The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1921-03-04
zzMa4RY ar canS1IEsSsS

Cdu See WAtuUuI Sudue uidL tAc AOu-
.eNS& eral government Of America is the
lAkESsNM only government in the civilized
fXEP WA world that has never founded
wv HHH literary institution Of any description
TfE NH or sOrtY
M5p%NN So said Representative Simeon d.
VHzTSSSA Fess of Ohio the other day in the
ND w house in an address on the subject
of the library. Mr.. Fess is scholar
himself. He is lawyer He has served as col
lege president and professor in several lnstltu-
TONS He is the author of works on American
politics and history. In connection with appro-
priations for the Congressional Library he was
asked to deliver an address upon the Library as
a literary institution for the information of the
members In his address. reported in the Con-
gressional Record, the following interesting facts
are found:
East of the Capitol stands the most beautiful
building in the world, the creation of the genius
of the architect sculptor and painter. Within
Its walls is found a collection of publications
which is rapidly overtakng the BibliotheQue Ma
tionale of Paris and the British Museum Of Lon
don, the only other libraries which exceed in
number of books the Congressional Library.
Like all other great institutions, this had its
small and insignificant beginning. 1t started some
time before the beginning of the last century with
the appointment of committee to report on need
and selection of suitable books Five thousand
dollars was appropriated in 1900 Beckley of
Virginia appointed librarian by Jefferson in
1902 The first catalogue was of nine pages, pre-
pared in 1902, the Library then containing 964
volumes and nine maps, classified on the basis of
size into Quartos, octavos and so FORTH The pur-
pose of the Library stated by Senator Mitchill
In 1906 to be ITO furnish with such materials as
will enable statesmen to be correct in their in
vestigations, and by becoming display of erudi-
ton and research give higher dignity and
brighter luSter to TRUTH
The catalogue of 1912 contained titles of 3O76
volumes and So maps and charts When the Cap
tol was burned in 1914 by the British the Library
had cost all told about $4,000 for books and oper-
alton. The librarians salary was at first So per
day. The Library was destroyed August "a and
on September 81 Jefferson wrote from his home
rendering his library to congress. The commit
tee was authorized by act of congress to purchase
the 1000 volumes for $23,950, which was done in
January 1915. Jefferson catalogued the Library
which was later declared by Spofford as ian ad-
mirable selection of the best ancient and modern
literature up to the beginning of the present CEN
fury" These books were hauled from Monticello
to Washington In farm wagons.
From 1915 to 1851 the Library grew from 1000
to 5000 volumes.
On the evening of December %. 1925. Edward
Everett discovered fire In the galleries of the
Library. and he, assisted by Daniel Webster and
other members of congress, put it out In 1851
second fire destroyed all but 10000 volumes of
the then handsome collection of 5000 volumes
Only one-third Of the Jefferson collection was
saved. Congress at once took steps to rebuild the
loss. Before the year ended in several spe-
cifc acts it had appropriated $263 700 for the pur-
pose. Ten years later a general catalogue of
1898 pages was published In 1869 the last COM
plete catalogue, arranged by subjects was nub-
lished In two volumes of LIZA pages.
The card catalogue adopted about 1865
and was perfected from time to time to its pres
ent wonderfully serviceable system
In 1854 A. r. Spofford was selected as librarian
and that year might be taken as the beginning of
the third stage of Congressional Library history
Congress alphabetically responded to legisla-
tive demands Frequent appropriations were
voted and many private collections were secured
aztec the fashion of the famous beginning in 1915
Three years after the selection of Spofford con-
gress authorized the purchase of the valuable
collection of Americana from Peter Force. It
contained 10000 volumes and cost 100000 IT
was regarded as rare collection of books and
pamphlets on American subjects, manuscripts
newspapers. maps, autographs and so forth
About the same time the collection of the Smith
sonian Institution, comprising 10000 volumes.
was transferred to the Congressional Library. It
contained invaluable publications of the various
learned societies throughout the world with which
the Institution had exchange arrangements
Accessions were constantly made among which
were, In 1885, the Petigru law library; 1880 the
manuscript papers of Benjamin Franklin: 1888
the Matthew Carpenter law library; 1882. the
Toner collection of $1,000 volumes, which con-
tanned. among other invaluable publications. an
almost complete collection of copies of letters and
papers Of General Washington.
As far back as 1916 provision Of the COPY
right law required deposit in the Library of one