The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-04
OUR NEW CAPITOL AT ALBANY.
The Architects Report-Their Critieisms
upon Very Expensive BuugIe.

albany, March 3-Messrs. Fred Law
Olmsted, Leopold Eldlitz, and II. II. Richard
son, the architects who In connection with the
Commissioners OF the new Capitol at Albany
nave been examining the plans of the building
with avlew to their general improvement, as
well as To a reduction Of the cost. have com
pleted their report. II Ia a very long document,
which rakes fore and aft the designs upon
which tho structure has thus flr proceeded,
condemnine them IA dispropor'ioncd, wasteful
OF space, unnecessarily expensive, ignoble, weak.
and In short az vo ting all sound principles Of
architecture, aesthetics, anu economy. The fol-
lowing Is n summary:
The Legisqturc Of 1875 found that after an outlay
OF $4,000 tho sheii OF me building mad barely
600 more was nj ne s nan 70 & ad ,hsi at Sa
TO MAKE no further appropriation for the s1ructurc
ner Ia which tue work would De carried sud
ser t as TO iis ultimate cost Three architects
~ cnca1ions. These are tue gentlemen who now re-
lac 'upcrlntendence OF the work OF construction
pr9nouneed as satisfactory as con have
ers ana rsierred o tns Governor to the New Capitol
ha, been Of dangerously Inferior quality, Is declared
nnf uni, s The prick mas been carefully tested
the horng near the Court OF App room Insecure
the plans ana not IN the lcncc Iron col
unns VIII be used to SUP .ort Inc un,ale flooring but
pgo.c u eil TO i.fer that wiz BE- constant source
VI htuktf 10 our NOtthl judges.
large amount OF -pace has been wasted in the
building. Ine sme rooms arg much ong tnan Is
MT be turned to soo use Or committee roous, CLERKS.
Sa Of daf eoraors IN " tSe BUN 6adns ' h sn9
almly a. the ends ny one wlndo" each. There
an unnecessary expense viii add to the dnicuy
usse The disieaeSs to be travelled 10 the building ua.
NECESSARILY great and faugung To reach the halls u
Of II irs aud passages. While these hls are IN the
upper stories, the committee rooms, that ought
NIu-r connection with tn tgtttprtu "a the
building seventeen being In the basement. For all
hese defects no remedy n Oe devised To nee. them
wYl be Necessary to tear out tue Whole Interior OF
the building. AM tina l. not feasible
T. ING ne Oh we uuiunt Is ptonouhceu unfortunate
II is Janmcd iu among comrnonpace snoos ami dwull
aud dtinean tue surrounding city
Toe repor then ora4cAes on 70 give is readers
lee u IN architecture Soui. OF te fundamental pr
cipes as to me ming, decoration. &C. are lau uOwn
ton. Viewed from the artistic standpoint tue new
S9pio Is 9u, fsT proaoSnSsd failure aere Is TO
eNterivr too nu d shVit y, tVO many shans. maze
ptne,d upon uassve and imposing lower walls, when
are to be nuished ith sheet irOl decorations.
Tie le- lsatNe chambers the upper stOries but
instead OF having the most imposing exterior. they
Tie iepSrt coaclades tnat the omida G /, nalshed ae
eordinE to the aus upon wnicn It has oeen proceed
Tue interior Is no better The ASS mDJ chamber /.
closet ia the attlc. Ine chamber /. too wiue nj
too low for Its leagtn. Its acoustic properties
lcrberat on which would ue dteSi Vi for the loo
9s me ' s;"a are s Sy 80 uos TAassd Gsi
In the faces u the memne There suould De more
Nihdlws Az the chaDutr to secure proper NeDtiaIOn
lhe senate chamber has the SINE Geiects The count
81 Apes 70 lm IL too large, aud has Ohy Que ugges
thamucr TIE cupOia or {, n.sal lower ieau4ugess
tuiuE, naNhg 40 CouucctOu with thr iuttilaI, U0t
pacCu uut-l4c Tor exterior effect sepsiatt oulid-
ins. lie nerior nnisn Is such ould be
IA the garfct Of DOlr4ing house. Ihls IL
cuhsi.ered tucctss. lac ualcOni on the exterior
are pronounced ABSURD Rooms winch migat once IN
while nave u.c Tor va COMES. suCh the OOyeruur
have none. THESE appenusges are cOunned rooms
watch would never want taein, sucl a. the Court OF
Appeals fooln Toe roof Is too tnlck costly
utlug composed OF IA, stone. anu c pper. .lgnt
satc root would be much less expensive anu much l.
ter Iuc star ways und gnlneu, crampcu, tAugu.
ius, aud not s,turc. Ia snort, II !. all a buIsle
NAN, oil these acfects may Il Ne renee or avoided
tie Atptaaucc OF tnc aiding beneath improved anu
tue eApeusr OF mplt tng 70 be srraty reduceu ia adj
ID Ion luc REDUCTION IA curt wal be en- Ctcd ny
penslug vi u numerous useless ana las less tri1r
pr e. iOus uY ou ldn- ~ ter an chea Per roo,
~ uuil Ing II more balconies. Tue ert'in4ted
leanl ure' upon tne pAns as nov revised gwen IN
detail Instead OF o. luugD tley snow tnht AAlOOOO
Wilde enough. The report de lAte., now ever tiat
prpNtmeuts ia The ste and rruuudluss be
Nnen tue bu dag Is nnised ad tor these. Win
turnure. decOrAtiUn -Alaries &c, t2lSuOOV IL
tnuugnt little rnou- a. MAKING tue t.ta VI
CapltOi about tl-,VOO,O 10 after adj