The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-05-17
A letter from Colonel g. w. Munford.
.,..,, ..s.-. 4 The Capitol.
BALE, GLOUCESTER COUNTY, VAR
~ as+ l..&' = a Nav 10 1910. {

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u - May y, 1870.
To'the Editors Of the Dispatch:
Gcntlemen,-In your paper of the Goth
:ultimo communication appears which you
say "has been furnished by one OF the best
and most experienced architects and engi-
neers in the city as the cause Of the dis
aster " that occurred In the Capitol. did
not see this communication until to-day. I
deem it a duty to- notice it. From the let
tel" 3d." by which it is signed, I think I
know the writer, and will add to your
commentator that he is most worthy and
estimable gentleman, and would not state
ranything as fact that he does not believe
to be true. He says "Inthe original plan
and interior arrangement of the Capitol
building the girder whose fracture pro-
duced such frightful results was supported
by several columns removed to give greater
freedom, and, elegance TO, the ball Of the
House Of Delegates, which. was transferred
been nisinfornsd, or laborS under amis.
take. ~. ~ ~ - Il. ~ t,s3 2.@-us-itL -
In the first, place, In the original plan Of
the Capitol the room called tho hall OF the
House Of Delegates was designed for the use
of that House, was always occupied by It,
and that branch Of the legislative depart
ment was never transferred from any other
room to that portion Of the building. In
the next place, assert as fact from per-
sonal knowledge, man and boy for. fifty
years, forty Of which / was public officer
In and about that room, that there never
were any columns in the room to support
any girder, or rafter, or any other part OF
the ceiling. The interior arrangement oil
the seats and desks, and Of the old lobby
and gallery to the hall, were changed by
order Of the House, under the advice OF
competent architects, but the alterations
We're on the floor Of the room, and did not
remove any supports whatever to the floors
above, the piastering to the ceiling alone
being renewed repeat, there neYerwere
during that entire time any columns In the
room reaching font the floor to the ceiling
and therefore none could have been re.
moved to give greater freedom and elegance
to the hall. -: s. - /.
The room above the hall, which was oe
cupied by the Court Of Appeals at the time
OF the diaster and was the scene Of the ruin
was originally designed for the Senate cham
| that body transferred its place Of meeting
to the room opposite the hall of the Hous;
on the floor below, Under the gallery t,
this chamber was the office OF the clerk .
| the Senate, kept as such during the lon,
] clerkship Of the elder Mr.. HanafeTd ant
| subsequently was the Office, Of his son, VIII
succeeded him, This original Senate cham
Der, thus construed ted, and Its, clerks ofiso
I to the best Of my recolle lection, were neye
faltefed during all the period ! have mel
Itioned. III 4 !, 81, IS, Z, s S 4. a
The truth Is, that when the Seaat
4 chan ed their room Tor the room on the OF
i posits side Of the building, down on Eth
i second door alterations We're made, To as
lEcommcs iats chem I'D their neM roohl. I
4 this new room there ssste tive on three OF
i ignanss enes. esfsg f9 asapgesa he acs
lhtafsl NV tFnaa sssis sseM Nas salasla