Evening capital., 1903-07-09
IMPROVEMENTS
PROGRESSING
ON STATE HOUSE ANNEX AND THE
STATE BUILDING.
Contractors Claim That Both
Buildings Will Be Com
pleted In Time.
TO Be HEATED BY DOUBLE
system OF PIPES,

Work on the State House annex is
progr, ssing most satisfactorily, The brick
work is nearly completed to the second
story, and the marble coping is being
put around as finishing TO top off the
second story. The contractor Is going
ahead with the work, and II there are no
further drawbacks. he thinks the build.
ing will be finished in time for the next
session OF the Legislature.
The iron girders to strengthen and
support the building, are being adjusted.
and the roof, which will be triangular in
shape, will soon be put on. The architect
OF the building was Josias Pennington, of
Baltimore, who has endeavored to make
the style OF architecture identical with the
old State House, although the new build
ing IS much wider. The chambers for the
Legislature will be interior rooms. sur-
rounded by the necessary offices and
lighted above. A perfect sy stem OF ventil-
alton will be devised. The exterior OF
the building, which will be very much
larger than the present main structure,
will be plain and inexpensive. leaving
the bulk OF the appropriation to be ap-
Piled to making handsome interior.
The basement Of the building Is of
granite. Ii is entirely above the ground
and will contain a number OF hand
some committee rooms. There will
also be committee rooms on the second
floor. and a number OF apartments of the
present main building can be devoted 10
this purpose. The two chambers will
extend through two stories. They will
be OF ample size for any future contin-
gency, and there will be galleries, ap-
preached from the second floor. The
main corridor will be in effect an exten-
sion OF the present corridor, and II will
lead TO beautiful marble poTlico on the
front, facing the new State building. The
present stairway will be removed from
the rotunda and an imposing marble
stairway will be erected in the corridor.
THE STATE BUILDING.
The handsome new State building that
occupies portion of the square bounded
by College avenue, Bladen street and
State House Circle, Is an imposing struc-
ture, but IS too crowded for space. and
its beauty Is thereby marred. Had II
been on an elevation, or even level with
the street as it is. had a green sward or
grass plot surrounded IL, this would have
added greatly to its appearance.
AS it is. the building shoots up from
narrow streets like a factory or grain
elevator. Ii was a mistake for the State
not 10 have bought the entire block and
placed this handsome new building In
the centre. The architects Of this build
ing, which will be used for the MARYLAND
Court Of Appeals and library, were the
Messrs. Baldwin & Pennington, OF BaIti-
more. The main colonade OF the build.
ing being on Bladen stree. faces the
Executive residence. The other entrance
faces the State House and is a short dis
tance from the north entrance Of that
building. The building is 100 by I2o
feet. Ii almost covers the lot which has
been bought for il, and it has been OBJ
jected that this is not space enough.
The State should own more land in
this city, and il the remainder of the
block, part OF which has been pur-
chased, can be bought for reasonable
price, it would be 10 the dignity of the
court building and to the beauty Of the
city If il were secured by the State TO be
ornamenied with trees and flowers and
maintained as public ground. but this
is a matter o. future consideration. The
library is designed 10 contain about $780,
COO volumes. The law library will be In
an apartment OF its own and there will
be an Office for the Librarian. The first
floor is to be used for the Offices OF the
Comptroller OF the Treasury, the Treas
urer, the Land Office and Tax Commits
sioner. Various details in the arrange
ment OF offices may be modified. The
building is to be 6rsproof and TO contain
all necessary vaults for storing records.
The style OF The building is classic, and
its simplicity Is imposing and entirely in
harmony with the colonial architecture
by which 1t Is surrounded. This hand
some building is nearing its completion,
and is now receiving its finishing touches
on the interior. It's magnificent marble
corridors are beautifully designed and
attract the admiration OF all who visit the
building. The completion OF the building
will accomplish several most desirable
things. Ii will give the Court OF Appeals
proper quarters and place for the safe
keeping OF lis records, which it never has
had. Il will leave space In the State
House for the accommodation OF the
committees Of the Legislature. and It will
cause the removal OF the present Comp
,roller's Office building. one Of the un-
slightly objects in Annapolis which cuts
of the view of the old State sHouse
flom the principal residence street.
Both buildings will be heated by pipes
run from the powerhouse nearly two
blocks away. A double system OF pipes
carrying hot and cold air will provide
for the comfortable temperature OF the
handsome new buildings, which will be
a credit to the State and give addi-
tional attractions to Annapolis.