The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-10-28
A WINNING CAPITOL PLAN.
Architect Henry Ives Cobb, Of Chicago. rs
Designer.

Unless the Supreme Court shall in
November next overturn the decision
of the Dauphin County Court sustain
ing the Capitol Building Commission.
ers in their right to select entirely
new Capitol plans Henry Ives Cobb.
the well known architect of Ch cago,
ILL.,, can point to Pennsylvania's fine
new State House in year or so, and
say: 81 drew the design for that"
Architect Cobb was to-day selected
and his plan approved by the com.
mission, and this act is doubtless final.
The appeal of the original architects
from Judge Simonton's decision to
the Supreme Court will be argued on
Monday, November I, and that tribu-
nal is expected to sustain the Dauphin
Court. But, even if it should not do
SO, its decision would probably leave
the appellants no redress but to sue
for damages for alleged violation of
an implied contract.
Architect Cobb will 60 to work at
once on the working drawings. which
will probably be ready within six
weeks. Two weeks will then be al
lowed contractors to bid on the con-
struction of the building, so that work
will probably be started about Janu-
AIRY I. Mr.. Cobb estimates that the
legislative building can be completed
within year from the time of begin
ming the work.
Architect Henry Ives Cobb, the
lucky Chicagoan, was highly recon-
mended to the new Capitol Commits
sioners. He bears the reputation of
being one of the best designers in the
country. He designed the Fisheries
Building at the Worlds Fair, and was
one of the experts in architecture
on the Worlds Fair Board of Judges.
He has designed many imposing
buildings in Chicago, and is specially
employed by the United States Treas
ury Department for expert architec-
tural work. Large buildings in six
different States are being constructed
under his supervision. He is super
vising architect of the United States
Post Office Building at Chicago.
In the general description of his
plan, submitted to the commission,
Mr.. Cobb says the principal building
should be located SO that the dome
shall be above the intersection of
State and Capitol streets. This and
many other minor considerations have
led to the arrangement of the build
| ings, which, viewed from any possible
point, will give simple, dgnlhed and
imposing mass, each building helping
to produce a grand whole.
| Careful consideration has been
given to the necessity of constructing
the different buildings at different
times. He says it is impossible to
construct proper legislative building
with dome and all the requirements
set forth in the programme for the
present appropriation of $55o,ooo ;
but it is possible to build the two
legislative chambers and sufficient
offices, committee rooms, ETC., TO
answer the present needs of the State
Government.
| With this in view, the central build
ing can be constructed with tempor-
airy low dome, and many of the rooms
which are to be used when the entire
building is completed for other pur-
poses, can for the present be used for
committee rooms and Offices in i'm
mediate demand. In this manner a
good, practical, legislative building
can be produced which will give the
Commonwealth sufficient accommo-
dation for all its needs and be cred
| it to the State. A proper and COM
pete dome will cost from $4,000 to
100000.
Mr.. Cobb recommends the use oI
granite, and informs the commission
that the central building designed fol
| 'CSloIdtlNC uoS Sdli pS SOiioti pSeNN vi
this material and completed with a
low dome within the limit of the
present appropriation.
Entering from West State stree,
one proceeds through wide corridor
with committee rooms on either side
to the rotunda, where grand staircases
and elevators will be provided tc
reach the floor Immediately above
on which are located the Legislative
chambers.
The Senate will be located on the
western, or Third street, end of the
building, with light and ar from three
sides directly from the exterior. The
House will be located at the eastern
or Fourth street, end OF the building
with light and air from the three sides
Immediately from the exterior.