The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-29
DningS of State House
Commission.
A Detailed Account Presented
to the Legislature.
Work Of Commissioners Reviewed
tom Appointment UP to Date.

The report of the State House Commis-
hioners was presented to the General
Assembly today. In substance 1t Is as
follows:
During the year past the contract for
the construction of the State House has
been signed and ground has been broken
fer the building. These acts mark the
elimination OF slong and careful investi-
cation into the needs of the different de-
partments and officials that will occupy
the State House, and thorough study OF
the quality OF the various materials re-
quired to be used in its construction, it
HAVING teen determined early in the work
OF the board that no step should be ta-
ken towards the erection OF the building
until evrytning necessary has been done
20 so perfect the plans and specifications,
that thereafter no material change need
he made All heads of departments were
again applied to for the purpose OF dis
covering their needs III this respect. The
result was a call for accommodations much
beyond what was contemplated when the
design for the State House was made.
The rooms which were called for and
deemed necessary by the board were sr-
ranged and rearranged many times with
in the area of the original design, TO try
and arcomomcate all and to leave room
Tor future growth, DUt after many trials
1t was found impossible TO do SO,
as the space required by the
no provision for the future needs Of
Of the State. Three new department Is
having been created 10y the General AS
iembly since the original design was pro-
'osed, the Board did not feel authorized
o erect building which, when COM
sleted, would only be adequate for the
3resent time, bell llsving that they would
DOT properly discharge the duty confided
20 them unless provision was made for
the probable requirements OF the State
for many years.
Trey have based their action upon this
construction. More floor space was
CURED. To get this, and still retain the
harmonious proportions of the design,
which had secured for 1t unanimous ac-
ctptance by the commission, and the APP
proyal OF the people OF the State, was
not simple matter Architectural pro-
pprtions had TO be maintained through
ont. Ii was necessary to both widen ana
lengthen the building. Its height also
had to be increased, and aleo the diam
eter aud altitude of the dome. Before
this was finally accomplished TO the salts
fact ion OF the Board, threa arrangements
of the, floor space were made and two
designs for tue complete exterior, besides
many designs for alterations of the main
entrance. In all OF this work the archi-
tects have patiently and skillfully labor
ed to carry out the ideas of the Board as
to the interior arrangement OF the struc-
ture, and have at great expense TO them
selves, and with signal ability and taste
furnished the new exterior designs made.
necessary by the interior changes. These
designs have had the criticism and APP
provul OF the late Richard NJ.
Hunt, and the board feel assured that
when the building IS finally completed,
although many states giil possess larger
and costlier capnols, none will be able TO
point 10 one more besutiful in design or
materiat, or better arranged with respect
10 its legislative halls and business de-
paTtments.
The enlargements necessary TO give the
Increased floor space that was required
added about seventy per cent. to the
cubical contents of the building as at
first designed, and caused large, though
no, proportional addition to ihe cost OF
the structure, as is shown by the fact
that while the bid made by Norcross
Brothers for the erection OF the original
design was Il, 0e5, 600, the lid of the same
parties for the enlarged design was
sl,676, 0oo. The cost per cubic foot will
be about thirty-six cents, while that of
he government buildings of the same
character averages about fifty cents, and
that of the modern office buildings Is from
forty to sixty cents.
The state House, as at present planned.
Is 333 feet long, 123 FEET wide, and the top
OF the dome is pa feet from the ground.
1t will be a commanding object from any
point upon Narragansett Bay.
MATERIAL.
The board by large majority decided
to build the sfate House of white marble
for several reasons First, the design, of
the building could be more satisfactorily
rendered in that material, end in fnct
was drawn by the architects to be sbuilt
Of marble; second, Because marble has
been for ages the material used in monu-
mental buildings; and third, because the
experts assisting tho board, notably Mr..
Richard Nj. Hunt, were unqualified i'm
their expressions OF approval of this stone
for the State House.
Investigation was made of the various
marbles of the country very fully, to Sc
cure the best possible.
Tho attention OF the board was given
to the marble 81 our own State, in the
hope that the proper material might be
found here, and the quarries at Lime
Rock were thoroughly examined for this
purpose.
In the summing up of report il Is
said that in color. hardness, crushing
weight, non-porosity, ease in quarrying,
quantity ana durability, the lime Rock Is
commendable, but he should not devise it's
use for the State House on account OF tho
seams and joints in IL. To obtain sGch
large blocks as are required by the speci
hcations, some of thickness OF from 10
10 inches, blocks which might not al
ways be placed on their bed face, would
be difficult II not impossible. After the
most careful selection, blocks might be
quarried which would be weakened by in
cipient cracks which on exposure to the
aeather would tend TO open, thus admit
ting water, and in winter these would
agod TO extend more deeply into tho
r;ock. With this fatal defect we should |
not advise the use OF thc marble for ex-
sericr use in the construction OF the State
House. Ii could only be qusrrScd at an
enormous outlay md probably no private
company would undertake 10 furnish this
marble.
The rosrd felt much disappointment at
the result Of these Investigations. the
possibility OF building the State House of
marble found incur own Stnie, which
by analysis showed he desirable excess
OF carbonate OF lime, ard which was
tcautiful In color Gs well a. durable
prompted them 20 use every effort 10 OBJ
gain II, IL possible. he reports of the