The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1912-06-06

this magnificent building was kept down to
such n comparatively reasonable figure Is ex
planned by the fact that many Of the artists
and sculptors, in spirit OF patriotic loyalty
gave their genius and their art free Of cost
to the nation II is said that twice the sum
expended could not duplicate the building I'M
der ordinary circumstances.
As TO the practical features OF the institu-
ton. its capacity. facilities for serving the
public, and its various activities, only n brief
outline can be given. Including the main
reading room, tho room for periodicals., the
senator's and representatives reading rooms.
and the special reservations In the alcoves
and galleries. the library can comfortably &C
commodate 1000 readers at any one time.
The main reading room. which contains the
Issue desk, has seating capacity and desks for
200 readers and co tables In tho alcoves and
galleries, which are assigned to scholars max.
ing extended Investigations. The issue desk
is connected with tho stacks, the Capitol.
Smithsonian division and librarians office by
pneumatic tubes. while electric book carriers
connect the desk with the stacks and with the
Capitol
When a book Is called for at the desk the
slip is sent by pneumatic tube to the clerk
in the proper stack. He places the book into
n receptacle, from which II is taken by one Of
the brass book baskets eighteen OF which are
the book carrier, which travels continually be
tween the stacks and the Issue desk. The bas-
ket carries the book down to the reading
room and automatically deposits II into a
cushioned box at tho central desk whence Il
is taken out by the attendant and delivered
TO the desk selected by the reader. The books
can also be returned to the stacks In the same
manner. II member OF congress desires
book delivered to him in the Capitol. the
pneumatic tube carries the slip making the
request to the issue desk and another electric
book carrier conveys the book through an un
foreground tunnel over quarter Of mile In
length and delivers II to the waiting states
man in about three minutes.
The book stacks, which radiate from the
main reading room. consist Of a series OF cast
iron frames, supporting tiers and shelves to
height of nine and ten stories to the roof the
largest stack being 65 feet high. The Shelves
OF cold-rolled steel. are polished smooth. and
since the addition Of the last stack have n ca
pacity of about 100000 volumes. The ulti.
mate capacity, when other stacks are added
will be over 100000 volumes-a row OF books
which would extend over 100 miles.
According to the report of Mr.. Herbert Put
nam. the librarian. just submitted to congress.
the contents OF the library at present are:
Books Observation-Disclosures. .1,Ssl.I2s
Maps and charts (pieces) ........... 123,b6S
Music (volumes and pieces) ........ b67.0lO
Manuscripts Ia numerical statement not feas-
ible).
The library proper is strongest In bibliogra-
ply, public documents ESPECIALLY those OF for
eign governments), Americana, economics polit-
ical science public law and legislation geneal-
ogy and newspapers Through the Smithsonian
institution extensive files Of transactions OF for.
elgn learned societies are received. BY virtue
NJ thu DOWNRIGHT law II has received the most