The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-09-20

Notwithstanding the vast proportions OF the
Capitol it has been found inadequate to meet
the demands made on it for room by the in
creasing business of Congress. By special
acts adjacent property has beon purchased
and fitted UP to accommodate the overflow,
but still the need OF more room was apparent
and the Committees on Public Buildings and
Grounds were taxed to their utmost to meet
the question. At the last session of Congress
the Senate Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds passed q resolution instructing
Architect Edward Clark to submit plans and
specifications before the assembling of Con-
grees in 1891, looking toward an extension
of the building. Since the adjournment he
has been hard at work on this subject. The
plans and specifications have at last been
finished and il the ideas of Architect Clark
are carried out they will not only add plenty
of room to the cramped building, but will
above all add additional beauty to the
magnificent structure. The expense of the
new work, under the plans of the architect
will aggregate at least s230,000
Those sections of the building which con-
meet the north and south wings with the ro-
tunda portion of it are of sandstone, painted
white, in order to resemble as much as posi-
BILE the marble Of which the wings are con-
structed. These are parts of the "old Capt.
toll" The wings which run east and west are
additions to them. The connecting portions
referred to, are narrow as compared with the
rotunda and wings, too narrow, in fact, to
fully satisfy the artistic eye as to correct pro-
portion. Architect Clark's idea is to build
additional connections between the wings and
the rotunda. These additions would run
parallel to the present sandstone portions of
fE1 IN,,ttl H. a.
A court would be left between the new ad-
dition and that OF the sandstone wing for
ventilating purposes Corridors run through
the projected new sections which would fur
nish ample space for committee and other
needed rooms.
Under the plans prepared in the architects
Office. four Of these extensions are provided
for, one to the east and one to the west of
each OF the sandstone portions, between the
wings and the rotun6a. The plans call for
white marble, and if the idea is followed 1t
will hide from view the old painted sandstone
Besides these plans Architect Clark has sub
mitted with them detailed plan for the i'm
provement Of the western front, an improve
ment that would greatly change the approach
to the Capitol on that side from which nine.
tenths OF the people first view the structure,
and make it have, what it should have, an ap-
proach worthy the building. The portion
which Is above the magnificent terraces now
nearly completed, was originally intended to
pc VI iniposlIS CudIaCbsIi anu ATCulCccb SlaTh
proposes to follow out that plan. His idea Is
to lengthen the terrace and throw 1t out
further from the building, thus giving within
the terrace wall plenty OF room for various
purposes. HIS plans are drawn with great
fneness OF detail and it is said the Senate Com
mittee on Public Buildings and Grounds have
approved his first idea that OF extending the
wings of the building, while number are in
favor ofhis terrace scheme. Ii the committee
approves the plan, efforts will be made to get
an appropriation through Congress in order
that the work might commence early In 1S92.
1t will make he old building assume larger
and more substantial appearance, at the same
time adding TO its artistic beauty.