Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-12-08
i. s. LIBRARY soon
TO Be LARGEST OF
ALL, SAYS PUTNAM
Annual Report of Uncle Sans
Keeper of Books Is
Made. II

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8.-Within .
few years the Library of Congress will
occupy the supreme position in numeri-
cal strength among the libraries of the
world. It now ranks third, with the
Bibliotheque Rationale and III British
Museum holding first and second posi-
lions.
The annual report of Librarian Her.
bert Putnam was submitted to Con-
gress today. It shows that in the year
1909-1910 there we're added 80, 473 vol
umes, making the total possessions Of
the library In printed volumes !, 1873 58.
There are 1896 maps and charts.
81. 8e6 Volumes and pieces of music and
800. 261 prints.
During the period 1905-1s09 the addi-
tons to the British Museum are stated
10 have been 149.464. to the Bibliothequs
Rationale 166. 634. and to the Library OF
Congress 425,s25. Librarian Putnam
argues that from these comparisons the
congressional institution will surpass
its two rivals within a few years
Valuable Collection Added
To show the character of the acceu-
sions Mr.. Putnam points to the receipt
of the collection of Thatcher incuna-
bula. made by John Boyd Thacher. Of
Albany, N. Y: the volumes of the
Madison papers. heretofore owned by
the Chicago Historical Society, and the
papers of James X. Polk, which were
transferred from the same society
gifts of manuscript collections from
the heirs of Mrs. Anna Parker Pruyns
- -. At ---9r&4-- 20 4hA
papers Of William Eustis, of Massa-
chusetts, for the period of 1775-IS25;
the Stevenson papers, from Mrs Mary
w. Stevenson colston, of Cincinnati;
the Burton Harrison collection, con-
sisting of letters of Thomas Jefferson,
Henry Clay and Alexander Porter. and
notes of conversations with James
Madison; correspondence of Burton N
Harrison relative to the defense OF
Jefferson Davis. and letters showing
the disposition of the specie In the
Confederate treasury after the sur
render ia 1865.
Data ON War of 1912.
Still other important additions were
the Margaret Bayard Smith papers,
some eighty papers, left by the
late Richard K Cralle, pertain
ing to the history Of the War Of
1872, the Mexican War and the efforts
to nominate Calhoun for the presf-
dency. A large number of other in
valuable documents are included In 3
long list OF accessions for the past
year. Another list shows that the
music collection has been greatly
strengthened. The Weckerlin and
Mertorell collections were purchased.
the former containing a large humble
of specimens of French folk songs.
chansons, etc. In h latter collection
are about 1900 full scores of favorite
arias from the eighteenth cen ny
operas.
In his report Nj. Putnam says.
The library Is coming more ana
more to be looked upon by individual
collectors as the suitable and RESPONSE
BILE guardian of precious literary and
historical material. Sometimes this
comes to the library az a temporary
deposit pending decision as to its final
destination, but oftener for permanent
custody and safeguarding"
An event of the year was the COM
pletion OF an additional bookstack con-
tanning forty-four miles of shelving. 1t
will accommodate nearly a million vol
umes, which at the present rate Of IN
crease will provide only for the growth
- !, 5a1o6a