The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-03
LOSS WAS GREAT.
The State of Pennsylvania Lost
81, 100000
By the Burning of the Capitol
At Harrisburg.
BUSINESS WILL GO ON
Rooms For Both Houses Have
Been Secured in the City.
Arrangements to Rebuild Will
Be Made At Once.
BUSINESS WILL GO ON

Harrisburg, Pa, Feb. 3.-The Penn
sylvanfa state capitol was wholly de-
stroyed by fire yesterday afternoon. The
legislative halls are in ruins and a new
structure must result from the ashes
of the structure that has served as a
meeting place of the legislature since
1852. The flames, within the short
space of an hour, ate up one million
and a half dollars worth OF property.
The ineficiency of the Harrisburg vol
unteer fire department is generally
blamed
The house was in session and the
senate was about to convene after a
few minutes recess. It was about 1
O'Clock when the flames were discOv-
cred. 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 adj
1ourn and all was CONSERVATION. In
the senate the members were lOlling
about in their seats. The place began
20 smell of smoke and soon deep clouds
of smoke came down the rear elevator
shaft Senator Grady of Philadelphia
quickly warned the senators and there
was a hustle to remove effects. Fire
alarms were sent in and the senate be-
came mass of bowling men. Desks
were being 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 then shooting out of the
roof over the lieutenant governors
chamber where the fire originated. The
fire department was slow to arrive and
the men about the capitol were doing
their utmost to check the blaze.
1t was useless. The fire licked up the
little streams of water. At last the
local companies started streams on the
senate wing, now sheet of flames. The
water had hardly force enough to reach
the blaze. Rapidly the flames de-
stroyed the roof and 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 snow fall the woodwork
burned like finder. Soon there was
fire in every portion of the building
and there was no hope for the historic
building. During the fire several per
sons were slightly injured by falling
timberS.
For a time it looked as though the
adjoining department buildings would
be destroyed. but shifting wind saved
them. About O'Clock the flames were
under control, the fire having been con-
fined to the capitol building The rec
ords of this session were saved; senate
and house and committee rooms, SEN
ate Librarians room, senate clerks room,
room, DaFDer SnOp IN senate,
lieutenant governors room, room of the
president protein, school department,
house clerks room, speaker of houses
room, resident clerks room, two tele-
graph offices, room of the Harrisburg
Legislative Correspondents aSSociat ton,
cloak rooms in both branches, and the
engine rooms.
Superintendent of Public Buildings
Delaney, who estimates the total loss
10 be 1,500, 900 said: 4 will fight for
the rebuilding of the colonial style. I
don't think il is possible to take the ses-
sion away from Harrisburg, which city
is named in the constitution as the
place of meeting.
THE burned capitol was built early
in the century, but was, nevertheless,
regarded as one of the handsomest
specimens of Ionic architecture in the
state. It was surrounded by a park
of ten acres and stood on an eminence
almost in the center of the city The
main structure was two and one-half
stories high, surmounted by a large
DOME from which a fine view of the
surrounding country could be had. Its
dimensions were: Length, 1870 feet,
width, so feet. The cornerstone was
laid on May 81, 1919, by Governor Find
lay. The building was finished in 1921,
and was first occupied by the general
assembly on the 3rd 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.
There were three fire companies on
the ground last night and the fire still
burned in the cellar and part of the
house.
It was decided at a meeting that the
senate should meet in the supreme court
room, and arrangements were made for
the meeting of the house in a room on
the second floor of the postoffice build
ing
Governor Hastings is expected to send
a message to the legislature today in
reference to the destruction of the CAPT
3ol building and recommending immedi-
ate action with view to it's restoration