Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-01-26
STATE HOUSE.
Improvements of the Past Two
Years Discussed.
Wonder Expressed if the Next Two
Will Bring as Much.
poach'ng in Maine Woods Hindcrcd by The
Scarcity Of Snow.

Is something i'll which they are interest
ed. They are as interested in this as the
| members Of college are in she athletic
| teams of their Institutions When work
IS contemplated Superintendent Stevens.
who by the way has been reappointed.
! much to the qualification of all about the
| Capitol, has advice and consultation
| enough to take up a contract of twice
| the size.
| a recent article in another Maine paper.
| relative to the much needed and often
talked about repairs to the old section OF
the Capitol. especially the rotunda. has
again aroused them to speaking at
length on the repairs. The article suited
them to perfection for it voiced the most
elaborate plans that any of them had
ever mentiorei5
While they are talking of these repairs
that they hope to have they are looking
over the things that have. been done in
the past TWO years ana consoling them
selves with the thought that they have
accom-. 'i+hcd much in that time. When
q" 10 X at the Capitol, today, in its
ntatness OF the interior. they no nor
think often of the contrast of some of
the parts of ii with two years ago IN
those two years great changes have been
wrought.
FIRST Of all in that time that has taken
place is the Senate chamber repairs. This
Is the most elaborate thing Of all for by
it the State has a chamber that architec-
turally and in decorative point OF View,
is equal to any. The president Of the
Senates room was also repaired and fit
ted with the same mahogany. the silk
curtains, the rich carpetings and the
same delicate tinting of the Senate
chamber.
Then below the Senate chamber re-
pairs have gone on. The land office has
been refinished and it is today one of the
cosiest little places in the whole build
ing, finished as it is in hard wood with
the hard wood furniture. the rugs ana
other appointments. All is made to have
a more finished look by the good taste in
the modest paper on the walls, and in
the white steel ceiling. The passage way
between the land Office and the educa-
tional department has been made into Il
modern water-closet.
The stairway that used to 60 down this
place has been changed by the repairs on
the dark stairs in the same wing, and
the arrangement so that the stairs are
now wide and light. The basement OF
this wing, which was formerly the office
of the fish and game commissioners ana
a storeroom, has been made into one
handsome large room finished in hard
wood which is the place where the fish
and game commissioners are proud to
call their office. and where they keep
the large museum of fish, game and
birds of Maine.
Thus nearly the whole north wing has
been made from the rather antique bar
rem place that it was at the beginning
two years ago into a thoroughly modern,
convenient and handsome wing.
The boiler house completed during the
fall has been entirely rebuilt ana en-
larged at quite an expense though Meth
ing as compared with the results. 1t is
now a thing Of beauty as well a a use
ful place. Everything is clean ana
handy. 50 that anyone can go there and
look about with as keen enjoyment as in
any other part of the building.
The rotunda has been temporarily beau
tilted. The white steel ceiling has been
placed there during the past year. The
floor which 50 badly needs to be Of tie
like the new part. has been painted ~
look as well as it is possible 70 make i.
the walls have been tinted, the posts
painted with d glossy white paint, the
pictures rearranged and all has beeh
done that is possible until the perma-
nant repairs are made here.
In the meantime carpenters sh'r
has been erected south Of the building
and another fair sized building mas been
constructed for the adjutant general
department.
Go into any department whatever anu
there one will find new cases constructed
by the Capitol carpenter all OF the heS'
workmanship that mans hands are ST.
patle, of turning out. and of material tue
he.t the market can purchase. Then fur
nit,ire i'm Quantities to suit the growing
demands have also been furnished
on the, grounus are to be seen the
Ibandiwork The old yard PACK 81 the
h,,i1din- has been removed ana Deautl-
.,I 1,.,p made here running clear to the
,,ro,.a straat The improvements have
heen made everywhere. but nowhere tl'"'
they have not been needed. Every 'ii'''7
has been done on the llne u lhe 81
lions from the Legislature, ana uhucl '"'
ave of the committee on pubic puiidil'3S
If the governor and couhcli. '"i' ''o
cons has advised and presented me "'lh y
no has planned to the Legislature an"
"a th,. council. in all cases. ana tnPn TT
,,rriad If out in the manner that every
ana knows is 50 acceptable. No depart
r,e,t in the places where they ALREADY
had good quarters. has been neglected
An tboir demands that were WITHIN the
nower of the appropriations have beeh
| looked after ..-,..
When looking back over the Two Hca's
., what the State Capltol anu i'9
,.a,,,ds we're at that time and compar-
- tho different improved quarters ana
,rounds with the past, the change cdi
no soon. and how old-fashioned some Oh
H. rl,ces now seem az they are remcrn-
,rharo l. still work to do and probably
.da~ colonel stevens conserN alive. care
-, vet steadily progressive methods
,bo family of the State House VIII II
ia years look back over the two an'
goo what great changes have taken place
in that time.
| ..r,aro i less of the attempts a.
! tt. visible this year. remarked
IN