Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-06-05
BURNED AND RESTORED

totally destroyed by fire on the night O
May IL, 1892, causing a loss to the terri
tory of about $3.50, 900 without insur
ance. Inasmuch as the fire originate
in the upper part of the structure
spread from one dome to the other il
less than ten minutes, and the waite
system had apparently been tampere'
with, the New Mexican, printed on tn
following day, attributed the disaster t,
an ~incendiary.
Preliminary to the reconstruction o
the territorial capitol, the 31st legisla
tive assembly, N February 5, 1896
passed an act authorizing the issuance
Of capitol rebuilding bonds to tn,
amount of SIS, 900. drawing s per cent
interest, and creating a capitol rebuild
ing board with full authority to emplo!
a competent architect and proceed t.
the work of reconstruction. Authorit!
to use convict labor so far as possible
was also granted. The board as origi
nally constituted was composed O.
Frank A. Manzanares. Solomon Luna
w. 8. Hopewell, Henry L. Waldo. anG
A. Staab. This board me- and organ.
lied OF March 2. 1895. Subsequently
Messrs. Luna, Waldo and Staab were
succeeded by Major R. j. Palen, w. H
Pope and S. G. Cartwright. with Mr.
Manzanares as president, Mr.. Pope as
secretary, and Col. Geo. w. Knaebel as
clerk. Pending the approval of the
hon6c hu opnorocc md tho coJo fuc,ranf
the citizens of Santa Fe subscribed
~ $4,000 to proceed with the work of re-
moving the debris of the old building,
rescuing such materials as could be
utilized in reconstruction work, and be-
ginning the foundations. 1t Is estima-
ted that, with the aid Of convict labor,
the investment Of this amount of mon
ey accomplished a saving to the terri
tory Of fully SIS, 1000. After the sale of
the bonds the subscriptions were paid
back without interest.
SALE OF THE ORIGINAL BONDS.
The original SIS, 900 in capitol rebuild
ing bonds, after being formally ap-
proved by congress, were sold in May,
1897, at 97k cents on the dollar, realiz-
ing the net sum of $73, 175. The work Of
completing the enduring foundations
and rearing the massive walls Of the
present beautiful and imposing struct-
ure was then actively begun in accord
ance with the plan and specifications
previously prepared by Architect I. H.
Rapp, of the well-known firm of I. HE
VIII .Rapp, and the experienced and ac-
complished architect and builder named
was employed by the board as the per-
tanent superintendent. Since then Mr..
Rapp has given his personal attention
to the work of reconstruction under
the general direction of the capitol re-
building board. The numerous changes
that the board and the architect DEEM
ed 1t wise to make in the original plans,
notably in the class of material used,
have all been decidedly for the better,
and are certain to receive the cordial
commentator Of the people. Among
the most important of these changes
may be mentioned the facts that the
framework Of the dome has been con-
SlEuCICu VI SlCCl llSICdu u WOONy lAAC
stairways are built of ornamental
bronzed iron, with solid a ratings
and marble treads, and the corridors
and many of the public rooms have
been laid with mosaic thing. Wire has
been substituted for lath. The use of
pine has been avoided. The woodwork
Is solid val and mahogany, and the
floors are all Of hardwood. These
changes not only make the structure
much more beautiful and enduring, but
render 1t so nearly fire-proof that it can
be insured at a minimum cost. In order
to meet the additional cost, the 33d leg
islative assembly passed an act author
izing the issuance Of $4,000 more capt.
tol rebuilding bonds. This act was
promptly approved by congress-. and the
bonds were sold On July Is, 1899. for the
net sum of $50, 1872 80. The fact that
these bonds, drawing only 4 per cent.
interest, sold readily at a premium,
while the issue authorized by the 31st
legislative assembly, drawing 8 per
cent, only commanded 97h per cent.
on the dollar, significantly shows how
materially the credit Of the territory
has improved during the past five
years.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
The restored capitol of imperial New
Mexico is located on the site of the
structure that was burned on the south
side Of the Rio Santa Fe and about
one-half mile southeast Of the plaza.
The surrounding grounds are nearly
square and embrace about four acres,
with cut-stone coping on the east and
west sides. and iron fences on the
north and south sides. It is hoped that
the next legislative assembly will make
provision for the condemnation and
purchase Of the grounds north down to
the river. These lots terraced and
planted to shade trees and Towering
shrubs would add very materially to the
attractiveness Of the capitol grounds.
The classic beauty Of the new CAPT.
toll is apparent to all observers. 1t Is
three stories In height, or from the
basement to the top Of the tholus or
lantern above the cupola is about $50
feet. The frontage Of the building Is
l7s feet and ten inches, and the depth
IL 70 feet and ten inches. The ground
floor or first story Is Of Lamy sand
stone, while the other two stories are
constructed of pressed yellow brick. re-
sembling sandstone in color. with
handsome Grecian coping and stone
facings in harmony with the whole. '
The main entrance is from the west, I,
and reminds one Of the east entrance to
the capitol at Washington. It is i'm
posing. Six Ionic fiuted columns Of
Indiana limestone, each about twen-