The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-15

Our new State CipitCl, which is now
rising on Capitol Hin, erstwhils Smith
Hill, from which magnificent station its
dome will be signal mark to the So
journer on land or water for many miles
distant and around about, ana Of which
the corner stone is today laid with i'm
prsssive Masonic ceremony, will be one
of the most beautiful buildings on the
continent.
The picture of the new state House as
ii will be, is by this time pretty gener
silly familiar to the people. We believe
ttat to persons whose judgment in such
matters is of an expert and authoritative
kind, the model commends itself as
thoroue hly satisfying. 10 the rest of us
1t is thing OF elegance and rare beauty.
Our State House will be imposing in Its
monumental style, stately in ell It's pro-
portions, as whole, strong and hand
some, inspiring and splendid to look at.
II reflects the architectural sentiment OF
a period of conspicuous revival in Anne
rican building, a period which is marked
by the Worlds Fair, the Boston Public
Library, the New York Herald building
and will be further distinguished by our
new State House as Its representative
types.
This noble pile of white marble is cal
culsted TO provide for the needs Of the
administration Of the State government
for all time, as far as human judgment
may figure on "all time" Within its
solid walls will be stored for posterity
the treasures and precious relics OF the
State which for years have been secured
to us moro by the blessings Of Divine
Providence than by virtue OF any precau-
tions on our own part. Under its lofty
dome, WITHIN it's splendid hall, We shall
place the memorials OF those Of our citi-
zens as shall have distinguished them
selves and their State, OF our heroes OF
war and our eminent men of peace, a
pantheon OF the people OF Rhode Island,
about the freest, broadcast and most lib
eral bit of soil In a great, free, broad
and liberal Republic.
The new Capitol will cost to set up, a
million and a half OF dollars. Decorated,
furnished and appointed it is likely to
cost as much more. We shall not see its
final completion for halt dozen years.
When 1t is done we shall have something
to be proud Of, because there will be
nothing finer In our country, few things
ANYTHING like so admirable, although
there are public and private buildings in
plenty that bnve cost great deal more
money. The city of Providence, that
has pro, idcd q site for the new building,
Will be more than repaid by it's immediate
possession.
Omitting deserved tribute to all the
commissioners who are so ably aud en-
Enthusiastically devoting themselves to the
work of building for us our State Capitol,
to the capable architects, the eminent
advisers aud the earnest and devoted men
who nave from time to time interested
themselves In the work, we wish at this
tine only to remind ourselves that to one
fellow citizen far and above all others Ia
the new State Capitol to be credited, to
one individual IL due In the largest way
its very beginning and it's promotion at
every step, without whose inspiration
enterprise and vigor It may be said with
no qualification that the corner stone OF
a new State House would not today be
laid and for all we can know might
never be laid. We refer, of course, to
the President of the Board OF State House
Commissioners, the Hon. HERBERT
WARREN LADp, Governor OF Rhode
Island in 1ss9-90 and again in 1s9l-e2.
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