Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1905-01-26
Fenna State Capitol Building it will APPEAR
CAPITOL BEAUTIES HIDDEN
Park Should Be Extended to Az
ford Setting For State Building.


A bill will shortly be presented in
the state legislature at Harrisburg for
the extension of the state capitol park,
a project which has been urged for
years, and which in the opinion of
everyone who has seen the new state
capitol is needed II the magnificent
structure is to be given an adequate
setting. This measure has been out
lined and will receive the hearty sup
port OF members of the legislature
from all parts of the state.
The plan for park extension has
been endorsed by Architect Huston,
whose plans have been carried out for
the new capitol, and TO whom is due
the splendor of the building which is
rising on historic Capitol Hill. 1t has
been a subject which has received
periodical attention for many years,
but which never took definite shape
before Now general interest in all
parts of the state has been aroused,
and since the proportions of the states
new official home can be seen it is
realized that unless something is done
to provide more room the structure, on
which there has been expended a
wealth of idea and millions of state
money, viii be practically hidden. -
building notable for its stately appear
ance, its handsome decoration and
beautiful material is being built in the
midst of a city, so that it will be un-
o., iat nj oil hn-
side it,
In order to appreciate this condition
it is necessary to give some idea of
the location OF the state house at Har-
risburg. The building is being erected
on Capitol Hill an eminence which is
from eight to Is feet above the streets
in the heart of Harrisburg, and which
is bounded on all sides by paved thor
oughfares lined with business and resi-
Dental buildings, some of which, es-
pecially on the side which it is pro-
posed to take, are anything but bean
tiful On the west side of the capitol
park stretches the chief residence dis
trict of the city containing many fine
homes, several of the city's largest
churches, the new Y. NJ c. A. building
one new theatre, the governments
stately granite building ana for which
are projected a Masonic temple and
Roman Catholic cathedral. which will
cost far over half million dol
lars, in addition to other buildings To
extend on this side would be manifest
ly impossible because of the expense
even though it Is bounded two squares
from the capitol by the beautiful Sus-
quehanna.
The proposed improvements are to
be on the east side 1t it had been
destined by the founders and builders
of the capitol to have it taken into the
park some day it could not have been
planned better. It has never been de-
veloped worth speaking about 1t con-
tains some industrial plants, none of
them attractively built, a soap factory
or two. market and some small
churches, the bulk of the buildings be-
ing small and many of them rickety
frame buildings, characteristic of the
poorest section of city. Some idea
of their character can oe CLEANED from
the photographs presented.
Because of this growth of the city
there are just two points from which
there can be obtained good views of
the new state house. One is on State
street. west. where from distance of
block a view embracing about half
of the front of the building, with its
flight of steps, can be had. Extension
of the park there is considered out of
the question because of the expense.
On the east side State street gives the
other view, equally circGmscribed. At
no place can there be obtained a view
of the state house so that its decora-
tion and graceful outline can be salts
faotorily observed. On the side where
it is proposed to make the extension
of the park the capitol rises from city
street, towering so that even on the
opposite side of the highway it is
necessary to crane ones neck to see
the baustrade on top of the main
building.
The section which it is proposed to
take contains four streets running