The record-union., 1897-02-03
Causing Loss of Million and Half
Dollars.
The Records of the Present Session OF
the Legislature Saved-The His
toric Building, W hich Was Conn
pleted in 1921, Regarded as One OF
the Handsomest Specimens of
Ionic Architecture in the Country.

Pennsylvania State Capitol was de-
stroyed by fire this afternoon. The leg
lslative halls are in ruins, and a new
structure must rise from the ashes of
the structure that has served as a
meeting place of the State legislature
since IS-2. The flames. within the short
space of one hour ate up one million
and a half dollars worth of property.
Iheinefficiencyo the Harrisburg volun-
teer ire department is generally blan-
ed
The House was in session and the
senate was about to convene. after 4
few minutes recess. 1t was about [
o clock when the flames were discover
ed. Smoke could be seen in small VOL
tunes pouring into the Capitol grounds
from the House windows. In.ztantlv
there was a motion to adjourn, and all
was CONSERVATION. In the Senate the
members were lolling about in their
seats. The place began to smell of
smoke, and soon deep clouds of smoke
come down the rear elevator SHAFT.
Senator Grady of Philadelphia quickly
warned the Senators, and there was a.
hustle to remove effects. Fire alarms
We're sent in, and the Senate began a
mass of bowling men Desks were be-
ing Jerked loose and carried out. The
same work was going on in the House
Chamber.
Out in the grounds great crowds
quickly gathered. The flames were them
shooting out of the roof over the Lieu
tenant-GOYernor's chamber. where the
fire originated. The fire department.
was slow to arrive. and those men
about the Capitol We're doing their best
TO check the blaze. It was useless. The
fire licked up the little streams of wa
ter. At last the local companies start
ed streams on the Senate wing roof.
now sheet of flame. The water. had
hardly force enough to reach the blaze.
R29dlN the flames destroyed the roof,
ana ate their way down into the Senate
chamber. The men who We're trying to
recover property were driven out. The
flames shot along the Senate roof
wound themselves about the dome. and
onto the roof of the House chamber.
Although there was a heavy rain and
snowfall, the woodwork burned like tin
der. Soon there was fire in every por-
ton of the building. and there was no
hope for the historic structure.
During the fire several persons were
slightly injured by falling timbers. For
time it looked as though the adjoin-
ing department buildings would be de-
stroyed, but shifting wind saved
them. At o'clock the flames were un-
der control, the fire having been con-
fined to the Capitol building. The rec
ords of this session We're saved.
The contractor for the improve
ments in progress held an insurance Of
$IuOOo, his contract not being fin
lshed. The departments in the burned
building We're the following: Senare
ana House and committee rooms, SEN
ate Librarians room. Senate Chief
Clerks rooms. smoking-room. barber.
shop in Senate, Lieutenant-G Governors
room of the President pro tenn. school
department. House Chief Clerks room.
clerks room, two telegraph offices,
room of the Harrisburg Legislative
Correspondents Association. pasters'
and folders departments, cloak rooms
in both branches and the engine
rooms.
There is talk of finishing the sa~-
sion either in Pittsburg or Phnadel-
phia, but Senate Librarian Miller saws
building can be secured here
superintendent of Public Works De-
laney, who estimates the loss to be
ST 800 600 said: Il will fight for the
rebuilding on the colonial style We
Will have a meeting of the BUILDING,
Committee as soon as the House and
some other committees can be aD-
pointed. 1 don't think it is possible to
take the session away from Harris
burg, which city is named in the Con-
stitution as the place Of meeting"
There is not much over 100000 in
surance on the building and contents.
according to the statement Of the
treasury officials.
The burned Capitol was built in the
century, 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 surmounted
by park of ten acres. and stood on an
eminence almost in the center of the
city. The main structure was two and a
half stories high, surmounted by a large
dome, from which a fine view could be
had. The Capitols dimensions We're:
Lengh $50 feet, width so feet. The cor
ner stone 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 Sd of
January, 1922
Governor Hastings is expected to send
q message to the Legislature in reference
to the destruction of the Capitol build
ing, and recommending immediate ac-
tion of the Legislature with a view to the
restoration of the building
70 10 IS p.rfl.