Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-10-01
THE NEW CAPITOL
Work Progressing Satisfactorily and
the Structure Assuming Definite
and Symmetrical Shape,
A S145,O00 BUILDING
Ample Accommodations for Legislators and
Territorial officials for Many Years
to Come Building Can Be
Enlarged.

The territorial capitol has now reached
a point where it can be seen to some
advantage. and gives easily the impress
sion that it will be a credit to the terri
tory as well as to the skill and patience
of the architects and superintendent of
construction. Considering the disad-
vantages that the latter have labored
under, also the fact that all the brick
work of the snperstructnre above the
ground floor has been set since June 10
last, the progress speaks well for the en-
terprise of the construction manage
ment. Much of the work is being done
by about so convicts from the peniuen-
tiary, among whom are some excellent
workmen. although of curse the same
amount and quality of work can not be
expected from them as from free men
who are working for good wages. The
hired help is only about IL or ID men,
who are really master workmen. Most
OF these latter are head brick-layers or
stone-cutters and carpenters; but 1t is
found that some of the convicts take
readily to operations requiring some
mechanical skill, and are put at the bet
ter class of work as an encouragement.
For instance, a convict at work ON the
mortar pile was found interested in the
operation of the engine hoist in the
gangway. He vas transferred to the
latter position and does well because he
takes an interest in it. The convlctS
are marched daily to and from the peni-
Tertiary in a body with six armed guards,
the latter remaining on duty during the
day on elevated platforms within the
high board wall inclosing the capitol
grounds.
A review of the plans of the building
may not be amiss, and such is here
given. The building occupies the CEN
ter of the large plat on the south side of
the city occupied by the former terri
torial capitol which burned down on
May IL, 1892. The old capitol was a
very good building, but the present one
will be found better adapted for legis-
lative uses of the present day. 1t pre-
sents a frontage facing west of IT'S TT.
10 in, with a large, handsome porch
that will set the structure off to fine
advantage. The depth is &c #. 10 in.
The height is only three stories and a
basement, but the style of the building
is classic and, If desired, it can be run
up three stories more without inter-
fering with its general symmetry of out
line. The ground floor or first story is
of Lamy sandstone. which is of about
the same color of the Salem sandstone
so well known to eastern builders, and
is fully as durable and handsome as the
best of that stone. The other Two
stories are of yellow Roman tiling from
st. Louis, as near the color Of the
sandstone as brick can be made like
stone; and there will be a handsome
Grecian coping and rock in harmony,
with a fine dome to surmount the whole
over the center of the main or central
part of the structure.
The brick work is nearly completed,
SO that the superintendent can begin
putting on the roof by another week,
and he has now men cutting the metal
into shape for this purpose. When the
roof Is on and the building under cover
so as to be protected from the weather,
lathing and plastering ear begin, the
windows put into place and the car.
penter work begun. The front of the
capitol will present q handsome appear.
ance with the great porch with It's six
huted columns nearly ~ It. high and
az TT. thick. with carved caps in Doric
style; and the heavy, massive approach
of stone steps resting on brick arches Is
SO it. 8 in. wide with 36 steps of IA in.
tread.
The basement is IL feet in the clear,
and will contain the boiler room, cold
air chambers. storage rooms, coal bins,
etc. There will also be Il nine foot
ventilating conduit through which
fresh air will be forced throughout the
capitol building. The first story Is 1917
feet in the clear, and will be divided of
as follows: In the north wing will be
found the Offices Of the treasurer and
auditor. The former will have two
rooms II x "a feet each, with q record
vault 10 x 10 feet. The auditor will have
four rooms. one for public use Tx 30