The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1880-05-26
THE NEW CAPITOL.
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COMMITS
sIONERs.

Yesterday there was a meeting OF
the Board OF Commissioners appointed
to provide for the rehabilitation of the
Capitol building at Baton Rouge. Pre-
sent: The Lieutenant Governor, in the
chair. and Messrs. Hagan and Richard
son, of Orleans, and Muuday aud Rob
ertson, of Baton Ronge.
Mr.. W. A. Freret. the architect APP
pointeh Ivy the Governor, was !eques-
ted by the chair to give the result Of
his examination OF the building at Ba-
ton RGnce.
Mr.. Preret stated that tie was not
prepared to present a formal report of
his examination. but he had inspected
the 'huiiding in all its detaiis aud pre-
sented diagrams representing the pre-
sent condition aud proposed changes.
He said he had been very much sur
prised to find the building in such u
condition of preservation as he had
fonnd it. Fire and time had weakened
certain parts of the walls, which conld
be very easily strengthened again, and
some portions OF the walls we're de-
faced, while others not at all. In one
or two places the joists remained in
good condition, and he had liesitated
about adding anything to the building
except to raise it. He had planned to
mt a larger entrance on tho side fa-
cling the town, which is now narrow
and dark, and to widen the staircase
leading to the House and Senate in the
second story. The centre building,
he said, is only slightly defective and
can easily he put in order. His plans
reDfesented an embattlement on top
which he designated q "keep," after
the Gothic idea of fortified castles, and
ON either he placed a tower represent
ing the watchtower common to the
same kind of architecture. The dome
above will be of glass and iron, and
will give uninterrupted light to the
lower floor, dissipating the darkness
in the halls. In all, there would be
thirty-six rooms, apart from the legis-
iatiye halls, twelve on the first floor
for the State officers and the remainder
ON the floor above for the committees.
Mr.. Hagan, reading the law under
which the board was appointed and
the report of the committee alluded to
under that law, said that the pan was
not in accordance with the conditions
prescribed. 1t was provided, among
other matters, that q maBsard roof
should be erected and this was not
provided for in the plan submitted.
MFR. Fteret said he would not put a
mansard roof on a Gothic building,
particularly o castellated one, cor al
low his name &c IN architect to be
connected with such o structure. He
he'd that it would destroy the appear
ance of the building.
1t was considered, however, that a
mansard roof was an indispensable
factor TO the strnctufe under the law
aud Mr.. Freret then showed how this
condition might be complied with and
q mansard roof erected, protected by
tile embellishments, 90 that it conld not
be seen in a general view of the build.
ing.
The motion to adopt Mr.. Freret's
plan was then adopted, Mr.. Hagan vO-
ting in the affirmative with the others.
Immediately thereafter Mr.. Hagau
gave notice that he would move a re-
consideration at the nexr meeting, and
aft r some desn!tory discussion the
board adjourned to meet on Wednes-
day week next at Baton R8uge.-fN.
0. Democrat.