The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-13
pENNsyLvANIA's STATE HOUSE.

PENNSYLvANIA'S STATE HOUSE.
The corner stone of Pennsylvanias
new State House was laid with appro-
pirate ceremonies the other day. and
the building IL to be ready for occu-
pancy in season for the meeting Of the
next legislature.
As may be recalled, the venerable
Capitol of the keystone state at Har-
risburg was destroyed by fire. which
destruction IL had for long time in
vited much as has our own ancient
State building on Beneft street. The
matter OF new State House was made
particularly interesting to us Rhode
Islanders since IL was announced that
1t would be built within a year or 80
and would cost only s500,000. Folks
here In Rhode Island who had fought
the building OF our own marble
palace" of craftsmanship under way on
Capitol Hill were prompt to call atten-
ton to the promptness OF the Pennsyl-
venians in putting up their Capitol and.
the cheapness OF the same. and an ef-
fort was made to point q moral that
should make us feel bad for undertake
ing a three million dollar capitol that
required q number Of years to con-
struct.
AS a matter OF fact however. al
though 1t will be technically ''ready for
occupancy" by the assembling OF the
next legislature. the new Capitol at
Harrisburg will by no means be COM
plete at that time. while the 100000 ap-
propriated is not anywhere near the
limit proposed for the cost OF the entire
structure. AS is the case in Rhode ISL
and. the legislature OF Pennsylvania
Is prohibited from appropriating more
than certain sum at any one time for
any one purpose, and the first appro-
priation for the state Capitol was linn
ited accordingly. Here In Rhode Island
bonds were issued for our Capitol. but
the Pennsylvanians have not found 1t
necessary to resort TO loan. the sue
cessive appropriations of half million
a year. IL Is believed. being sufficient to
pay fer the work OF construction as 1t
goes along.
The state Capitol at Harrisburg is
built, under the limitations of the act
authorizing IL. OF plain, ordinary red
brick, but II is to be noted that II is so
constructed that II may be faced with
marble-which. some day. 1t doubtless
will te. Moreover. 1t will be so built
that wings may be attached at any
time for the use OF the various depart
ments of state. and II is of course con-
templated that the wings will be at
tached 30 that the Pennsylvanians.
thus proceeding on the installment
plan. will some day complete one OF the
finest structures of It's kind in the coun-
try-and pay five or six millions OF dol
lars for II.
This is the true story OF the building
Of the Pennsylvania state house. The
state is no more stingy than Rhode ISL
and. and no lesson in public economy
is 10 be drawn for our edification by
reference TO the Pennsylvania work.
when we speak OF having the Capitol
ready for occupation at the next meet
ing OF the legislature" says the Phlla-
delphia Times. I'VE b. no means imply
its completion. In truth this building
will not be completed for many years.
II Is only the most essential part of
the construction that is 20 be done now,
and the elaboration OF details is likely
20 go on indefinitely. All OF the i'm
terror furnishing and decoration Is yet
10 come, and all the ornamental fea-
lures OF the exterior. and the plan con-
templates also many extensions"
\ A,a pennevIvania will be fortunate III