The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-05-25
THE CAPITAL
AT COLUMBUS.
Something With Reference to
the OIL State House.
COST MORE THAN ESTIMATES
But in That Does Not Diner From Most
Public Buiidings--some Interesting
"Reminiscences FROM Our stan
Correspondent.
(Staff Specially


The capitol building of Ohio, while
not a marvel of architectural beauty, Is
a massive and stalwart structure, de
signed rather for utility than for orna-
mental purposes. Occupying, as Il does
a commanding position in the heart of
Columbus, 1t is the cynosure of the eyes
Of every visitor to the city. It's giant
columns, broad terraces and towering
dome render 1t imposing, and in its
magnitude causes it's architectural de-
fects to sink into comparative insignifi-
canoe. However, in the construction of
the building a certain degree of SYM
metry was observed, the idea Of the de-
signer being to provide an edifice
which would combine in it's interior ar
rangement perfect security to the
archives Of state and CONVENIENCE of the
several bodies and officers to be accomo-
dated therein. Withal the structure cap
now hardly be termed thing of beau
ty. the ravages Of time having had a
deteriorating effect on the materials
used in Its production. Severely Doric in
style, 1t Is at once special object of in
terest. The state square comprises 10
acres and is located on the east side of
High street, and is bounded on the other
In the center of the square stands the
capitol building. The site was presented
to the state in 1912, for public buildings.
On January 26, 1888, the general as
sembly enacted law authorizing the
erection Of a state house building, and
on March 16, following, board Of COM
missioners, consisting Of Messrs w. A.
Adams, of Muskingum county; Joseph
Ridgway, Jr., of Franklin county; and
w. B. Van Hook, Of Butler county, was
appointed to prosecute the construction
work. The board organized and pro-
ceeded to business forthwith. In April
the contract was closed for limestone
from a quarry three miles north Of the
city. In response to an invitation plans
were submitted from some so OF 60
architects from various parts of the
Union. From these the three best de-
signs were selected, the commissioners
deciding, after making certain modifi-
cations, to pattern the edifice from plans
taken from all three designs. The COM
missioners estimated that the construc-
tion work would require the outlay Of
s450, 900, basing his computation on the
price Of convict labor, which was pro-
durable at rate less than that paid
free men.
The foundation work was started IN
earnest and on July 4, next, amid i'm
posing ceremonies and in the presence
of vast assemblage Of people, the
corner stone of the building was laid
by Ex-Governor jeremiah Morrow. The
event marked a great epoch in the
history of Ohio.
The work of construction was push
ed forward vigorously for the space of
two years, but at the end of that period
operations were suspended and remain
ed so for the ensuing six years.
Finally, owing to the fact the treasury
was in rather a depleted condition and
for certain political reasons, the act
providing for the building of the new
state house was repealed, and the work
wholly stopped.
The legislature again took up the
proposition to establish a new state
house, and on February 81, 1S46, passed
another act entitled, "An act to provide
for a new state house."
The cost of putting up the building
was far in excess of all calculations,
and appropriations were made for the
expense from time to time by the legis-
lature. Delays We're encountered in the
work, the result Of the shortage of
funds.
On January 6, 1857, the state mouse
was dedicated although it was not COM
pleted until November Is, 1861. The
sum expended in the erection of the
building aggregated $1,359, ,121.45.
The capitol has four fronts, with colo
nades, and is 1874 feet wide by 3O4 feet
ha oh nf ha h,,f1
the ground to the pinnacle of the curalo
is 1853 feet. From the rotunda flonr to
the eve of the dome 1t is 120 feet; to the
upper sky-light it is 1856 feet. The
diameter Of the rotunda floor is Ga feet
and inches and there are 1882 piecses
of marble in the floor. The capitol con-
tains SO rooms and the entire east ter
race, allowing IS inches square to each
will hold 7,S40 people.
There Is much to attract one within
the capitol. Especially interesting is
the rotunda, directly under the dome.
Here on the walls are hung pictures of
the governors of the state, and there is
a magnificent painting of Perry's cele-
brated naval victory over the British
on Lake Erie, September 10, 1918. A |
marble tablet, standing in an alcove,
the surrender of Vicks- |
burg on July 4, 1864. A bust of Lincoln |
said to be one Of the finest extant-
surmounts the tablet and occupying a |
position below are figures cut in |
the marble representing the Confederate |
Bowen, Montgomery and |
surrendering to Grant, Nc
Pherson and Sherman, of the north.
A pathetic incident occurred in front |
of this tablet last summer. A gray
haired man paused to gaze at the |
work of art, when, to the sur.
prise of those who were near, he burst
INTO tears and wept bitterly for some
lime.
The gray-haired man was General
The old, familiar scene
lad revived sad memory-one of a
ost cause; of defeat and disaster. The
general paid a tribute to the genius of
he sculpture, saying the picture was
one. That the scene of the sur
'ender in which he had participated hal
at,,a tod ty, ctn he |