Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1899-10-02
MD. MONDAY. OCTOBER q 1899
QUEEN CITY OF THE PLAINS.
DENvER'S PUBLIC BUILD
INGS.
Handsome And Costly Structures The
Elegant State Capitol.

costly public buildings. Prominent among
these is the State Capitol. which occu-
pies fifteen acres. at the brow OF Capitol
Hill. The building is OF Colorado granite.
finished on the interior with marble trim
mings. II was begun in 1887 and was
occupied for the first time in 1895.
When completed it cost $3.50. 900.
The grounds we're presented to the State
by Henry c. Brown, one OF Denver's
pioneers. Colorado is Justly proud Of
her State Capitol building. since it is con-
structed OF her own granite. from the ia
nous Gunnison quarries, which is unsur-
passed n beauty and uniformity Of color
by any in America. The site is most
commanding, being mile above the
sea level, and occupying three entire
squares. The view OF the city OF Denver
and the mountain range, extending for
Iz5 miles, from the dome OF lhe Capitol.
is, perhaps, the grandest Of anything in
the country. The building occupied six
years in construction. The architect was
Mr.. Meyers, of New VorE and the archi-
lecture is what is known as composite
renaissance.
1t took US three hours to 60 through
the Capitol. The interior is not yet COM
pleted. At the last session Of the Legis-
lature an appropriation sufficient for the
completion OF the work, was made, and
everything is expected to be intact by
the next session, 1901. The Capitol
grounds are in the shape Of an oblong
parallelogram, which shape has masonic
significance. The size OF the building is
AGA 4 by 3S3.II feet, and it extends 383
feet north and south and 3I3 feet east
and west, and is 256 feet from basement
floor TO top OF the dome. There are 100
rooms in the building. On the corner
stone is engraved the following: "Erec-
ted by the fourth and seventh General
Assembly OF the State of Colorado. ap-
proved February nth, 1883. and April
Ist, 1859. Board of Capitol Managers.
Job A. Cooper. Governor, John l.. Rout,.
Otto Mears. Charles ]. Hughes. BENZ.
F. Crowell; E. F. Meyers, architecture;
Peter Gumry, superintendent. This
last named gentleman was the owner Of
the hotel which was blown up by an en-
CINE running some Of the hotel machine
ry. and hundreds of people killed-a dis
aster not soon to be iorg in Denver.
The exterior OF the Capitol is not un-
like the Baltimore postoffice. except that
it is surmounted with dome, rather too
large in circumference at the base for the
height. A statue or ornament Of some
sort at the apex OF the dome would great
ly beautify its appearance. The main
entrance is on Broadway, and the ap-
proach is through beautiful grounds, we'll
kept. and through gradual incline lead
ing 10 the magnificent doorway. This is
supported by massive granite columns,
above which is cut in the stone an array
oi figures suggestive OF Colorado's ad-
vantages in the way OF agriculture. min
ing, &c. Conspicuous by its absence,
and refreshing TO the Eastern tourist is
that bfte noir Of signs keep off the
grass" No such sign is visible, and yet
the grass is the most beautiful stretch of
lawn one ever saw anywhere, as green
and veil kept as one could wish. even
though the childien are allowed 10 play
on it to their hearts content. Colorado
children. unlike their Eastern cousins,
do not wonder if there are any signs in
Heaven "keep off the grass" At the
main entrance. near the street, is huge
flag pole. recently erected by the Sons
OF the American Revolution. in honor of
the Colorado volunteers. who served their
country in the late unpleasantness with
Spain. On the pole are brass tablets
with the names OF those who died in the
service, with the name, date and place
OF death on each. The idea is happy
one. Since the return OF the First Colo
RADIO Volunteers memorial service has
been held about this pole, when 5000
people were present.
On entering the rotunda. the visitor is
struck by the unfinished condition of
things. There is blank space OF mortar
at the base OF all the pillars. 1t is said
one reason for not completing the work
is due to misundei standing about the
kind OF material to be used. The rotun-
da is very handsome, and the marble
trimmings and brass finishings have a
pleasing and artistic effect. The visitor
usually begins with the basement. and
works his way to the dome. Here in the
basement there is so much to be seen,
one could spend several days proftably
looking round. The G.. A. r. room
contains many curios of interest. Among
these at the entrance is two I7-pound
HowItzers, surrendered by Gen. Twiggs,
U. S. A., to Gen. Mccullough, at San
Antonia. Texas, February, 1861. These
guns were buried by Gen. Gibber at AL
buquequc, New Mexico. in April, 1862.
after the defeat of the Confederate forces
at the battle OF Glaretta. They were re-
covered in 1890 and presented to the
Stat. Of Colorado. having been buried
for over thirty years. In the War
Relic" room is Kit Carson's rife. con-
tanning 36 brass nails-one for every In
dian killed. Here is also a fint-lock
gun, given by France to Gen. Lafayette
in I777. There are other Aint-lock guns
here, one used in the Battle of Bunker
Hill, and one in the French and Indian
War, and afterward in the Revolution.
There is sword here captured from a
British officer at the Battle of Saratoga.
and one carried by Continental officer
during the Revolution. In the "War
Relic" room there is also hag taken by
the South Carolina forces at Fort Sumter
on April I4th, 1861; war medicine chest
that went with Sherman's army to the
sea; uniforms of men OF note in those
times that tried mems souls; photographs
and autographs OF Gen. X. E. Lee. and
curios of all sorts and descriptions which
| interest those who have a soft spot ir
their hearts for the has bsfrs.
- (Continued in our next issue.