The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-14
FOR LEGISLATURE IN JUNE
WILL ASK APPOINTMENT OF n
COMMISSION.
THE PRESENT BUILDING TOO SMALL
More Room is Needed For Legislative Work and
For State Officers. Supreme Court
Building Belongs to Agr-
cultural Department.

cultural department.
The Legislature and the architect
which built the State Capitol wisely con-
sidered that the increase in the popula-
ton and business of the State would in
the future require an enlargement of that
building. Accordingly the original plans,
still in the State Archives, provide for
a wing to be built at the south and
north ends of the present building, and
connected with it by short galleries
very much in the same manner as the
Senate Chamber and House of Repre-
sentatiyes have been added to the Capt.
toll at Washington. Being planned by
the original architect, they are in proper
proportion
How wisely these people builded and
planned is already apparent. The State
has grown and with it has grown the
public business. The State Library and
Supreme Court Library both need eX'
tension of room, and the building which
holds them is so badly constructed and
is so very far from being fire proof
as library buildings should be-that ii
would be of more than doubtful policy
to add to the present building. And
now the possibility even of doing so is
cut off by the Agricultural Departmn mt
occupying the ground just north of the
Supreme Court building with its new
structure.
Indeed, it appears that the whole OF
that ground, including that upon which
the Supreme Court building stau13, was
paid for with the funds of the Agficul-
tural Department. And now that more
space is required for the State ard Su-
preme Court libraries, those Departments
should be housed in a tire-proof building
and on some other spot. The present
building occupied by them may we'll be
turned over to the Agricultural Depart
ment, which paid for the ground and
which can utilize it.
This is the view taken by the State
officials and others who have given
thought to the matter. Yesterday JUS
tice Walter Clark, of the North Carolina
Supreme court, and Mr.. II. X. Bruner
Secretary to the State Board Of Agra
culture held a conference with the arcni-
tectsso the city CIV. p. Rose, Thomson
Il Barrett, and Pearson q Ashe) and it
was decided to take some steps in the
matter
1t was decided, in the conference. that
the north and south wings should be
added to the Capitol as provided in the
original plans of that building. In tht
second and third stories of the south
Tor Fayetteville street, wing, the State
Library will be housed. and in the cor
responding north Tor Halifax street, wing
the Supreme court on the third floor
with its library on the second floor,
while on the first floor of both wings
the committee rooms of the Senate and
House will be provided. AT each session
of the Legislature the need of such
of each wing, the additional Offices re
quired by the State government, fol
the Corporation Commission, Insurance
Commissioner, Labor Statistician and
others will also be arranged, as well as
the aforesaid committee rooms.
In each of the wings, easements are
to be placed, which are sadly lacking in
the present building. In one, the coal
will be stored, and in the other the heat.
ing apparatus, which is now costly be
cause the heat is chilled in being brought
a long defiance underground. Elevators
are to be built in each wing for the use
of the legislators and those having
business in the Supreme court and in the
State Library. There is no means OF
placing either elevators or Easements
in the building as it now stands.
At yesterdays conference these plans
were all carefully gone over and the
architects present agreed to prepare
drawings and submit their ideas to the
Legislature in June, free of cost to the
State, and that body will be asked tC
appoint commission to ascertain the
cost of the work and report to the nex:
Legislature when it meets here in Jan
uary. The architects present yesterday
periodically agreed to give their time
aid study to the State IN this matter
Their plans will from time to time, as
perfected, be published in the News and
Observer that they may be examined
compared and discussed by the people OF
the State.
The other States are charging their
capitols or building new ones. Fortu-
nately the original plan of ours provides
for these additional wings. They can be
so added as to conform to the architec.
tural proportions of the present building
and increase its beauty and at the same
time make the building more con
venient by the use of elevators and base
ments for the heating apparatus and
storage The new wings, being like
the present capitol, of stone, would be
fire-proof and specially adapted for the
preservation of the State and Supreme
court libraries from destruction by fire
to which danger they are now much ex-
posed and their loss could not be sup
piled. The rooms to be set apart fol
legislative committee rooms could also
be utilized for the storing away of ar
chives for which fre-proof places of de
post are much needed.
This may be look ahead, but not sc
very far ahead, for the increase of popu-
lation and business is making great de
mands for more space in the capitol, q
demand which has become imperative.
A nracticino uhySician is one who Orac