Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-02-21
THE CAPITOL
Improvement Proposed For the
Building at Washington.
COSTLY CHANGES ARE INVOLVED.

Planned to spend $4,000, 900 on Ex-
tension Of East Front and on ONCE
Building For ReDresentGtivcs-Ne
Structure VIII BE Low, So as Not
to Dwarf Great Dome.
The house of representatives has Just
made an appropriation of over $6,OOO-
600 for the enlargement of the capitol
at Washington and the construction of
an Office building for the use Of its
members, says the New York Tribune.
In accordance with the legislative ETH
quette which is practiced between the
senate and house one body never inter
feres with any appropriation suggested
by the other which conduces TO it's person
al convenience. The proposed improve
ment may be taken, then, as an assured
fact. It's accomplishment will require
two and a half years. The cost of ex-
tending the east front of the capitol
will be $2,5O0,O0O. The new office
building, which is to be somewhat of a
marble palace, is to cost for construc-
ton So, 100000, to say nothing of anoth-
err half million for the site. This build
ing is to be just off the capitol grounds.
on the south, and is to be connected
with the capitol by tunnel, through
which miniature electric cars are to be
run to carry members to and from the
hall OF the house
The plans presented for the extern
sion are based on the original Walter
plans, made when the capitol wings
were being constructed-1S51 and 1859
and which were approved at the time
by President Fillmore. The house and
senate will each gain thirty three
rooms by the extension. The exterior
construction is to conform exactly to
the remainder of the building. While
the plan involves the removal of the
old portjco on the east. it does not in
volve the removal of the principal
walls of that old and historic portion
of the capitol. The present front wall
of the old building is to remain as the
rear wall of an open court, which is to
| light the west side of the proposed adj
dition. The details of the conStruc-
ton. such as arches and other mason
~ work. marble and plaster work, are
| TO conform to that of the wings. There
| is to be Il magnificent vestibule los
] feet long, leading direct to the rotunda
| from the east entrance. 1t will be an
enlarged example of that at the east
| doors of the senate and house. The
rooms on either side are to be like other
committee rooms, large and commo-
dious. Ample provision is made for
elevators, stairways and corridors,
which will connect with the corridors
of the north and south wings, as we'll
as for direct communication with the
| rotunda.
The dome and rotunda are also to re-
ceive attention under this plan. For
| the rotunda the proposition is to re-
store its interior finish in accordance
with the original design. Up to the
| time the dome was completed the to-
| tunda was of sandstone finish. To re-
store this, it is believed, will furnish
the most handsome effects. When
/ Brumidi began the historical paintings
in the frieze the walls were in the
original sandstone and his colors were
chosen to harmonic. Since that time,
although the frieze has never been
completed, the walls of the interior
have been painted dull slate color.
Superintendent Elliott Woods, under
provements will be made. recommends
| cleaning this paint off and treating the
stone with oil, to preserve it from the
effects of the atmosphere. The floor
! is to be resurfaced in a shade of UNI
Der, which viii harmonic with the
walls, and the celebrated frieze is to be
| completed
The need of the office building is APP
| parent to every one who has business
at the house end of the capitol. Mem
bers have no place to take their friends
and constituents Many members
lease Offices in various parts of the
city. This plan is not satisfactory, as
| these private offices are hard for stran-
| gers to find and inconveniently located
for members. The result is great con-
fusion and dissatisfaction. Every
room in the house end of the capitol is
utilized as committee room, and some
| of these rooms are in the remote in
| terror of the basement, without the
slightest outlet to daylight or fresh air.
| Only the chairman of the committee is
supposed to use the room for his own
purposes, and consequently only fifty
| two members have offices, by virtue of
| being chairmen of committees, out of
the entire membership of $50, which
the next congress will have.
The new Office building is to be con-
structed in accordance with the archi-
lecture of the capitol and the library
| of congress. 1t is to be of marble or
granite, three stories in height. with a
basement and subbasement, intended
at some time to accommodate the heat
/ nj n
toll. The plan selected will give about
100 Office rooms on each of the three
floors. The basement will be devoted
to the document and folding rooms.
1 With the removal of the document and
storage quarters from the capitol, to-
| gether with the boilers and engines,
comprising the heating and lighting
plants, and the addition of thirty three