Evening star., 1901-10-21
Former Quarters in the Capitol Be-
come Committee Rooms.
ARCHITECT CLARK'S ANNUAL REPORT
Rearangement of Former Book
stacks Into Three Stories.
FUNDS WERE UNLIMITED

The annual report of Edward Clark,
architect of the United States Capitol, to
the Secretary of the Interior, made public
today contains much interesting informa-
ton. The report starts out by saying that
all of the work covered by the joint resolu-
tion of the last Congress relating to the
use of the rooms formerly occupied by the
Congressional Library in the Capitol has
been completed, with the exception of that
part relating to the space set apart for use
as reference library and that all the
rooms will be ready for occupation in case
of an emergency one day before the meet
ing of Congress- in December. The work
was of great magnitude, considering the
time allotted for it's completion. Under the
act of Congress mentioned the old library
rooms are fitted into three stories.
THE character of the resolution the re-
port continues, was extraordinary mas
much as the amount appropriated was not
specified, but was set forth as the sum
necessary. The additional specification
that the money should be expended under
the direction of the architect of the Capitol
left 1t to the discretion of that officer to
provide everything which in his judgment
was fitting accessory to make that sec
tion of the Capitol building as complete as
possible. What the generosity of Congress
has brought forth must be left to other
judgment, based on the work 1t stands
lOudy w Ildl lids DSeH CdIIIeu Oul Ids Deell
done with the paramount idea to preserve
the sentiments and ideas of the old and
historic central building. For that reason
solid masonry is the rule Arches, cornice
and holdings are copied from those In
other parts of the building. 1t only re-
mains to decorate the rooms, and commit
tees of the House and Senate will be
housed therein, it is hoped, with pleasure
and comfort
Floor Plan of New Rooms.
he orly ic ha1
central entrance, which opens through a
vestibule into the rotunda; at the south,
and to the House wing, by means of the
south corridor and closed bridge passage
way opening directly into the main corri-
dor. Near this point a circular stairway
goes to the second floor of the new rooms.
On the Senate side the north corridor opens
into a light well which has doorway
opening near the principal floor landing of
the dome stairway, and Immediately ad-
joining is a doorway opening directly into
the elliptical passaSeway and main corr1-
dor leading to the north. The dome stair
way leads to the second-floor rooms.
Further convenience of access to these
rooms is had by means of two electric ele-
vators established in the north and south
courts, the service of these elevators ex-
tending to the SubbaSement floor, a con-
venience to the numerous committee rooms
in the two stories below the new rooms.
Thus, the facilities for reaching the new
rooms are complete possible for each
story, and the important exits are at points
nearest the respective chambers of Con-
gress.
One of the most important items of am
provement, and one which suggested itself
during the progress of the work, is the new
marble vestibule located at the principal
central entrance. Its extent is from the
west rotunda entrance to the doorway of
the main corridor fronting the new rooms,
a distance of forty feet. Its width is
twenty-one and a half feet. In this space
old OH onf,1Qq tha
below, with landing at the west rotunda
door. On either side of this stairway open
ing is arranged a colonnade of five Ionic
f1uted columns, with capitals and bases
The wall piasters correspond in position
Including columns, full pilasters and quar-
ter pilasters, the number is as follows: Ten
full columns. fourteen full pilasters and
four quarter pilasters.
Much Marble Used.
The window openings of the vestibule
were so arranged as to form symmetrical
panel openings between the wall pilasters.
The same may be said of the doorway
openings Elsewhere the entire wall sur
face ceiling and archtraves are paneled
in pure white marble The darker shade
of Italian marble, of which the columns
and plasters are made. contrasted with
the purest white Vermont marble, of which
the wall work, architraves and carved cell
ing panels are made, gives a very pleasing
effect.
A series of rooms, with windows opening
into the courts lies on either side of the
central vestibule These courts, of course,
start at the ground floor and reach the
skirt of the dome.
The general repairs to the Capitol for the
last fiscal year amount to about 500 in num-
ber of which about 40 are repairs of minor
character. One of the most important
branches of the work has been the painting
done throughout the building. The working
of 10 = m N Ia sod
by legislation, facilitating the work of re-
pairs and improvements. The machinery
was in constant operation during the year
without accident.
I'm previous reports" the architect con-
tinues, II have called some attention to the
subject Of heating and ventilation in this
building, pointing out the condition in the
House wing which 1t was desired should be
corrected / am happy to say that at the
last session of Congress an appropriation
was made for the ventiating of the House
Of Representatives, including the House
restaurant. At this writing the work is
progressing satisfactorily and every effort
will be made to correct the faults of the old
system The operation of appliances will be
changed from steam to electricity. This
will benefit materially the conditions in the |
lower subbasement corridors and will add to |
the effective operation of the fans. 1 have |
already detailed the arrangements for ven-
tilating the new committee rooms.
New Roof Fireproof.
congress mas PROVIDED an appropriation
for reconstructing the roof of the central
portion of the Capitol, and this work is now-t
under way. AS is well known, the roof of
the entire central portion of the building is
Of wood, covered with copper and at the
time Of the Supreme Court fire was In great
danger and barely escaped destruction. The |
new roof will be f1reproof in character, and
all wood construction will be avoided The |
plans so far developed are very satisfac-
tory, as the results will carry the roof line 1
several feet below the present arrangement.
This method will be in harmony with the
original plans Of the late Thomas u Walter
and with any extensions to the Capitol
which may hereafter be made. The work
will be SO carried out to provide a suit
able space over the new committee room in
the old library space, which spacing NAV be
devoted to the installation of either extern
sions OF the House and Senate libraries or a
reference library, as mentioned in the Joint
resolution hitherto quoted.
congress has provided an appropriation
or $1,000 for the expenses incident to the
preparation of plans for the extension Of
the Capitol and for the construction of an
outside building suitable for COMMITTEES
rooms. document rooms and for the heating
and lighting plant of the CAPITOL At nres