New-York tribune., 1903-02-13
EXTENSION OF CAPITOL.
TO COS" OYER SO, OOO, 600.
Nesr Office Building and Improuc-
mcnf of Nam Structure.

WGfI V zsUkI s1ffN(fHft.
Washington. Feb. IL CSpeciaD.-The House of
Representatives has just made an appropriation
Of over S6ophtslo for the enlargement of the
Capitol and the construction of an office build
ing for the of its members In accordance
with the legislative etiquette which is practised
between the Senate and House. one body never
interferes with any appropriation suggested by
the other which conduces 10 its personal con-
venience The proposed improvement may he
taken then as an assured fact. Its accom-
y,lishnaent VIII require two and half years.
The cost Of extending the east front OF the
Capitol win be S.5eaoeo: the new office build
ing which is to he somewhat of q marble pal
ace is TO cost for construction SS1o0o0o 10
say nothing Of another half million for the site.
This building is he just off the Capitol grounds
on the south. and Is to be connected with the
Capitol by a tunnel. through which miniature
electric cars Z re he run. To carry members
II and from the hai Of the House.
THE WORK ON THE CAPITOL.
The plans presented for the extension are
based on the original Walter plans. made when
the Capitol wings were being constructed-1S3l
srd 1s59-and which were approved al the time
l,v President Fillmore. The House and Senate
VIII each gain thirty-three rooms by the eXten-
sion. The exterior construction is 10 conform
exactly to the remainder Of the building While
the plan involves the removal Of the old portico
on the east. II does not involve the removal of
the principal walls of that old and historic por-
ton Of the Capitol. The present front wall OF
the old building is 10 remain as the rear wall OF
an oren court. which is to light the west side Of
the proposed addition. The details of the con-
s-r1Iction. such as arches and other masonry
work marble and plaster work are 10 conform
- that Of the wings There is to be a magnih-
cent z-estibule 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
7r4sro he like other committee rooms. large and
conauodious. Ample provision is made for ele-
,ators staIrways and corridors, which VIII con-
rect with the corridors Of the north and south
wings. as well as for direct communication with
TIE rotunda
The dome and rotunda are also TO receive at
-er-ion under this plan. For the rotunda. the
1rorosition is TO restore its interior finish in &C
crrdance with the original design Up to the
time the dome was completed the rotunda was OF
sandstone finish. To restore this. il is believed.
,,iH furnish the most handsome effects when
Frlr7idi 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
rai-ted a dull slate color.
Superintendent Elliott Woods, under whose
SUPERVISION the proposed improvements will be
1-,ade. 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
-es,rface5 in a shade of uirher, which will har-
r7lcnize witt. the walls. and the celebrated frleze
Is 10 he completed The effect Of this simple eX-
+e1icr. with the huge proportions OF the rooms
anJ the marble entrances and corridors on all
sides II is predicted. viii add effectively 10 the
architectural Beauty OF the central portion OF
the Capitol.
THE PROPOSED OFFICE BUILDING.
TIE need Of the office building is apparent TO
every ore who has business at the House end of
the Capitol. Members 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 oIllces
are hard for strangers to find. and inconvenient-
II located for members The result is great con-
fpson and dissati isfaction. Every room in the
House end OF the Capitol is utilized as com
n2ittee room, and some Of these rooms are in
the remote interior Of the basement, without
the slightest outlet TO daylight or fresh ar
only the chairman of the committee is sup
posed 10 use the room for his own purposes ana
consequently only fiftv-two members have ofh-
oes, by virtue of being chairmen Of committees
out Of the entire membership Of $50, which the
next Congress Will ha e
The new office building is 20 he constructed in
sccordance with the architecture of the tapito!
end the Library Of Congress IT is TO be or
Trarble or granite. three stories in height. with
2 basement and sub basement, intended at some
t11ne to accommodate the he2linS ana Neilllidl-
ing plsnt for the Capitol. The plan selected
viii give about one hundred office rooms on
each OF the three floors. The basement VIII be
devoted TO the document and folding rooms
With the removal Of the document and storage
quarters from the Capitol together with the
boilers and engines comprising the heating and
lighting plants and the addition Of thirty-three
rooms by the central construction, there
VIII he ample quarters for the accommodation
of each member of the House in the way of an
office room exclusively for himself.
The interior finish of the proposed office build
inc is 10 be Of the finest sort. Each room is TO
be large well lighted and heated with provision
fer supplying fresh air by forced ventilation
Each room is also TO be supplied with a lava
-o-E aud hot and cold water. II is estimated
that this building be completed in two and
. half years after title has been obtained to the
site This process Will require something like
six months so that ii will ne at least three years
from the end Of the present session Of Congress
before the increased accommodations will be
lx for, ,1cr