Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-10-08
THE LEGISLATURES.

some Interesting Facts Concerning the
state Capitol-The New Library Build
ing aud the Report of its Commits
sion and the Sergeant-atarms-
Improvements i'm and about
the state House.
Especial Correspondence of the FREE Press
MONTPELIER, Oct. /.
When members of the Legislature ar
rive at Montpelier next Tuesday they will
ma everything in order in and about the
state Capitol and grounds. The present
state house was built III the years 1855
and 1852 on the site of the one which was
destroyed 10y fire in January, 1857, and
was first occupied 10y the legislature in
the fall Of 1859. From that time for
period Of over % years the structure has
remained unchanged both in its external
appearance and interior arrangement.
The original architect, Thomas II. Sillo-
way under the direction of the commits
sluners, the Hons. George p. Marsh. Nor
man Williams, and John Porter and the
superintendent, Hon. Thomas Il. Powers,
provided for nearly every contingency
which the population and resources Of the
state seemed likely to demand IN "A long
course of years The senate chamber of
today is the same in which Lirut-Ciovs
Levi Underwood, Durham Martin and
Paul Dillingham; presided more than 20
years ago The hall OF the house Of rep
resentatiyes in which the Hon. George +.
Edmunds served three terms as speaker
was arranged and fitted in manner
winch has left little TO be desired in the
way of improvement for long term of
Years.
In one respect tue architect failed to
make sufficient provisions for future con
tlngences. For 10 years past the rooms
of the state library have afforded made
quatc space for the storage of the rapidly
increasing number of books belonging to
the library Several plans have been agi-
tlted in recent legislatures to supply the
demand for more library room, and,
though the action of the last legislature,
these plans have now taken definite shape.
The members who return to Montpelier
this year will notice decided change in
the appearance and arrangement of the
state capitol The ueW state library and
supreme court building has been com
pleted in the form of n wing AT The west
ern end of the state house. The new bulid.
ing il - 10y ~ feet on the ground ana j.
~ feet high. It is built OF brick ana nm
heWn granite. the window caps and cor
nces being OF hammered granite. The
budding is absolutely fire proof and j.
rtted with iron stairWaYs and solid ce
mcut floors covered with matched tile
The new library room which is on the sec
Ond floor, is 50 by 45 feet in size, with q
| height of over IS feet. The books will be
placed ON the shelves arranged on tw,
IRON tiers, The capacity of the room is
10000 volumes. The lower tier is already
! in place and with its capacity of 35 UOI
volumes will alone he more than sufficient
to accommodate the 1900 books now in
the library. The room is very tastefully
decorated and will be furnished with read
ing and writing desks for the use OF it,
| visitors. On the same floor with the Ii
/ hrdry are also the new room of the Histor
| zeal society and the librarians room. The
| first floor is occupied by the Supreme
Court room, the lawyers room, judges
| room and two legislative committee
| rooms. The building j. entered on the
second floor through the old library room
and ON the first floor 10y two entrances
one from the lower hall of the State House
/ and a man entrance from he out side
| Notwithstanding the many criticisms
which have been made and the opposition
which the commissioners have encounter
| ed in the prosecution of their work the
new library building is not badly planned
nor iuartiotic. The State House with
the wing dose not present that
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