Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-11
Preparing for Foundations Of
New Museum Building.
CLASSIC IN DESlG N
MORE THAN NINE ACRES DEVOT-
ED TO FLOOR SPACE.
Next to the Capitol It Will Be the
Largest Structure in the
District.

Ground was broken month ago for the
new building of the United States National
Museum, and the work of preparing for It's
construction is under way. The first snow
elful of earth was removed by Prof. Samuei
P. Langley, secretary Of the Smithsonian
Institution, and keeper, ex-of1cio, OF the
National Museum. The shovel with winch
he did the work is preserved in the archlVes
of the institution. There was only sma1i
gathering at the spot in front OF the pres
ent museum building when the ceremonies
were observed, most Of the regents being
absent from Washington. The exercises
were very informal.
The contract calls for the excavations to
be ready for the laying of the foundations
by August Is This new building Will be
completed in about four years 1t Will DC
constructed Of solid masonry. and will cost
s., 100000 appropriated by the last Con-
gress for the purpose of erecting fitting
receptacle for the treasures accumulated Dy
the United States since the bequest OK
James Smithson founded the Smithsonian
Institution and begat the adjunct known
as the National Museum" 1t will be the
largest building In the District Of Columbia.
with the single exception of the Capitol It's
dimensions being 553 feet front and 5io
feet wide. exclusive OF pro1ections; VIM" ~
feet. including the basement. In design the
building will be classic, and rectangular IN
shape 1t will contain principal part
shaped like broad letter T. the three
wings extending from large rotunda at
the main entrance. The three ends OF the
T will be connected by narrower ranges,
one at each side and one at the END, TINS
plan forming two open courts each 10
feet square.
The Plans Not Perfected.
The plans have not been perfected for the
building above the principal floor, the roof
style not having been decided upon, but the
general appearance Of the building has been
determined upon. No perspective or eieVa-
ton drawings have been made which were
satisfactory. The main and second stories
will be devoted to the exhibition coec-
lions, while the basement and top noors
will be used for the many requirements OF
a modern scientific workshop and expo
sition.
Entrance to the building will be by way
of an imposing inner court, radfating from
which will be others little less eHectlVe,
making of the first floor splendid vista oI
immense halls supported by classic pillars
tremendously domed This entrance wiz
face south and will be directly opposite the
present museum building. On the north
side, as visitors approach from the o-rec-
ton of Pennsylvania avenue, Will De an
other entrance, itself grand enough 1or
most buildings with less pretenslons TO
magnifcenCe. From the doors on the north
will extend halls and courts which Will con-
verge with the principal rotunda on the
south side, and from many points Will ra-
date corridors and passages, all filled, IN
time with interesting and valuable EXHIBITS.
The northern elevation will begin seventy
four feet from the sidewalk of Il street,
while the central extension on that side
will be twenty-five feet farther out.
The Floor Plans.
The basement floor on the street side
will be slightly above the street level, but
on the south side it will be about level with
the ground, the conformity Of the surface
making this essential. Entertainments, In
closing broad stretches, will be made at the
sides of the building and, extending along
the south front, will make of the basement
a specially desirable place for the work.
shops. Here will be the storage and heat
ing arrangements, the laboratory and the
other necessary adjuncts.
The first and second stories will be, re-
spectively, 20 feet and 10 feet inches in
height, and the windows will measure ii
feet inches on the first floor and u feet on
the second. Each story will contain win
dows occupying the same embrasures,
though separated by art metal work in ap-
propriate designs. From the center of one
window to the center of the next will be Is
feet inches, a most advantageous distance
for the proper distribution of light on the
exhibits In a building of the dimensions of
the new museum. Twelve feet is to be the
height of the third story. its windows being
Z feet high by feet inches in width
There will be no extravagant decoration
of the building, although nothing will be
neglected that will add to the classic out
lines and utility of the design. The sum
appropriated by Congress- while ample TO-.
a moderately plain building intended for the
purposes of a museum, was somewhat small
for one Of elaborate design when it's cost
is compared with that of the War, State
and Navy building, or the Library Of Con-
gress, the latter costing more than twice
and the former several times much. The
structure, however, will be one of great
beauty, the proportions having been drawn
with care for the final effect and many
months having been expended in the plans
for merely the external appearance. The
granite is to be laid in ashlar courses
pilasters being made at the south and front
ends between the windows, but the walls
being elsewhere plain.
The Rotunda and Dome.
Over the rotunda there will be a metal
dome with skylight. ITS feet above the floor
the rest of the roof being made low and
inconspicuous so as not to interfere with
the architectural harmony. The rotunda
will be 116 feet square and SO feet in height
its light coming entirely from the dome
and the connecting halls will be each 20.
feet long by 116 feet wide. The galleries
extending along these halls will be from
outer ends thus forming a space at their
ends 1855 feet long. The galleries of the Sec
ond and third floors are to be screened of
or opened circumstances make either
course desirable. The wings on every side
of the rotunda are to be of solid floors and
each will be lighted by windows on the
Sides. These wings are 55 feet in width in
side measurement. There will be both stair.
ways and elevators, lecture halls offices
and small rooms for many other purposes
such as committee meetings and the like
and various other conveniences for the Off
Gals and visitors.
The entire floor area of the building will
be nine and one-half acres, the basement
and main floor having an area Of 116 13:
square feet, and the second and third floors
$500 square feet. The construction is in the
hands OF Bernard r. Green, superintendent
o. buildings and grounds of the Library OF
Congress, and the architects are Horn.
blower and Marshall of Washington It is
expected that it will be ready for occupancy
in 1908.
Thinks Negro Killed Daughter.