The San Francisco call., 1904-04-12
4 Beautlfed Capitol
BY :. ". WALL


the dream Of Congress with regard TO
the CITY Of washington Both houses
have spent a deal OF time this session
IN the discussion Of great projects for
the Identification Of the city and two
important measures have passed, one
the Senate. the other the House, look
ing to that end. Both viii no doubt
become law
one Of these is the appropriation
of half a million dollars 10 be spent
this fiscal year in the work Of complet-
ing the capitol building. which work
il is expected viii cost two and half
millions and consume at least two
years time. In the rotunda Of the
capitol. the figure upon the apex Of its
dome pointing uD TO the great hollow
Of the great dome above II, stands a
miniature in white plaster OF the com
pleted capitol-a miniature OF what viii
be when finished on these lines, the
most beautiful architectural structure
in the world. This is the judgment Of
many men Of taste and knowledge.
That which remains TO be done TO thus
complete the building is TO extend the
center OF main portion Of the east
front, bringing il more into conformity
with the building as il is on the west
The wings on the east front at pres
ent extend beyond the center. The
dome rises from the east front almost
directly from the wall or back Of the
building. When the building is COM
pleted the main wall OF the center viii
have been extended to the line of the
steps of the Senate and House wings.
while a further projection Of nearly
tWo-thirds Of the distance Of the main
projection viii carry with il the por-
tico and pediment which dominates the
central feature. The bald face Of the
central building on each side Of this
pOrtico as il now stands is. in the com
pleted plans. relieved by columns Thus
columns extend clear across the face
OF the building with double column
across the three porticos-center and
wings.
The plans are those Of the late
Thomas A. Walter. who built the pres
ent north and south wings. These
extensions were completed in 1889. but
Mr. Walter had foreseen the possible
demand for further extension incident
try and gave has attention to the
preparation Of plans which. in his
opinion. would develop the original
idea to a point where the word com
plete" might be written. These he left
as a heritage and it is to the realiza-
tion OF these plans forty-fve years
after they were begun by the great
architect as dream of the far future
that the House Of Representatives has
actually appropriated the money. 1t
should be said that this appropriation
was made last session by the House.
but the Senate was not ready to act
The model, however, was authorized
by the bill. This was completed last
December and has only now been
brought TO view. IL has attracted
great attention. being constantly sur
rounded by mixed crowds of Congress
men and visitors discussing its merits
The plan, Of course. introduces no
innovations. A suggestion Of such
thing would not be tolerated. The ex-
tended center carries with it the
architectural forms. while il adds vastly
TO the strength and dignity of the
building by bettering its proportions.
The present east wall viii remain and
form the rear wall OF courtyard
created by the extension and will be
visible from the corridors Of the new
section. This wall opens directly from
the portico TO the rotunda. With the
extension a vestibule. los feet deep,
lined with marble, will lead from the
new porticO, forming a grand entrance
10 the rotunda- The old rotunda is
itself TO be transformed by marble.
The extension will, Of course. neces-
state material changes in the sur
rounding grounds and the removal Of
the statute OF Washington that has
been pointing upward for so many
years from its place in front of the en-
trance.
The practical part Of the improve
ment is the addition by the extension
OF sixty-six rooms greatly needed.
Thirty-three OF these are to be appor-
toned to the Senate and like num-
her TO the House. This will enable
the Senators now occupying Office
rooms in the Maltby building, or the
Senate Annex. so called, TO be gath
cred with their fellows under the roof
Of the capitol. There are exactly
thfrty-three Of these housed, officially,
in the annex. The cry for more room
in the capitol building has been heard
throughout the session from both ends
OF the capitol and the evident neces-
sity viii create sympathy in the Senate
for the proposed Improvement.
The proposition to erect a building
for the United States Supreme Court
within the capitol grounds and to the
northeast OF the capitol building, rela-
lively distant from it as is the Con-
gressional library. has many champions
la both houses. This completed it will
give further ON within the capitol
10 the uses Of members Of Congress.
In all the discussion concerning the
city beautiful-the city Of the presen-,
the city OF the future-there has been
not so much as hint that Washington
may not always be the capital Of the