Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-10-16
FUR A MORE BEAUTIFUL CAPITOL,


The Plans by Which the Greatest Of
American Archite ctural Treasures is
to Be Made More MAGNIFICENT
The Capitol at Washington. famous as
one of the most notable architectural
masterpieces in the world, will in the
near future receive the most extensive
addition which has ever been made to it.
says Walden Fawcett I'm Scientific Amcr:.
can. This statement is especially signif-
cant from the fact that the entire history
OF the building has comprised a series of
additions to a nucleus of rather meagrc
proportions. The present project dates
from the spring of 1901. when the arch-
tect of the Capitol was directed by an
act of Congress to prepare plans for the
extension of the central portion of the
Capitol for the renovation and decora-
ton of the rotunda and for the erection
on the ground adjacent to the Capitol of
frcproof building for office. storage
and power-plant purposes. Presumably
no architect would nave the temerity to
suggest any radical change in the
structure of the Capitol; but in the in
terest of adherence to the present style
II Is particularly fortunate that plans for
an enlargement such as is now con-
templated were handed down to the pres
ent architect of the Capitol from his dis
tinguished predecessor, the late Thomas
haps best known to fame as the creator
of the great white dome of the Capitol
and the marble wings now occupied by
the Senate and House of Representa-
tives. respectively. Not only was the en-
largement of the Capitol provided for in
the plans prepared years ago. but the
extension soon to be undertaken will in
reality but carry out the original con-
ceptior of an enlarged Capitol as evolved
by Architect Walter at the time he
planned the Senate and House wings and
capped the structure with its stately
dome. Moreover, the new portion. in
stead of appearing incongruous or out
of harmony with the present pile will
actually add to the majesty of the en-
semble effect.
THOUGHT THE OLD ONE BIG
ENOUGH.
The old Capitol building. fostered by
George Washington and designed by
Thornton, was considered to afford. when
completed in $50, ample accommodations
for the then existing and probable future
needs of the country. However, the ire
mendous progress of the nation soon rem
dered imperative the provision of more
space. Then came the first extensions
begun in 1851 and completed in 1855
Congress authorized and Architect
Walter carried out the construction of
the marble addition at the north and
south. In this. as in all his work in con-
nection with the Capitol, the architect
adhered faithfully to the spirit of the
original; and realizing at the same time
that the future might again find the
Capitol Inadequate in accommodations,
he devoted much time to the preparation
of plans for an extension to the eastward
OF the present buiding-an addition
which would harmonic with what al
ready existed, and also give additional
beauty to the splendid dome which he
designed and erected and which he hoped
would one day grace a completed
structure. The most eminent architects
have agreed that in meeting the present
exigencies Ii would he unwse to alter
the original plan in any particular as
concerns the exterior proportions and
alignments
The construction of the addition con-
templated will cost approximately $500
0Co and while II involves the removal of
the old portico at the east, it does not
involve the removal of the principal walls
OF the old and historical portion of the
Capitol The present front wall of the
old building remains as the rear wall of
an open court. which lights the west side
of the proposed addition. 1t is difficult
IWt eIeh tiie PRISONS 'notousnIS lanl'ilar
WIZ. ,ne ouIio 1..i " appreciate what an
elioliiiouS aou, .'on VIII DC hlaue 10 the
apa.rs VI my S.,u.'uie ny tlls new
no'lStl "ctloI,, ne arc" VII ne Increased
VI ' to. assreed.e iroi,' l'-'.'o squire iceS
~ ~ oon ~ ap",.io 'ues' no an me reaSe Oh
oi,o'o square l'et' OF % per cent other-
WISE eApreSseu, M increase Oh me ca
p on ol tlie ous'uitS a'ioul.S 10 ioo ao
NV eupc iee.' ol Wi'ici amount l,ooo,oW
cunit icet are proNiueu III ''ie new east
Iion!, or, IN otmei woIuS. the ceh'rdi
potuoh Oh the p,'iulils as AT present con-
stitu,eu, 10 me reader uepehueht upon
IecoiIe,'iotiS ol the dPPearahce Oh the
]
ture Oh 'he pu'iuhe as ~ at present hp-
pears ~ may seem we"-hish increu'pie
u'l"t tn.io - aN"i'apIe spaSe lor nuSi,
a., a.uI.'on as u proposou WIN 80 slisht
ocPartuIe from me present perspective
~ mater OF lart' however me cen.
srai my n' vi inarpit Steps on the east
rom, icau.ns 10 ,ne porlicp OF the Iotuh.
ia, Is nioented ~ ieet withih the me OF
the TWO marine "ihss, Not only VIII al,
the sp"ce oi TINS inueItatioh ne occupieu