The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1896-11-11
Tn Rooms as ElaboraieIy Appoint
ed as Any on the Continent
the British Columbian
. Legislature Will Meet - Prince
George of Wales Will Dedicate
the Structure.

The new parliament buildings of Brit
ish Columbia, that have for three years
past been gradually rising under the
hands of skilled workmen, are now rap
idly nearing completion and no visitor
to Victoria can fail to appreciate the
dignity and beauty of the structure.
When told that the design. materials
and labor are all home productions and
that the total cost of the imposing pile
will not exceed 81, 900, 900, appreciation
is merged into amazement, for never in
the history of the American continent
has public building of such solidity,
beauty and scope been erected for any
thing like the money. 1t is expected that
the last finishing touches will be given
during the next few months, and that
Prince George of Wales, son Of the heir
apparent to the throne of Britain, will
formally open the buildings OH his re-
turn from Australia during the latter
part of the present winter.
From distance the glimpse obtained
through the trees of the soft, gray sand
stone walls, brought into beautiful eff
fects of light and shade by the suns
rays, appeals strongly to the artistic
sense, and q nearer view does not dis
appoint The building throughout is in
exquisite harmony, although it cannot
be described as of any particular style.
1t is blending together of various Ro-
manesque and classic features, and some
even approaching Gothic, into one de-
sign. This sounds rather incongruous,
but the originality of the design is in
the harmonizing of these apparently dis
gordant features to produce an effect of
unison, each feature being subordinated
to the general effect.
The main outline of the building is
classic, the grand entrance emphasized
with the great dome, forming the lead
ing motif of the design and marking
either side of this central feature is
pavilion containing offices, joined to
the central portion by low building
designed as much as possible TO resem-
BILE colonnade. Two separate wings
are again connected with open colon
nades, forming the general approach to
the offices. The whole effect Of the build
ing concentrates on tho central part Of
the design, and here tho greatest rich
ness of outline and crna nent has been
bestowed.
The length Of the central building is
288 feet, with u maximum depth of 200
feet, and with the coloEnades and side
wings added the length of the facade is
500 feet. The buildings cover ground
area of 5000 square yards, or more than
an acre, while the great doine-to the
top of the colossal copper figure of Cap
tain George Vancouver, which sur
mounts it's over 100 feet in height
from the ground floor.
Generally the building docs not de-
pend for effect upon decoration, but on
the outline and on the contrasting of the
solid walls and ranges of W ndows, the
high price of skilled labor ard the hard
ness of the stone procluGing costly
holdings and carvings. The surface
decorations Of the walls have been OBJ
tanned by the combination Of the rough
faced stone and the ohiseled work, the
peculiar beauty of the Haddington is
land stone helping this effect. giving
constant play of light aud shade. with
distinct and charming result entirely its
own.
Much more interest attaches to a rep
resentative building that is entirely the
production of the natural conditions and
resources of the country in which it is
placed, and here the British Columbia
capitol stands prominently in the fore
ground. The sandstone, granite and mar
BILE of which its walls are formed abound
in the province and come straight from
the quarries. Native cedar, maple and
oak are combined in the interior fur
nishings Even the roof of slate and dome
of copper are British Columbia mate
rails, while Canadian brains designed
the imposing pile and Canadian hands
executed the we'll considered plan. The
architect is #. M. Rattenburg Of Van
couver. He is a nephew of the famous
English architect, Richard Mawson, and
assisted his uncle in the building Of the
great town hall OF Bradford, as we'll az
in the bringing into existence Of the
model town Of Saltaire, with all its
churches, mills, universities and mar
kets. His design for the British Colum-
bia public buildings was chosen from
among 81 competing sets from all parts
of the world, the judges being two gem
.tlemen eminent in architecture and art,
A. Il. Taylor OF Montreal and S. G.
Curry Of Toronto.
Great care has been taken in the plan
and arrangement OF the departments.
one Of the most important features of
large buildings. Broadly the buildings
are arranged in three groups. the center
or principal building comprising six de-
partments 30 arranged that while each
~ the three wings will BIO perfect and
complete building erected independent
Of the others they will when completed
form monumental and impressive pile.
San Francisco Examiner.