The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-06-22

this magnificent building was kept down to
such a. comparatively reasonable figure is ex-
planned. by the fact that many of the artists
and sculptors, In a spirit Of patriotic loyalty.
gave their genius and their art tree Of cost
1.-THE nation. 1t IS said that twice the sum
expended could not duplicate the building IN
der ordinary circumstances.
AS to the practical features OF the instit1l-
ton, It's capacity, facilities for serving the
public, and its various activities, only brief
outline can be given. Including the main
reading room, the room for periodicals the
senator's and representatives reading rooms
and the special reservations In the alcoves
and galleries, the library can comfortably ac-
commodate 1000 readers at any one time Il
Inc main reading room, which contains the
issue desk has seating capacity and desks for
200 readers and so tables in the alcoyes and
galleries, which are assigned to scholars max
ing extended Investigations. The issue desk
y connected with the 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
receptacle, from which it is taken by one of
tne prass BOOK baskets, eighteen of which are
mounted on an endless double chain forming
tween the stacks and the issue desk The has
ket carries the book down to the reading
room and automatically deposits 1t into
cushioned box at the central desk whence It
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 sanoa
manner. Ii a member Of congress desires
BOOK delivered to him in the Capitol, the
pneumatic tube carries the slip making tha
ha ~
DOCK carrier conveys the book through an nm
derground tunnel over quarter of q mile in
length and delivers 1t to the waiting states
man in about three minutes
Inc book stacks which radiate from the
main reading room, consist of series Of cast.
iron frames, supporting tiers and shelves to a
height OF nine and ten stories to the roof, the
largest stack being IS feet high The shelves.
Of cold-rolled steel, are polished smooth and
since the addition Of the last stack have a ca
pacity of about 100000 volumes The u1ti
mate capacity, when other stacks are added,
Will be over 100000 volumes row of books /
which would extend over 100 miles.
According to the report of Mr.. Herbert Put
man, the librarian just submitted to congress.
the contents Of the library at present are:
nooAs ,ssl, 729
Maps and charts tpieoeso .......... 123,568
Music (yolumes and pieces) ........ 557,o10
manuscripts "a numerical statement not teas
fble).
The library proper is strongest in blbliogra-
ply, public documents ESPECIALLY those Of for
eign governmentsl, Americana, economics, polit
zeal science, public law and legislation, geneal-
ogy and newspapers. Through the Smithsonian
institution extensive files of transactions OF for
eign learned societies are received. By virtue
OF the copyright law it has received the most
complete collection in existence of the prod
ucts OF the American press. American local
history and biography are represented with
unusual fullness. The Yudin collection OF
some $4,000 volumes of Russian works, pur-
chased in 1907, Is particularly valuable for the
history Of Russia and Siberia. A collection of