Letter of the Day: August 22

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 1663

War Department,
Surgeon General’s Office,
U.S. Army Medical Museum And Library,
Corner 7th and B Streets S.W.,
Washington, D.C., August 22, 1896

To the Surgeon General, U.S. Army,
Washington, D.C.

General:

I have the honor to state that by reason of the regular and steady growth of this Library, the point has been reached when it will be necessary to provide for additional shelving for the security and preservation of the books deposited therein, as well as to prevent undue strain upon the building by properly distributing the increasing weight over a greater surface.

It is contemplated to add six iron book stacks, similar in size and design to those now in use, and which have proved to be satisfactory. I enclose a ground plan of the Library, on which is indicated the location on which these new stacks should be placed.

From preliminary estimates it is believed that the cost of these six iron book stacks with the necessary hard-wood shelves, will not exceed $6,000.00, and I would, therefore, respectfully suggest that Congress be requested to make the following appropriation:

Building for Army Medical Museum and Library: For six (6) stacks of book cases in Library Hall, including iron supports, stairs, and perforated gallery floors, and necessary hard-wood shelves, six thousand dollars.

The annual increase of books and medical literature is about 6,000 volumes, and the stacks herein estimated will furnish the requisite accommodation for the Library for a period of about five years.

I would request that the ground-plan of the Library Hall be returned to me.

Very respectfully,

D.L. Huntington
Deputy Surgeon General, U.S. Army,
In charge of Museum And Library Division.