San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-08-28
THE FINISHED CAPITOL.
How the State CapitoI is Arranged
and Furnished The Several
State Departments and
Apartments.
A UST n, August p.

state departments anu
Apartments.
AUST n, August p.
Daily LIGHT:
The exterior appearance of the
building is too well known toneed de,
scription. It is of red granite, 81
feet high, and has length of 562 feet
by a breadth of ga feet.
Passing through the great door OF
the southern portico, you find Ourself
in spacious corridor; OH the right is
the governors office, on the left is the
treasury department, where the treas
ury officials manage the finances of
the state, secure behind iron ratings
that reach to the ceiling. All the prin-
cipal departments are situated OH this
floor. Passing through the rotunda
and into the west corridor we find
the attorney generals department,
occupying large suite ofrooms. Di-
rectly opposite, on the right hand
side, is the department of agricul-
| ture, insurance, statistics and history,
devoted to the collection of statistics,
principally agricultural A collec-
ton of agricultural products of the
state is one of the features of this de-
partment. Farther down this CORR
dor is the geological department,
where large room has been fitted
up with cases which are filled with
the mineral products and fossil
relics found in the state. On the east
corridor is situated the cOmptrOller's
department, comprising large mum.
Der of rooms. The adjutant general and
secretary of state also have large and
well furnished rooms on this corridor,
while the department of education
occupies rooms flonting on the north
corridor. All the furniture of the
building is of the most approved make
and style, and was put in by Messrs.
Andrews of Chicago at cost to the
state of $4,000.
The legislative halls are situated
on the second floor. Both halls are
very large rooms; the senate east, |
and the house west of the central |
rotunda. Both halls are furnished |
with pew and cOmmodious desks, in |
striking contrast to the antiguated fur
niture so long used by the legislature.
With the exception of the space Occu-
pied by the state library and govern
Or's reception room on the second, and |
the supreme anj appellate courts on
the third, all the rest of these floors is
devoted to legislative business, the |
committee rooms alone numbering
over thirty. The state library, one
OF the largest rooms in the building,
con tains the law books belonging to
the state, numbering something
over 5000 volumes, Around the
walls of the room are grouped
the portraits of the former pres
idents and governors of Texas. A
marble bust Of Sam Houston and
one of Attorney General HOgg in plas-
ter of Paris are also features of this
room.
The fourth floor contains rooms not
yet used for any particular purpose.
The arrangements for heating and
the building are as perfect as
could be desired. Two dozen or more
large arc lights, and a great number
of smaller mcandescent lights are
used The building is heated by
steam, which is generated in a boiler
house erected for the purpose at some
distance from the building. Miles
of heating apparatus have to be at
tended to which makes the Office of
chief engineer no sineCure. The ele-
vatOr which affords easy access to
all the floors, is also run by steam.
The force required to keep the build
ing in order consists of a chief ianitOr
and six assistants, and three watch
men. The number of persons who
find employment in the department,
exclusive of the land Office is about
200.
The dome is reached by a long
and tiresOme climb, which in summer
is very warm undertaking on &C
count of the heating Of the iron of
which the dome is wholly construc-
ted but the top once attained, the
view afforded repays the trouble
The Austin hills loom up in bold
outline to the northwest, to
the west and south the fertile val
ley of the Colorado stretches for many
miles. The effect is to make build
ings, which if isolated would be con-
sidered large buildings. appear insig-
III contrast.
The grounds around the building
are just now in a somewhat chaotic
condition but the work of improve
ment is going vigorously forward.
An elegant cement pavement sur
rounds the building and leads down
to the front entrance of the grounds.
A substantial iron fence, of hand
some design, and resting on
stone foundation and supported
by granite pillars, will dispIace
the old wooden fence so long used.
The front gate is to be an especially
elegant design; handsome fountains
are to be erected, and when things
have been straiUh tened ont panaraIIv