The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-06
THE NEW STATE-HOUSE.
A Description of Indiana's New capitci-A
Handsome and Elegant Structure.

Work upon the new State house is so far ad-
vanced that it needs little exercise of the magin
alton. more than to fancy the scaffoldiug and
rubbish cleared away, to form pretty accurate
conception of the completed structure. On each
side Of the dome the grand colonnade opens up
clear to the skylight roof. showing three stories
OF polished granite columns, with all the accom-
panying architectural features in perfect keeping.
On each floor the colonnade extends nearly the
whole length of the building On the first it
reaches entirely from end to end. The third,
however, will strike the average visitor as the
most attractive, probably because it is less OBJ
structed by the work about the dome. 1t is
certainly one of the finest colonnadeS in the world
and is so pronounced by an observer who has
seen many of the finest in Europe 1t is about
$50 feet long. and it's granite columns are pol
ished till they reflect like mirrors. The arches
connecting them are of iron lattice work, covered
with plaster, and give it the effect, without the
weight, of marble work. The floors are all of
hollow tiles, arched and filled up with concrete
on which encaustic tile is to be laid The stair
ways are of iron and as wide as alleys, and so
lightly sloped that it would be no great task for
horse to pull a carriage up them. There is
nothing that can be burned in the whole build
ing, except the furniture. and a bon
fire of all of it, on the floor of either
corridor or in any room, would
burn out as harmlessly as if it were in a furnace
The treasurers safe is room, dozen or fifteen
feet square, lined with inch and half steel
plates, and protected against damage from fire as
we'll as the chance of burglary. All the joists
are of wrought iron, with flanges to hold the
edges of the tile arches
The plan of the building admits light directly
into every room, and at some time during the
year the sun will shine into every room more or
less at some time during the day. Committee
rooms of ample proportions cover both sides OF
the third story corridor, and the legislative
cham bers are provided with gallery room hardly
less ample than that made the floor
for the members. The hall of the House is in
the center of the east side, fronting Tennessee
street, and is some fifty feet or so square. At
each end, occupying half of its extent, is to be
room-one for coakroom and the other for
smoking-room. Over these are galleries, and all
along the west side of the hall, next to the corri
dor. is the main gallery. The arrangement in
the Senate chamber is just the same. except that
the room is not quite so large 1t is west of the
dome. The first intention was to set the Speak
ers stand between two of the windows on the east
side but this would put the light in the faces of the
mem berS and be inconvenient in writing. On the
west side are the entrance doors, and they spoil
the position. So, at the suggestion of General
Morris. it is likely the stand will be put on the
north side, under a cross light and away from
interruption from the doors. The same arrange
ment will probably be made in the Senate.
The heating will be done by steam pipes and
the work is far completed that fire was
started in the furnaces Wednesday. The
wires for the electric lights all down, heavily
protected with insulated casing, and laid in the
concrete of the floors, and held against the
walls by insulating clamps to be covered with
plaster There are to be 45OO of these lights in
the building, and the same number of gas
lights, each supplementlng the other-a
gas light and an electric light on every chande
lier, or globe so that if one should
fail the other can be used, or if especial
briiance of illumination should be desired.
both can be lighted, and the structure set
blazing with 5000 lights, each equal to
sixteen candles, that is an illumination equal to
IA, 900 candles Lighting, heating and ventila-
ton have all been provided for with equal care
and comprehensive vigilance. The Commission
ers mean that our State house shall be at once
the best building of its kind in the country in
material and work. in beauty and durability,
and that it shall be the cheapest built for the
money, not because it cost less but because moth
ing IN 1t Is poor Second-rate, and nothing done
that's not done well as it could be done. The
walls have been growing for five years, and now
the full weight is upon the foundations, but not
crack has appeared yet in any part of the walls
or foundation most complete proof of the
solidity of the structure and the honesty of the
work.
To make the State-house a sort of "Vahala"
for Hoosier heroes, the board has provided in and
about the dome some forty nitches for statues
and places for the pedestals of great many
more. OF course, all the State Offices are given
abundant room. with due preparation for the
preservation of records, as in the Supreme Court
and its library, the State library and the
Biologists museum All the service of the
State will be done in that single
building. The only thing to be regretted
about the whole enterprise is the lack of ground
The building fills so much of the nine acres that
what is left of the park will look like rim of
grass and trees rather than such an ample frame
as the picture deserves. This may be partially
remedied by the purchase of the two half squares
north and south of Market street, east to the
alleys. and vacate Tennessee street. This will
add a breadth of 300 feet the full length Of the
building, and wll.very greatly improve the now
inadequate grounds
A Good Supnasfiou