New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-30

approach to the eastern front Of the building. its
main entrance. and to design and build the great
western staircase Of the building In the year
1894 M. Perry carried forward nearly to COM
pletion the western stairway. which he thinks the
grandest in the world: and brought much nearer
completion the eastern approach.
THE WESTERN STAIRWAY
Govcrnor-elect Morton and Governor Flower
will walk up this grand western stairway. with
other distinguished visitors, to the Assembly
Chamber where Mr. Morton will take the oath
OF office Governor upon January /, 1895. The
stairway cannot but be greatly admired by all
who then see it, and by the thousands who will
visit the Capitol the week. The work OF
erecting the stairway was begun on March 22,
1884. and continued at intervals. when appropria-
tions available. Mr. Perry is afraid to tell
how much it cost, but there is reason to think 1t
cost nearly 81 100000 The actual time expended
in its construction was five and a half years. The
structure OF the stairway occupies A space Is feet
lOs inches north and south by SO feet 1912 inches
east and west The height from the tile floor in
the first story the top OF the cornce is 1O5 feet
and from thence TO the summit Of the glazed dome
is IA feet. making total Of 1l9 feet. The east
and west main corridors OF the western section OF
the building extend along past the great stair
case in the first, second third and fourth stories,
except on the west side Of the second story where
the entrance lobby is located. which connects
with all four Of the corridors. which are embel-
lished with columns and pilasters, with carved
caps and string courses.
The effect produced in viewing the stairs from
the great lobby in the second story Is most i'm
posing. The cross sections OF corridors opposite
the staircase in the various stories cmpha-
sized by piers and arches on the north and south
limits, and all walls within these sections have
been made to harmonic with other portions OF
the structure. The plan OF the stairway consists
OF broad central rows OF steps starting in the
corridors and extending through the centre OPEN
ings between the cylindrical piers. hanked with
columns In the east and west corridors In the
first story in the east corridor and west lobby
I'm the second story. and in the east and west
corridors in the third story. The centre was
curved outwardly from the centre line Of the
stems increasing the length OF the lower steps.
which are also constructed in convex curves and
extend I'D a little more than one-third OF the
height Of each story and land on central plat
forms These platforms are fanked by short
runs of stairs two sides at right angles to the
central runs. which extend to and land on plat
forms reaching to the walls, from which are four
runs Of steps, two on each side along the walls
next TO the south and north corridors thereby
making four landings, two In each corridor OF
the second. third and fourth stories. BY this
plan the construction Of the stairway Is such as
forms four 'liberal-szed wells. to which light IL
admitted through the glazed dome and also
through the windows In the side walls.
The central portion Of the stairs Is supported
on eight bearings resting upon moulded granite
bases and extending up from the foundations at
the angles Of all the platforms through three 'uli
stories and part way up from the third 70 the
fourth story. The whole inner area OF the fourth
story above the pedestals from the platforms al
the functions of the runs Of steps Is open, leaving
the whole space within the outer coonnades free