The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-22

! the permanent wing rise around it. This
brick makeshft was made ready for the
session of 1S0I-02. When members arrived
and examined ii their displeasure reached
the boiling point Because Of the lack Of
ventilation IN this makeshift they termed
ii the 'oven," anu as such ii Will ever re-
main in history.
The oven was connected with the Sen
ate wing by a covered way spanning the
foundations of the future rotunda and Gen.
trail structure. The House returned 10 its
first temporary quarters in tie Senate wing
in 1So5. and remained crowded there for
two years before its own wing was CON-
pleted. Its first permanent chamber was
on the site OF the present statuary hall.
where tourists marvel at the phenomena
of the whispering gallery"
HATS ON, WOMEN EXCLUDED.
During these early sessions the Senate sat
always with closed doors and admitted no
spectators TO it's galleries Sessions of the
House were, however. open. Continental
dress was in vogue among members, whose
wigs were daily curled and powdered. Hats
were worn on the floor Of the House even
until 1898 and women were excluded from
its galleries for some years. Urns filed
with Scotch snuff were placed in each house
and there were employees charged with the
task OF keeping them filled. "Penmakers''
were employed in both chambers to mend
and sharpen the goose quilts then in vogue
for writing-anG which. by the way. are
still used in the Supreme Court chamber.
There were also official 'sealers' who
adorned all documents with red wax. On
their stationery accounts these early menu
berS drew raZors, gloves, perfumery, bears
grease and IAN innocent beverage called
swichell." supposed to be temperance con-
coction, but among whose ingredients were
good French brandy and Jamaica rum.
This was always charged in the stations
cry account as "sirup." In each COM
mittee room there was a buffet where al
cotolic refreshments were served 10 poiti-
cal callers.
The house moved into its first permanent
quarters in 1907. but not until twenty-three
years more had passed was the original
Capitol finished. The foundations of the
rotunda were still spanned by a covered
way when the British burned the building
In 1914 After that act of vandalism Con-
gress removed TO Blodgetts Hotel. at Sew
enth and f. streets, and later 10 a house at
Maryland avenue and First street, north
east. on Capitol Hill Meanwhile the re-
building of the Capitol was in progress Ii
was not completed until 1880. although Con-
gress returned TO its chambers at a much
earlier date. When finally completed the
old Capitol comprised the present main
entrance on the east and present free
stone front between the marble wings. IL
was capped by low dome. rising to 145
feet. constructed of brick. stone and wood
sheathed with copper. The building had
! cost s., 4SS.Sl4 when completed.
SLIM MAJORITY AGAINST ABANDON
MENT.
Thus did early legislators endure all
sorts of dscomforts for nearly third OF a
century. Their discomfort reached its crisis
in 1908, when a resolution for the return
of the seat of government to Philadelphia
came within a few votes of passing 1t
would have safely carried had not South
ern members been fearful of the annoy
ance of anti-slavery agitators. so rife in the
Quaker City even in those early ante-bel-
lum days.
The old Capitol was outgrown within fifty
years after the removal OF the seat of gov
eminent to Washington and history has
repeated itself within the last half century
Ii would appear that a capitol building VIII
hold our big legislative mill but fifty years.
in spite of provisions for future contingen-
cies Thomas l.. Walter was selected TO
extend the original building because of his
success with the Gfrard College edf1ce in
Philadelphia. Walter designed the two
wings, as well as the present dome. COM
menced in 1o56. and which cost 8. 25o.ooo
The pOrticoS of the wings, the grand stair
ways and the western terrace were COM
pleted by Edward Clark, who succeeded Mr.
Walter in 1860 and who had been his as
sistant since 1851. When Mr.. Clark died.
in 1902. he completed a continual official
service of fifty-one years. He sue
ceeded by Mr.. Elliott Woods, his assistant
Mr.. Woodss task of keeping the Capitol
in repair is tremendous one Under its
great dome daily work a little city of peo-
pie. 1t contains 430 rooms, exclusive of its
vast chambers and corridors; 67s windows.
$50 doorways. 40 freplaces, 14.51s square
feet of skylight, eighteen motors, fifteen
ventlating fans, eight elevators and eight
steam pumps. Its boilers generate the
! power Of 2,04S horses and its electric lights
radiate the briliancy of 2.65o candles II
is costing about $4,000 a year for routine
repairs, exclusive Of improvements. while
for both repairs and improvements the
cost this year will be $4,000.
JOHN ELFRETH WATKINS
rao4r