Evening star., 1932-10-02
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Star Of October 3, 1882. tells of public
improvement for which Washington
had waited inpatiently
New Avenue for long time, and
c:...u- incidentally brings back
to mind the names of
local merchants who SO years ago we're
prominent figures in the Capital field
of business
THE District Commissioners are
doing all they can to urge forward the
work OF making the new sidewalk on
the north side OF Pennsylvania avenue.
When the delegation of merchants
waited upon them last week to ask a
suspension of that work. they replied
that they could not consent to that
without congressional authority, but
would see to it that the work was
prosecuted as fast as possible. The
rainy weather for the past few weeks
has been very much against the work,
but now, as it is better for drying, they
state that there shall be no delay on
account of sufficient force or appli-
ances to complete it at the earliest
moment. They have given the neces-
sary orders to the contractors.
THE Commissioners have notified
the contractors to give as little annoy
ance to the merchants on the Avenue
as possible, and not to unnecessarily
tear up the street in advance of laying
the foot walk. Mr.. Crawford state< to
a Star reporter that 1t is impossible
to do that kind of work without tear
ing up from three to four hundred feet
of pavement ahead; but that it is GER
tainly his intention to incommode the
merchants as little as possible.
The gas company is taking advan-
tage of this opportunity to lay new
services in front of each lot, and the
contractor is having brick box and
artificial stone cover put at the curb
stone end of each service and a terra
Gotta pipe underneath the sidewalk for
all pipes to run through, SO that any
adjustment Of pipes can be made at
any season Of the year without tearing
up the sidewalks. He today COM
menced taking up the sidewalks in
front OF the stores Of Willet & Ruoff,
the hatters; Mr.. Robinson, the cloth
ier; Mr.. William, ladies' dress goods,
and Mr.. Chapman, the bookseller, be-
tween Ninth and Tenth streets, pre-
pairing for laying the granolithic pave
ment."
The adjournment Of Congress so
years ago without decision upon the
site for the new home Of the Library
Of Congress caused
Growinp Need Of disappointment In
rIr Washington, where
~" the need Of such
q building was most keenly felt. The
Star of October 6, 1882, says:
Every day pours more books into
the already overf1owing Library Of
Congress, and adds additional argu-
ments for the favorable consideration
Of the bill providing for it a new
building, which is the special order for
December IL in the House of Repre-
sentatives. The Toner collection, valu-
able in its medical and historical va
rieties and its biographies, the gift of
which was accepted by special act of
Congress last Summer, Is now nearly
pies certain alcoves Of the main La
rarily provided under the rotunda. The
masses Of bound newspapers, Amer
ican and foreign, which filled the
upper floors of the State Department,
and were removed to make room for a
force of clerks engaged upon pension
business, are now, with the exception
of certain files retained for reference
In the Department Of State, added to
the Library Of Congress. and viii be
accessible to the public - soon as
shelving b provided. The Library has
also acquired BY recent innportations
and purchases at auction about 5000
volumes Of law and miscellaneous
books, among which may be named a
complete collection Of treatises on the
law Of copyright, embracing several hun
dred monographs in all the languages
of Europe. Transfers from the depart
ments, purchases, donations and ac-
cessions under the law Of copyright all
combine to enrich the floor Of the Lii
brary. There Is every reason to be-
lieve that Congress, soon after conven-
ing, viii relieve the pressure by proUd-
ing more coinmodious quarters for the
great mass Of the collection. Disputes
over the site Of the new building may
postpone decision for . while, but in
view Of the urgent need for immediate
action. long delay win b urpardon.
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