The evening world., 1911-05-20
Taft, Gov. Dix and Mayor
Gaynor to Attend Dedica-
ton on Tuesday.
HAS COST $4,000 900.
This Is EXCLUSIVES Of Site, Val
ued at $40, 900,
est Building of Kind.

When Archbishop Farley deliver. the
benediction IN the assembly han OF tie
New York Public Library next TUESDAY
afternoon In the presence OF tho Presl-
de1t OF the United States, the Governor
OF New York. the Mayor or this city
and other notable men. the largest. hest
equipped and most costly library oulid-
Ing In the world will have been dedl-
Gated to the people Of Greater New
York.
After ten years OF planning and build
Ink. a decade alternately darkcncd by
criticism. opposition and delay and
lightcned by achievement and success,
the splendid marble palace on Firth
avenue between Fortleth and Fofty-sec-
ond streets Is completed. and on Thurs-
day. May 81. the public will be free to
enter and enjoy library advantages the
Ike OF which no other city In the world
can boast. This beautiful structure in
the midst of surroundings devoted en-
treiy TO business. on the busiest corner
In New York. bears out the definition
that architecture Is frozen music" and
one does not need more than "A glance al
It's stately outlines and ~ spacious In
terror to understand how more than
l2.WO.co has been sepnt on II.
The Dedication Ceremonies.
The dedication ceremonies Wednesday
afternoon will attract Il gathering repre-
sentative OF the culture OF the entire
Nation. President Taft Is coming from
Washington to max the principal ad-
dress and Gov. Dix and Mayor Gaynor
will also speak.
The programme Will begin at 2 O'Clock
with an opening prayer by Bishop Greer.
Then will follow the delivery of the
keys by Thomas Hastings OF the firm of
Carrers 4 Hastings. the architetts.
Other addresses will be made by r.esi-
dent ChaHas d. Slower OF the Depart
ment OF Parks; John Bigelow. president
OF the New York Public Library, Aston,
Lenox and Tilden Foundations. and
George l.. Rtvee. trustee OF the library.
Archbishop f'arley's benediction will end
the ceremonies.
The dedication. to which 600 invitations
nave been issued. will he followed by a
reception, tn which 1900 guests will par
ticipate. None but those having in
vifations will he admitted to this re-
ception. They will enter at one door and
proceed In Q line through the halls and
apartments under tho direction OF
guides. kept moving In one direction.
through The building to the exit, and
none will be allowed to turn back. The
police arrangements will be In charge
OF Inspector Walsh. who Will have u
force OF several hundred men.
Yesterday afternoon DIR. John :. Bill.
ings. director OF the library, TO whose
/ ingenuity and energy the technical fea-
lures OF the splendidly equipped build
ing Is a monument conducted . pri.
, vate inspection.
|, First Idea Of Building.
Starring In the beautifully fitted lee,
! ture room, no told how In a conyerss,
!, ton years ago with Prof. Wells 10
drew on the back Of a postal card hi,
idea OF the perfect library building
5 This rough pencil sketch was followed
almost exactly by the architects and
II Ia preserved as one Of the treasure,
documents OF tie library,
MY idea was to have a re%ctangula,
building with a reading room on tot
OF the hook stacks" said Dr. Billings
c and that Is what We have here-th'
FIRST one ever built. ] didn't want I
reading room with u dome. like mos
OF the great libraries. The British mu
a scum has that and the British museum
aenlanhaa ara urAll LnANn and fppCh
for my idea and won."
q The new library Ia. room IN its hon
q eycombed book stacks for b.5,0.O 900 vol
y umes. and 1t has floor space OF 5000
feet. 5000 feet more than In the Con
u gresslonal Library In Washington. |
opens with $4,000 yolumss, but II Is ex
pected that inside 90 twenty-five year
d there win he 500. 1000 books within It
e walls. There are S.Nc.ooo cards IN ~
catalogue room and It has "a capacity O
lo,c00,o 900.
The land on which the library stand
y is valued at $50. 0 .oo0, and It's history 1
Interesting. This bit OF early inforna
IS ton Is insr..ied on n bronze tablet /
u the Fort,-soro1d street corridor:
This building is erected upon n pa
J. Of the rum31nn lands which We're gram
o ed ny Royal Charter 70 the Mayor. A,
dermcn and CON nonGty OF the CT
OF New York IN 1875. t0e second year {
the reign OF lanes the Second, Kin
OF E~rsiend"
), Was Once 4 Potter's Field.
When the Revolution began the si'
= was part OF the country estate OF Rdl
= apf AluFraN "a rigl Dl.kHr u1aTaa. n
:. The city taen had extended only as -
as Fulton street, In 1870 New YoI
"a conta ned 10000 houses and ~, iO6 inhal
itants, and there was need for eNpai
sion room. The Washington Squai
ncighborhood was settled upon, but
:. was tacn a pot;er's field, and Il W.
= necessary 20 find another tract for In
purpose So the city bought the Ia,