Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-06-12

north front faces the lagoon, the west
front is opposite the Manufacturers Build
ing, and the east faces the Mines Building.
The general scheme of the plan is based
upon longitudinal nave lis feet wide and
ia feet high, crossed in the middle by a
transept of the same width and height The
nave and the transept have a pitched roof,
with range Of skylights at the bottom OF
the pitch, and clear story windows. The
rest of the building is covered with fiat
rood, averaging % feet in height and pro
vided with skylights.
The second story is composed of aseries OF
galleries connected across the nave by two
bridges, with access by four grand stair
cases. There are subordinate staircases in
the four corners of the building. The area
of the galleries in the second story. as at
present arranged, is llS.542 square feet, or
81 acres, but there is capacity for extern
sion of this area if necessary.
The exterior walls of this building are
composed of continuous Corinthian order
Of pilasters 3 feet inches wide and AZ feet
high, supporting a full entablature, and
resting upon IA stylobate s feet 6 inches
Above is an attic story s feet high, the
total height of the walls from the grade
outside being 6S feet inches. This order
is divided into bays IS feet wide, this di-
mensipn serving as the module of proper
ton for the plan Of the whole building.
In the center of each of the four sides is
an entrance pavilion, against which the
higher roof of the nave or transept Adults.
The north pavilion is placed'between the
two great apsidal or semicircular projec-
lions of the building; it is fianked by two
towers 1876 feet high. The central feature
is great semicircular window, above
which, l03 feet from the grade, is a colon
made forming an open loggia or gallery.
commanding view over the lagoon and
all the north parts of the ground. Access
to the loggia is obtained by elevators.
The east and west central pavilions are
composed of two towers l6S feet inches
high, between which the transept roof fin
ishes in gable or pediment with n row of
windows beneath, giving light to the tran
sept. In front of these two pavilions there
is great portico, composed of the Corinth-
ian order, with full columns Within this
portico is an inner porch, forming a vesti-
bule in each case.
The south pavilion is a hemicycle or
niche IS feet in diameter and 10S feet high.
This niche is covered by half dome with
ribs and decorations in relief. the CORN
THAN order being carried round the walls
Of the niche The opening of this niche is
framed by a semicircular arch, the impost
Of which is supported by four full Corin-
THAN columns continuous with the order
of the facades This arch is crowned by a
gable or pediment with smaller gables on
the returns, and surmounted by an attic,
the whole reaching the height of 142 feet.
In the center of this niche, upon lofty
PEDESTAL is a colossal statue of Franklin,
whose ill2strious name intimately con-
meets the early history of the Republic
with one of the most important discoveries
made in the phenomena of electricity. In
order to carry out this idea, on the frieze
of the great order around the niche appears
the Latin inscription, 'Eripuit coelo full
men sceptrumque tyrannis."
AT each of the four corners of the build
ing there is a pavilion, above which rises a
light open spire or tower 1863 feet high. In
termediate between these corner pavilions
and the central pavilions on the east and
west sides there is subordinate pavilion
bearing q low, square dome upon an open
lantern. There are thus ten spires and
four domes, which combine to give to the
otherwise rigid horizontal lines of the
building an effect of lightness and ANNA
ton in accord, it is hoped, with the pur-
poses Of the building.
All these towers are composed of one or
more orders of architecture. with open
arches, interior domes and balustrades
The entablature of the great Corinthian
order breaks around each of the pilasters
of the four fronts, and above each plaster
in the attic order is a pedestal bearing a
lofty mast for the display Of banners by
day and electric lights by night OF these
masts there will be in all fifty-four
The first story of the building is indi-
Gated in these facades between the great
pilasters of the Corinthian order, by sub
ordinate Ionic order, with full columns
and pilasters, forming an open screen in
front of the windows of this story. Above
this Ionic order is an order of arches ia
front of the windows of the second story.
This Ionic order is converted into an ar
cade where it passes in front of the north
pavilion, forming there an open portico
with wide balcony above looking toward
the lagoon.
All this exterior ordonnance is carried
out strictly according to the formulas Of
the Italian Renaissance, all the architects
employed upon the buildings forming the
great quadrangle or square having agreed
to use strictly scholastic form of archi-
tectural expression, similar in respect to
the height of the order, but varying in re-
gard to its character and distribution. In