The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1904-09-22

| anu the central paNiilon IN 1877, the
entire structure costing x3.700.Oo0.
Latrobe made minor notifications In
the Thornton design. His are the fa-
nous corn columns beneath the old
Senate chamber new American or
der. He increased the height OF the
dome. but the drawings were never
executed. Latrobe also changed Or.
Thornton's semi-circular portico TO tne
rectangular projection which now or
naments the central structure.
The floor OF the Senate chamber was
elevated TO the main door. the supreme
Court moving into the basement be
meath, and the hall OF the House as.
sumed form which was meant TO re-
semble that OF an ancient Greek thea
ter
Beneath the center OF the rotunda
was built a subterranean chamber.
called the crypt. in which II was I'M
derstood that the remains OF Washing
ton We're TO lie, In stone sarcopha gus,
exposed TO the view OF the multitude. |
His widow was not adverse to the plan.
but his heirs objected 10 the removal
OF the coffin from Mount Vernon. and
so that project was abandoned. New
ertheless, watcher called the keeper
Of the crypt. was employed by Con-
gress up TO the Civil War and light
kept there was not extinsuished, IL Is
said. for fifty years.
Charles Bulfinch. OF Boston, was
architect OF the Capitol from 1877 10
1929. and completed rhe building as
shown In the picture OF 1885. Under
his direction. the dome rose higher
than in any previous design. the
cupolas were added at either end and
the familiar western portieo and ter
races Incorporated into the design.
The acoustics OF the Hall OF Represen-
tatives still baffied the government.
and William Strickland. OF Philadel-
phia. was called into consultation with
Bulhnch 10 supply remedy.
The picture OF 1895 marks the sec
ond stage In the evolution OF the Cap
itol. The changes 10 come gave the
structure substantially It's present APP
pearance. The Capitol OF 1855 covered
a little more than an acre and half
of ground. and was 351 feet A inches
long
New Wings and Dome Added.
In the cOurse OF years II became too
small The Congressional Committee
IN Public Buildings advertised. In De
'ember. 1850. for plans Tor an extern .
rus designs submitted four were Sc
ected. and the premium equally dlvld- .
ii among the four architects. The
then employed an architect a
iamed Mills TO prepare a design for a
he extension OF the Capitol. based on .
he principal feature OF the four Sc d
ected plans. President Fillmore adopt v
d a different design. and the corner =
tone was laid on July !. 1851. an ora-
ion being delivered by Daniel Web L
ter Thomas o. Walter. OF Phlladci
,hla. was the successful architect In
$50 the old dome. which was too
squatty" 10 be beautiful on the ex'
ended facade. was removed and work
n the present one begun
During this operation a movement
ras started In convention Of Ameri.
an artists al Washington TO supervise
be decorations In the new wings and
ONE. The members Of the convention
the appointment Of Z
ommittee for the work. As named
y President Buchanan. In 1858, .his
ody comprised Henry X. Brown.
culptor. OF New York: James Il
ambdin, a portrait painter. OF Phiia
eIphia. and John r. Kenneth. n land.
ape painter. of New York. Although
iese gentlemen took a hand In the q,
ork OF supervision. they accomplish 49,
1 little. and finally abandoned their IN
titles when Congress declined to pay IN
Ieir bills for expenses. tw
Thus the building was brought 10
Ie condition shown in the picture da
ade In 1861 A comparison OF this be
I'd s-eye view with the Capitol OF 1885 IS
ustrates In n comprehensive wny the thi
-oportions Of the wings a. compared ryi
it'll the size OF the old building In. the TO
iddle and the contracted dimensions col
the roof upon which the present do
'me was placed. ea'
The statue was raised TO the apex yol
the dome In 1863. hei
The Capitol To-day.
The Capitol to-day contains 40 ner
oms. With the contemplated addl- his
IN 1t will have 49J rooms-thirty- wo
rec more for the Senate and an c,iual wa
mber for the House OF Representa- cor
res. def
When the extension has been made. Ills
e edifice. including the works OF art goi
iich IL contains. will have cost near
$2O.OOOyOOo-more money than Con- sat
ess had ever imagined, in a lump so
m, when In the early nineties Of the for
injury before last II offered 800 and her
building lot for the best design for ="
rouse for the National Legislature ed
Ledger.