The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1897-02-06
THE CAPITOL IN RUINS
historic STRUCTURE At HARRIS
BURG DESTROYED BY FIRE.
Served as the Meeting Place of the
PennsyIvnnia State Legislature
for seventy-Five Years.

Harrisburg, IA, Feb. 2.-The PennSyl-
vania state capitol was destroyed by fire
this afternoon. The legislative halls are
in ruins and new structure must rise
from the ashes of the structure that has
served as a meeting place of the state
legislature since 1922. The flames within
the short space Of an hour ate up S1.5OO,-
600 worth of property. The inefliciency
of the Harrisburg volunteer fire depart
ment is generally blamed
The house was in session and was about
to convene after a few minutes recess
1t was about 1 o'clock when the flames
were discovered. Smoke could be seen in
small volumes pouring out into the cap
itol grounds by the house windows. The
members were not mindful of it until the
great clouds rolled by the windows. In
stantly 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 clouds of smoke came down
the rear elevator shaft. Senator Grady of
Philadelphia quickly warned the sena-
tors and there was a hustle to remove
effects. Fire alarms were sent in and
the senate became a mass of bowling
men. Desks were being jerked loose and
carried out Out in the grounds great
crowds quickly gathered The flames
were then shooting out of the roof over
the lieutenant governors chambers,
where the fire originated. The fire de-
partment was slow to arrive and those
about the capitol was doing their utmost
to check the blaze. At last the local COM
panies started streams on the senate
wing, now a sheet of flames. The water
had hardly force enough to reach the
blaze. Rapidly the flames destroyed the
roof and ate their way down into the
senate chamber.
The men who were trying to save prop
erty We're driven out. The flames shot
along the senate roof, wound themselves
about the dome and on to the roof of
the house chamber. Although there was
a heavy rain and snow fall the wood
burned like finder Soon there was a
fire in every portion of the building and
there was no hope for the historic struc-
ture
During the fire several persons were
slightly injured by falling timbers. For
a time 1t looked as though the adjoining
department buildings would be destroyed
but shifting wind saved them.
About 2 o'clock the flames were under
control, the fire having been confined to
the capitol building.
The records of this session were saved.
Lie CONTRACTOR 1OI inc improvements IN
progress held an insurance of $4,000. his
contract not being finished.
The Departments Burned
The departments in the burned building
were the following: Senate and house
committee room, senate librarians room,
senate clerks room, smoking ROOM bar
Der shop in the senate, lieutenant govern
or's room, room of the president pro tenn,
school department, house chief clerk S
room, speaker of the house room, resi-
dent clerks room, two telegraph offices,
room of the Harrisburg legislative cor
respondent association, pastors and fold
ers' departments, cloak rooms in both
branches and the engine rooms.
There is talk of finishing the session
either in Pittsburg or Philadelphia, but
the senate librarian, Mr.. Miller, says q
building can be secured here.
Superintendent of Public Buildings De-
laney, who estimates the loss to be 81, $780,
600, said: Il will fight for rebuilding on
the colonial style. We will have a meet
ing of the building committee as soon as
the house and senate committees can be
appointed. 1 do not think it is possible to
take the session away from Harrisburg,
which city is named in the constitution as
the place of meeting
There is not much over 800, 900 insurance
on the building and contents, according TO
the statement of the treasury officials.
Description of the Building.
The burned capitol was built early in
the century but was, nevertheless, re-
garded as one of the handsomest speci-
mems of Ionic architecture in the country
The building was of red brick with white
trimmings. 1t was surrounded by a park
of 10 acres, and stood on an eminence al
most in the center of the city. The main
structure was two and half stories high,
surmounted by low dome from which a
| fine view of the surrounding country
| could be had The capitors dimensions
were: Length, $50 feet; width, 80 feet The
Cornerstone was laid on May 81, 1919, by
| Governor Findlay. The building was fin
ished in 1921 and was first occupied by the
general assembly on the Sd OF January
1922. On each side was a wing-that on
the north being occupied by the senate,
and the southern wing by the house. At
each end of the building, separated from
1t by a narrow space, are located two
buildings containing the treasury depart
ment and adjutant generals office and
| other state offices. About 100 feet south is
| the modern granite building known as the
executive building, recently erected at a
cost of nearly 81, 100000, for the accommo-
dalton Of the governor, attorney general
and secretary Of state. This building also
shelters the state library and a portiono of 1t
is used as a state museum. The library is
one of the finest in the world, and until
two years ago vas quartered in the struc-
ture destroyed today. It was the danger
from FIRE mat constantly menaced the Ii
| brarv I'm ff1e old hui1dfnp that ind11oad tha