Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-15
GOVERNMENT LIBRARIES IN WASHINGTON

binding. There is a copy Of astronomical oa-
servaticns made on Capt. Cooks third voyage
to the South Pole, on the dyleaf of which is
written in ink now faded: "This book belonged
to my respected and lamented friend, Capt
FORESTER, r. NJ, who was unfortunately drowned
In the River Chagres on the night of Feb Is,
1884, on his way homeward from a scien-
tiac expedition. Signed Francis Baily July
4, 1881" This is the Baily who discovered
Baily's Beads who was one Of the founders of
the Royal Astronomical Society and one of the
leading astronomers of his time.
The Navy Observatory has q choice group
Of incunabula and rare 10th and 18th century
volumes. Many of them are literally priceless
Four incunabula from the press of Rat
doit in Venice. Their dates range from 1882
to 1889. A first edition of "Suma de Arith-
metica, by Lucas Pacioli, was printed in Ven-
ice in 1494. Here is copy of Alfonsine tables
compiled under authority Of Alfonso Of
CASTLE in 1z52-printed in an edition of 1872
The only perfect copy in the United States Of
Opus Platinum de Triangulis of Pheticus"
printed in 1896 is in the library A complete
copy of "Machina Collestis of Hevelius" in the
library is said to be the rarest astronomical
work that exists anywhere
In addition to the splendid ARMY Medical IL.
brary and Army War College, the Department.
Of War maintains libraries as follows: Air
Corps, Engineers School. Law, Ordnance Tech
nical stan, Quartermaster General and Walter
Reed General Hospital
THE Library of the Department of Justice vas
begun March 2, 1881, with an approximation
OF $500 to purchase books for Office of attorney
general. 1t now has 10000 books and pamph-
lets. 1t is primarily for the use Of officiaIs OF
the department. although Its use In extended
to Federal judges and to Offices Of other Gov
eminent departments One Of It's most Inn
portant collections is set Of records and briefs
Of Supreme Court IN United States cases from
1890 to date. These are indexed and bound
The Department Of Commerce has q remark
able assenblage Of pamphlets and documents
Its aeronautics library is reputed to be the I'm
est commercial aviation library in the United
dition to 10000 domestic and foreign magazine
articles pamphlets and reports
library Of 5000 volumes Is kept In the
United States Civil Service Commission Build
ing.
Department of Treasury includes In its j,rrfs-
dietion the hygienic library OF 10000 volumes,
Law library, office of solicitor Qo,0oo bcois) and
Public Health Service, 10000 volumes
The Federal Reserve Board Library has been
called by its users the best collection on CEN
trail banks extant. 1t contains Is 900 books and
pamphlets at 30 Eighteenth street and about
1000 law volumes in the Treasury Building
Federal Trade Commission has library that
covers the high spots Of business trade and law
Its books total 10000. United States Inter-
state Commerce Commission has a library of
about co., 600 volumes
One of the most recent Government libraries
Is that of Federal Board for Vocational Ed,ica-
ton. 1t has two major problems: l. To supply
up-to-date material Of all kinds for q groaiD Of
professional and research workers here in the
board; 2 To contribute In as large a measure
rs possible to the information about new books
and pamphlets that may be helpful to the
workers in the States who are cooperating
with the board in the work of vocational ed,-
cation and the rehabilitation Of the disabled
veterans. All of the resources Of this excellent
library are at the disposal of students and re-
search workers outside the Government
Other departmental libraries include United
States Shipping Board United States SOLDER
Home, United States Tariff Commission and
Volta Bureau