The New York herald., 1878-03-27
CONNECrICUT'S NEW CAPITOL.
ITS FIRST OCCUPATION By THE GENERAL AS
sEMBLY-PRINCIPAL FEATURES or THE EDI-
FICE,

ITS FIRST OCCUPATION By THE GENERAL AS
sEMBLY-PBINcIPAL FEATURES or THE EDI-
FICE.
HARTFORD. Conn, March 26, 1873
Connectcut's beautiful new Stale House was occu
pied by the Legislature to-day for tho drst time,
although the building is yet unfinished The purpose
Tho acoustic properties OF the two legsla-
tive halls and other features IN which modif-
cations improvements may be desirable before the
building is formally turned over to The State as COM
plete. The Interior OF the building was filled with
scaGolding, except the legislative halls, which had
been cleared ntted With desks and chairs AS the
occupation was informal there inaugural
ceremonies.
The new State House is the fifth that Connecticut
has had The FIRST in Hartford, was occupied IN 1920
the second New Haven, in 176s the third, in Hart
ford in 1892 (used durlng the present session.; the
fourth, in New haven, in 1927. and now, Hartford
being the sole capital the State furnishes, at
cost OF s2,500,o0o, splendid edihse, which
viii meet It's legislative needs tor century.
The site covering thirteen on tho elevation TO
the south of the public park, Was purchased from
rriuity College uy the city 5000 900 and donated
20 the state The plans for the uulding were pre-.
pared by Il. NJ. Upjohn, OF New YORK, aud Now YORK
the contractors Tor important pars OF Tue
work.
The BUILDING e M
The building is an example OF tho modern secular
feet two and half stores high, and nlezzanine
story between the around and first floors. Tue gen,
Hn nss ar" cpsy psa bossn the
the man central portion, whose depth IL nearly
200 ise. The park front Is treated WIN az ornate M
main wings are lA1 feet, connected with the central
portion BY an intermediate part, lo2 iset IN dep.h
sna srsxn,ss
white marble from tho quurries a. Easl Canaan.
Conn.a part Of the great limestone formations OF the
Green Mountains Its purity from streaks is a
ma rkau nd
general appearance the exterior OF the building Is
imposing and pleasing to the eye, presenting a.n,s
any thought Of heaviness by the ornamentatons and
carving introduced with rare good taste. The IN.
aud Connecticut granite. and large open spaces
from the ground floor to tho roof promise
from ground floor, a OF galleries, one above
the other Is seen, the upper showing an arcade
the eastern building is SO by 40, and 81 feet
in height, lighted by three double windows piercing
the eastern wall Galleries extend on two sides aod the
fittings and furniture are OF polished oak throughout
The Representatives, nall "a by 3D. aud 40 feet high,
lighted by. large windows on three sides The seats
and desks are arranged upon seven rows OF
circular platforms radaung and rising from the
richly Oak-carved desk OF the Speaker on tho
south sde Over this desk is the spectators gallery.
situated IN what may be regarded as alcove.
Tue paneiled ceng and richly lrescoed walls add 10
the pleasing effects oil the apartment
INTERIOR ARRANGEMENTS.
In The building will be suit of apartments for the
Governor, retiring and committee rooms for the SEN
aud room for the Supreme Court Of Errors. steam
elevator extends the upper floors The several
iacades OF the edihce are 10 receive external
mural decorations. Already the eastern facade
mas over the central doorway scup-
tured Cnartr Oak, executed with great
accuracy OF detail aud beneath OF the cauopes 10
a statue OF Jonathan lrumbuu, Governor OF the col
ony 1859. lhis Is seven ieet in height, OF Italian
marble and Rome Dy Ives A statue OF
Roger Sherman by the same sculptor Will occupy the
corresponding pedestal The cost OF the building
and site Is So, 100 OO0 OF this amount the Stats
pays 81, ,O0O 600 and the city OF Hartford contrib
uted half a million, besides giving the site. The
low prices of materials aud labor during The past two
years enabled the Commi S. toner's TO make remarkably
low contracts and alter flushing the building accord
ing the specifications, the balance lett over suices
pay Tor the heating apparatus throughout aud the
furnishing Of the two legislative halis.
A vlsIToRs
Upon the meeting ol The Legislature to-day the gal.
lerics lhronged with spectators, and hundreds
who unable to gain admission crowded the pas
sagew ays aud unIurn,shed portions oil the buildings
The proceedings 4 both houses were OF the usual
character. excepting that matters were considered
other than those relating TO insurance ana meas
ures heretofore passed by the Legislature, and r&
turned by the Governor for corrections. Daring the
debates the acous ic properties OF both nails were
found be ather better than anticipated, and SO lar
the views OF the members were heard, they were
generally c0mpl mentary TO the arrangements oi the
hal 10 Lhe builuing q whole