OF the
structure.
Inside too definite suggestion OF what the
completed building will look like can be gained
from the front hallway on the Fifth avenue side
There the walls and ceiling are finished IN YER
mont marble. the ceiling being arched' while
around the edges carving adds TO the decorative
effect The two staircases on either side sweep
I'm graceful curves from the marble floor OF the
first story TO that of the second. without any
support whatever from beneath o. from the
walls beside them. The tall pillars too, are OF
marble. and as one passes between them 20 the
great room beyond, where the marble work is
lust in its beginning. he gets an idea or the
future appearance Of the building.
In the great reading room, which Is 290 feet
long. II feet wide and 30 feet high. one feels
that there is plenty Of room for body as well as
mind TO roam and TO the New Yorker, who or
all persons, realizes the true value OF plenty OF
room, the entire library throughout is place
Of grateful spaciousness Everywhere there Is
depth and heighth and breadth. and more than
these among the walls Of white marble there
will be coolness in summer for. with a broad
/ terrace in front and the great open backyard OF
Bryant Park in the rear, there will be plenty or
space for the air TO circulate.
While the ground outside the library Uttered
as il now is with supplies and debris, does not
look TO be place of much beauty, the expendi-
ture of 100000 for grading walks. terraces
/ fountains sidewalks and other improvements
will transform It, And in time a frame OF green
/ dotted with flowers. with here and there foun-
tain will surround the new building
/ A comprehensive idea Of what this great build
/ ing will be Is obtainable when one looks at some
Of the figures concerning It, Covering 1l5.ooO
square feet. II contains $50 rooms The main
stack room, which is 2s7 feet long and IS feet
wide contains seven floors, each seven feet six
inches high. In this room there will be sixty
three miles OF shelves for books. with capacity
for 400 900 books. while the other rooms Will
have a capacity for 100000 books in addition
At present the stack room is one vast network Of
steel crossbeams and supports through which
one can look from cellar 10 ceiling, the whole
looking not unlike a modern skyscraper in the
first stages of construction. At the top floor OF
! the main building the marble workers are hard
at work, while on the stairways much Of the
marble has already been put UP and cleaned
Just now the great rooms downstairs are busy
workshops, where all manner Of mechanics are
carrying forward their different methods OF
preparation and execution, the rough floors and
bare walls permitting OF rough work without
I danger OF domage. Yet every day the work OF
/ completion Is going forward and the evidence of
[ the handiwork OF the workmen is becoming more
I and more apparent. that before long only the
finer part of the work will be left 10 do. With
the building finished on the outside and rooted IN
and sheltered the inside from the frosts OF
winter, which often endanger newly set
stonework the laborers can go right ahead dur
ing the coming winter.
Within three years at the most. say the men
in charge. the structure will be ready for occu-
pancy. II will have cost about 100000. It
Will be the nucleus OF fifty smaller libraries
| scattered throughout the boroughs OF The Bronx.
Manhattan and Richmond. beginning at Kings
bridge. in The Bronx and ending at Tottenvie.
/ on Staten Island Containing total OF 3.500.000
books in itself. with other millions in its
| branches. the New York Public Library Will be
the largest circulating library in the world. and
its possibilities for doing good among the edu-
Gated and the uneducated practically IN
limited.