The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-22

Of the proceeds of the sale of State
documents. the amount coming in
varying very widely from year to
year. In 1929. the first year for which
the record has been preserved. 1T was
I$7.798.S7. The smallest amount re-
ceived in any one year was sl.52s4s'
received in 1865: the largest was $25,-
lO16.05, received in 1885. The
amount received from this source the
year ending October 81, 1912, was
$6.650.60.
Location of the State Library.
At present the State library occu-
pies the top floor of the building
known as the State library building.
which building Is, however. used in
addition by the Supreme Court of
Appeals and it's library, and by the
auditor of the STATE. the treasurer of
the State, the second auditor of the
State and various other State OFF,
cials. The library is sadly in need
of more ample quarters, since the
congestion at present Is such as to
interfere with the proper arrange
ment and cataloging of the books,
and more especially of the manu-
scripts belonging to the institution.
A bill was passed by the general as
semhly of 1912 calling for the pur-
chase of one-half OF the property in
the city of Richmond known as the
Ford hotel property at the end Of the
fiscal year of 1912. If the actual
amount needed for the purchase
should he at that time in the State
treasury. If not, the purchase should
he made at the end of the fiscal year
1918. Themoney was not in hand at
the end of the fiscal year 1912.
but VIII. II is confidently expect
ed, be IN the treasury at the end of
the present fiscal year. The law pro-
vides that this lot shall be used as
site for State library and Supreme
court building. The next legislature
will probably make provision for the
erection Of such building. The
building will, 1t is hoped, be ample
for the accommodation Of the library
at present and for the growth of many
years to come. Not only must provi-
sion be made for large book col
lectNn. but also for the archives OF
the State The library should be used
as a central hail of archives. to which
should be transferred the archives of
all the departments Of the State after
. they cease 10 become necessary in
the current work of the departments
ALREADY there have been transferred to
the library a great many records Of
this character from the Office OF the
secretary OF the Commonwealth, the
governor ONCE the du1hthIli gem
erals ONCE. the auditors Office and
the ONCE of the clerk of the house
of delegates. In fact the manuscript
collection OF the library is far more
valuable than the book collection.
With adequate quarters, there would
be no objection on the part of the
heads OF departments of the State to
transferring to the State library the
records OF the various Offices not need
a SyN=t
ness. When transferred 10 the library
these various records would be CLASH
fed catalogued and rendered read
lily accessible to historical students.
Not only because of lack OF space
does the library need new quarters,
but also because of the danger of fire
in the present quarters, The present
library building was constructed IN
1892, and was supposed al that time
to be fireproof. but ideas in reference
to fireproof construction have under
gone a decided change since that time.
and experts now say that there Is
about the library building entirely too
much woodwork for Il TO be considered
fireproof structure. AT the same
time the room used as the archives
room Of the library Is not fitted up
with steel cases for the reception OF
the manuscripts. there being at pres
4ffI oTsN WOODEN sEitlftS. NhtV
attention of the general assembly was
strongly called at their last meeting
to this condition. no appropriation was
made for its remedy.
Contents of the Library.
The State library contains not only
a large book coliection--there were in
the library on November /. 1912. sl,-
SS2 books and pamphlets-and the
collection of manuscripts TO which
reference has been made, but an ex-
ceedingly interesting collection of por-
traits and other pictures. Recently
the library issued a pamphlet entitled
List OF Portraits and Pieces of Statu-
airy In the Virginia State Library. With
Biographical Notes" This list con-
tains description OF the portraits in
oils and all the pieces of statuary In
the Virginia State library. There
are 104 entries. Besides the oil paint
ings. the library possesses great
many engravings. Autographs and
photographs Many of the oil paint
iings are especially fine, notably one
Of Robert e. Lee and one OF Albert
Sidney Johnston, both by John A..
Elder, and one OF Chief Justice Mar
shall. by Henry Inman. The latter
does not belong to the library, having
! been deposited by the, Misses Harvie,
or Richmond. the granddaughters OF
Chief Justice Marshall Tne largest
picture possessed by the library and
one OF the most striking is the picture
OF Lee and His Generals. painted by
George b. Matthews. This was pre-
scented to the library In 1912 by Will
liam H. Bosley of Baltimore. The
picture Is handsomely rramed ana ls
we'll lighted by electric lights. 1t is
hung on the west wall of the hall
leading from the main reading room
I OF the library to the manuscript room.
where II Is the first thing to be seen
! by visitors brought to the library by
the elevator. 1t has attracted much
notice.
Who May Use the Library.
| For reference use the State library
is perfectly free to all persons what
ever who conduct themselves In a
proper manner. The library is open
/ from o'clock until Z. Sundays ex-
lcepted. for eight months of the year.
For the other four months, namely.
Jane, July, August and September. 1t
I Ia open from Q until s.: on Saturdays.
from . until ~. The law In reference
to the borrowing Of books Ia as fol-
lows:
The judges OF the Supreme Court
lof Appeals the governor, lieutenant
governor, reporter OF Court OF Ap-
naais ,neynh erA Of the gAnAral assem-