632 THE BUILDING FOR THE LIBRAEY OF CONGRESS. 



its great purpose, good building and good administration in the execu- 

 tion, and therefore the more appropriate to house the nation's library. 



The unusual success of the undertaking under Government auspices 

 is almost wholly due to the selection of a known competent, sturdy, 

 and faithful individual such as General Casey was, and giving him the 

 sole charge directly under Congress without an executive superior 

 liable to interfere and cause delays. The work went on quietly, but 

 with energy, and was completed within the originally estimated time 

 and well within the legal limit of cost. 



The total cost of the building was $6,344",585.34 — that of the site, 

 $585,000 — complete records of the work are preserved in drawings, 

 photographs, correspondence, and accounts. Mr. Paul J. Pelz, of the 

 original Arm of architects, was employed to assist as architectural 

 designer, remaining until the drawings of the building as a whole were 

 completed, when he was succeeded by Edward P. Casey, architect, 

 whose work comprised chiefly the design and supervision of all the 

 more artistic as well as many of the important fundamental features 

 of the interior. The writer designed the construction throughout, the 

 book stacks and much of the apparatus, and supervised everything. 



