Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-03-26
THE NEW CAPITOL
First Story Now Up--Structure Will
Be a Master Conception Of Ad-
vanced Building Art,
Be COMPLETED THIS YEAR
A Monument to New Mexico's Advance
ment and a Credit to the Board
Of Capitol Rebuilding Com
missioners.

The first story of the new capitol
building is practically completed, so far
as the masonry and stone work is con-
cerned, and q look behind the high wall
that jealousy guards the structure from
the casual gaze and surrounds the con-
victs engaged in molding the rough
product of New Mexican hills into a
beautiful conception Of builders art,
shows the beholder a marvellous palace
in the chrysalis, a monument to New
Mexican enterprise, fast developing from
the germ into architectural grandeur.
Between SO and 60 convicts are en-
ployedin the work of carrying stone and
brick, plaster, stone cutting, etc,
and from 10 to 10 skilled laborers are
engaged in dressing the rough stone.
Working the Stone.
Nearly all of the stone used on the first
floor was worked over from the old build
ing 1t is difficult to secure stone of
/ sufficient length at present, because the
| quarry which furnished the stone for the
old building Is exhausted and the new
quarry at Lamy is not opened thoroughly
enough to supply eight-foot lengths.
| The stone used is a buff sandstone, very
soft and easily worked, but it hardens
by exposure. The work of handling the
| stone is very easy and economical. 1t is
unloaded from the flat cars by derricks
and placed on dummy cars, which are
run under the steam saws, and there
dressed for immediate use. There is
very little work on the stone necessary
after it leaves the dressing saws. The
saws, seven in number, have a capacity
of cutting 4,5OO square feet OF stone pei
day, and receive their power from a Is
horse power engine.
Ten hours constitute a days work
and the convicts are guarded by five
armed men, with a captain and fore
man.
How the Work Is Checked.
Architect Rapp's Office is the reposi
tory for files of diagrams and speciica
tions, and as fast as each stone is GU
according to the figures given, the cor
responding figure on the diagram il
checked off, thus preventing duplicate!
of stones and keeping a close check OIL
the amount OF work accomplished eacl
day. Full-sized drawings of the molt
courses are made in the architect
offices and from these, tin patterns ar
cut for use In obtaining exact reproduc
tions in size from the stone. The bricl
walls are likewise laid out by systematic
measurement and the possibility of er
ror in construction is entirely elimin
ated. 1t is estimated that 1900, 90
brick and $4,000 feet of stone will b
used in the work Of construction.
lnasmuch as the work was delaye
during the months of January and Fet
ruary, owing to bad weather and troubl
with the guards, the fact that the boile
room, coal cellars, brick and stone wor
for the basement and first floor ar
completed, speaks well for the push an
energy of the architect. Mr.. Rap
states that, barring delays in procuI
ing stone, the building will be ready 10
occupancy by the Thirty-third legisls
tive assembly.
Assignment of Offices.
The northwest corner of the first foo
will be occupied by the territorial treas
urer, who will have two large rooms an
a vault at his disposal; in the northeas
corner the auditor will occupy thre
rooms and a vault; the southwest corne
will be placed at the disposal Of the go,
ernor and will contain two large rooms
a vault and closets, and the southeas
corner will be used by the secretary
with three large rooms and a vault. Tn
rear center portion of the floor will b
used by the superintendent of public ir
s~truction, while other available spac
will be utilized by toilet rooms, janitor
rooms and storage rooms.
The north wing of the second floor wi
be devoted to the council chamber, CON
mittee rooms, lobby rooms, ETC., tn
south wing will contain the suprem
. court room, judges private room, cler
OF the supreme court rooms, closets, ett
The front main portion of this floor wi
be utilized by the solicitor generals O
fee, a reading room and territorial
brary.
The north wing of the third floor wi
contain the balcony of the council chan
Der, committee room and smoking room
for members of the council. The sout
wing will be devoted entirely to tn
house Of representatives, with committe
rooms, clerks office, p~ostoffice, vault
toilet rooms, etc.
:. The Interior Furnishings.
, The interior furnishings Of the bull
ing will be In accord with the mo
refined tastes of the architect ar
carver. The legislative hall will pr
sent the colonial style Of stately arch
lecture. Numerous pilasters will su,
port the arcade over the gallery and IL
. groined ceiling will be relieved by ~
istic panels. The hall is 20 feet
height. The public entrance Is fro
the front OF the main c0rrido
which also contains a staircase leadir
to the main gallery. The entrance II
the speaker and members is from Il
rear OF the corridor.
The council chamber will be fnisht
In the R~omanesque style and plast
ornamental work will lend 1t . pref
aspect. Gallery space has been provi
, ed for the public, opening from Il
stairway In the main corridor. Like Il
Legislative hall, this room will have
feet height.