The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-15
THE new STATE CAPITOL.
Selfishness Of Legislator Toward
the Vienna Exposition.
Why the Senate Would Not Send the Model OF
the Capitol 10 the Worlds Show.
A Description Of the New Capitol-An Expected
Change in the Commission-Cost Of the
New structure-fhe Appropriation.

ALBANY, March IA 1873.
There is just now friendly little struggle going
on between certain parties hereaboats over the
model of the new Capitol, which Is at present ex-
citing much attention. II will be remembered that
q resolution was introduced in the Assembly some
time ago, by request of number OF architects in
New York. asking the Legislature to allow the
model to be taken TO Vienna, there to be ex-
hibited as
ONE OF THE GREAT AMERICAN CURIosITIEs
The Assembly promptly passed the resolution,
but when the Senate got hold OF IT, to the surprise
Of everybody 1t refused, by maj GRITTY OF vote,
to let the great and good Austrians have the
pleasure Of controlling Albany's glory even for
a brief month or two. The reasons given by
the fiery Madden for his opposition to
taking the model away are peculiar and
quite Ulster.countyish. He is great ad-
mirer oil art, is Madden, aud is said TO spend his
leisure hours the study Of the works of the old
masters and devotes every weekly recess to the
exclusive contemplation OF the beauties OF model
OF the Vatican and ST. Peters, at Rome, the handi
work OF q lineal descendant, some have it, OF one
Of the greatest architects OF the twelfth century,
Now, the chief reason of Mr.. Madden's wanting
the Capitol model to remain at Albany is that is
altogether, in his opinion, too gorgeous an affair
for republican people to submit to the admiring
gaze of people blasted with the curse of an i'm
perial government Wouldn't this accursed peo-
pie naturally roll up the whites of their eyes in
holy horror at the extravaganza displayed by a
single State in our transcendent Union in building
Capitol rivalllng in spendor Of architectural de-
sign (and expense) the palace OF a monarch At
least Mr.. Madden his this idea about the matter.
In this connection may as well give you
AN IDEA OF WHAT THE MODEL IS
xybv hoc rrou fnr xui IN
show it abroad. 1t is beyond DOUBT one of the
finest models of public building ever constructed
in this country. We all know what the general
acceptation OF OF the term "model" is when used in
connection with a building nowadays. 1t refers
simply to a so-caed fac-simile OF the ediice which
gives general idea OF what the building is without
being made accurate in measurements. This
model OF the capital has been constructed on q
scale of quarter of an inch to the foot in its every
part-that is, every foot Of measurement Of every
window, door, baustrade, tower, &C., of the Capitol
itself is represented in the model by quarter of
an inch scale. Thus, for instance, any particular
part OF the building that is 100 feet long is 100
quarter inches in length in the modeI-that is. two
feet one inch. Ii can readily be perceived, there
fore, that the model is
NOT HASTILY CONSTRUCTED TOY HOUSE.
built for simple show. 1t took six men fifteen
months to build 1t, under the direction and super
vision of Mr.. John Clemishire and Mr.. Bryce, the
carpenters OF the Capitol. 1t is quite impossible
in brief article like this to give anything like a
description Of 1t as it now appears IN the house
specially built Tor ITS sale Keeping, where it is the
attraction Of hundreds OF visitors daily. IL Is
painted white tine new Capitol is to he of light
colored grantee, and at distance by the aid Of
long sight opera glass; appears to the eye just as
the Ca pltOl will appear when completed IL may be
that this glass sight deusiOn has great deal
to do with the number Of old peope-prncipally
call to examine 1t day after day. They probably
feel that they will never live to the day when the
Capitol is u an accOn,ptt, and that the ''deasion'
is too precious thing under the circumstances to
be neglected. l understand that the architects
from New York city who have been so urgent to
nave the model 20 ro v,vxv.
are to make another effort TINS week to get the
Senate to reconsider its adverse vote o. few
weeks ago. and, Judging from present Indications
the members who are AFRAID OF scandailZnR ian
e1ete system Of government by letting it go to
cratic ssells and allow their less particu-
lar brethren to give the requisite permis-
sion. But just here ! may avail myself OF this
model talk of mine to say word about the Capitol
and give you few fgurative dimensions which
will enable the general reader TO understand at the
same time the size OF the model and the prospects
OF its big brother. The real hard work on the
Capito--the immense foundation works. at an
end now, and the beautiful granite walls are al
ready rising above the high enclosure which sur
rounds the building on all sides. The first story
the southerly side as lar as the outer walls are
concerned, is completed, and this alone brings 1t
on level with the roof Of the present Capitol
The assembly and Senate chambers will be in
readiness FURNISHED and alD for the SEES
sion OF 1S75-the Winter alter next
and by 1875 the entire building will
be ready for all the departments and bureaus of
the State government which arc now scattered
about this little village to the inter bewderment
OF every human beng who comes here from far or
near on "oficial business" To accomplish this
very desirable result will necessitate a great deal
of steady work on the part OF the commissioners
but if they display the same perseverance and
energy they have during the past year there need
be no fear that our embryo senators and Assembly
men will have TO
WASTE THEIR SWEETNESS
on the death-dealiEg air OF the present tumble
down State House. There Is rot day III tie
week that the work is not supervised by Commits.
sloners Harris and Rice, the President and
here, there and everywhere the minutest
details Of every branch OF the work receiving the
same diligent attention from them as the general
WHOLE and to them In great part Is due the great
progress that has been made in getting the work
done during the past year. Now let me give you
some idea OF
INTENSITY OF THE STRUCTURE,
and thereby. indirectly, better conception OF the
work done on the model by Mr.. Clemishre and Mr..
Bryce. The number Of the windows in the build
Ing including those on the tower, is 442; doors in
square banisters for corridors and balconies
300 feet when completed, and OF the basement $50.
The height from door to ceiling OF the basement IS
e rIs sy i e s.dTS ee
ventlat 3 are to be 160 feet and the cor
ner paw feet. The art gallery is to be 10
Gated on ns 'hrst story, and Is TO be 80 feet
inches by 1872 'eet. The Court OF Appeals room is
20 by II feet inches; the Governors room SO by
So feet inches; the Grand Central court, 81 feet
inches by 1871 feet inches; ventlating courts,
"a by IS leet; Attorney Generals room, 81 feet 8
inches by "a feet inches. including Adjutant
Generals. Secretary OF States rooms, &C.
The Senate Chamber Is to be 81 by 70
feet and the Assembly Chamber 20 by 80
feet; the State Library, 2s3 by IS
feet Regents OF Universty's room, "a feet inches
by 80 feet inches; Law Library, SO feet inches
by 70 feet nches main hall Tor staircase, 35 by SO
feet including post offices, cloak rooms, committee
rooms, &C.; gallery floor OF the Senate Chamber
81 by 90 feet; OF the Assembly Chamber, 81 by lab
feet inches, including all committee rooms, rec
Ords, shafts for light, &C.
One or the greatest drawbacks to
THE SPEEDY CONSTRUCTION or THE BUILDING
In the past mas been the nggardy way the Legis-
ature has dealt out its appropriations for It, IL Is
generally conceded that til plan for the building
at the start was made on altogether too grand
scale but after the work had been fairly begun and
the foundation all completed 1t became the duty