Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1897-02-05
STATEHOUSEINRUINS
THE PENNSYLVANIA CAPITOL IS DE-
STRoYED BY FIRE.

Historic Old Structure, Built Early In the
Century-Nany Valuable Records Lost.
The Loss IL Estimated at $1,000, 900.
Legislators Driven Ont by FIamess
HARRISBURG, Feb. 3.-The legislative
halls are in ruins. A new structure must
rise from the ashes that has served as a
meeting place of the Pennsylvania legisla-
ture since 1922. The flames have eaten up
81, 500, 900 worth of property. The house
was in session, and the senate was about
to convene, after a 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
motion to adjourn, and ali was consterna-
ton.
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
general hustle to remove effects. Fire
alarms were sent in, and soon the digni-
ncQ b6udoo WAS u lltiSb VI nONlluk lubus
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 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 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 in it lost ev
erything, and the loss is complete.
Departments In the 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 room, room
of speaker of house, resident clerk 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 q, 500, 900. There
is not much over 500, 900 insurance on
the building and contents, according to
the statement of the treasury officials.
There was $4,000 on the capitol build
ing while the state library was in 1t. Aft
er it removed to another structure the in
surance on the legislative halls was re-
duced to 500, 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 park of ten acres
and stood ON an eminence almost in the
center of the city. The main structure was
2H 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, so feet. The cornerstone was laid
on May 81, 1919, by Governor Findlay
Tho building was finished 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 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
ecutive building, recently erected at cost
Of nearly 81, 600, 600, for the accommoda-
ton OF the governor, attorney general and
secretary of state. This building also shell
ters 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
sgo was quartered In the structure just de-
stEoyed by fire.