Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-02-04
STA4'EHOUSEIN RUINS
THE PENNSYLVANIA CAPITOL is DE-
.s..sa =. STRoYED BY FIRE.

lTlE FGNNOr LNASlA CAPI IOL Is DE-
D., .,Ia STROYED BY FIRE.
Historic Old Structure, Built Early In the
Century--Many Valuable Records Lost.
The Loss Is Estimated at 81, 800, 700.
Legislators Driven Out by Flames.
HARRISBURG, Feb. 3.-The legislative
halls are in ruins. A new structure must
rise from the ashes that has served as q
meeting place of the Pennsylvania legisla-
ture since 1922. The flames have eaten up
81, 5000 worth of property. The house
was in session, and the senate was about
to convene, after u few minutes recess,
when the flames were discovered Smoke
could be seen In small volumes pouring
out into the capitol grounds from the
house windows. The members were not
mindful of it until the great clouds rolled
by the windows. Instantly there was a
motion to adjourn, and all was consterna-
tion..
In the senate the members were lolling
. about in their seats. The place began to
smell of smoke and soon dense clouds
rolled down the rear elevator shaft. Sena-
tor John @. Grady of Philadelphia quick
ly warned the senator's, and there was a
general hustle to remove effects. Fire
alarms were sent in, and soon the digni-
lied senate was n mass of bowling men.
Desks were being jerked loose and carried
out The same work was going on in the
house chamber
Rapidly the flames destroyed the roof
and ate their way down into the senate
chamber. Soon the men who were trying
to recover property were driven out. The
flames shot D1Onr fba 70
themselves about the dome and on to the
roof of the house chamber Although there
was heavy rain and snow falling, the
woodwork burned like tinder Soon there
was fire in every portion of the building,
and there was no hope for the historic
structure, of which there now only remains
blackened and smoldering ruins. The old
capitol, the finest piece of colonial archi-
lecture in the state, was completely de-
stroyed. Every department lin it lost ev-
erything and the loss is complete.
Departments In tho Building.
The departments in the burned build
ing were the following
Senate and house, all of the committee
rooms, the senate librarians room, senate
chief clerks room, lieutenant governors
room, room of president pro tenn, school
department, house chief clerk IS room, room
of speaker of house, resident clerk s room,
two telegraph offices, room of the Harris
burg Legislative Correspondents associa-
ton pastors and folders departments,
cloakrooms of both branches and the en-
gine rooms.
Superintendent of Public Buildings De-
laney places the loss at 81, 800, 000 There
is not much over 800, 900 insurance on
the building and contents, according to
the statement of the treasury officials.
There was 100000 on the capitol build
ing while the state library was in it, Aft
er it removed to another structure the in
suranee on the legislative halls was re-
duced to $50, 900.
The capitol was built early in the CEN
tury, but was nevertheless regarded as one
of the handsomest specimens Of Ionic
architecture in the country. The building
was of red brick with white trimmings.
1t was surrounded by a park of ten acres
and stood on an eminenoe almost in the
center of the city. The main structure was
"a stories high, surmounted by large
dome, from which fine view of the sur
rounding country could be had. The cap.
itol's dimensions were: Length, $50 feet;
width, 80 feet. The cornerstone was laid
on May 81, 1919, by Governor Findlay
The building was finished in 1921 and was
first occupied by the general assembly on
the 3d of January, 1922. On each side was
n wing, that on the north teing occupied
by the senate and the southern wing by
the house.
AT each end of the building, separated
from it by "A narrow space, are located two
buildings containing the state treasury de-
partment, the adjutant generals office and
other state offices, which narrowly escaped
destruction. About 100 feet south is the
modern granite building known as the ex-
ecutive building recently erected at cost
of nearly 81, 900, 600, for the accommoda-
tion of the governor attorney general and
secretary of state. This building also shell
tiers the state library, and portion of it is
used as a state museum. The library, one
of the finest in the world, until two years
ago was quartered in the structure just de-
stroyed by fire.