Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-08-15
Our National Capital.
AMERICA TO HAVE MOST PERFECT
BUILDING FOR PUBLIC USE IN THE
WORLD.
baltimore American.l

baltimore American.)
Every patriotic American citizen will
hope that no obstacle will intrude in the
path of an extension of the east front
of the capitol at Washington In accord
with the plans which have been reported
favorably by joint commission of the
Senate and House. For several genera
lions this has been project dear to the
heart of almost every Congress, and al.
ways dear to the heart Of every lover OF
art in architecture, and who could look
at the grand building on the hill without
a feeling of profound regret that so i'm
posing q pile should be conspicuous in
one great defect, that the magnificent
dome should seem, from the eastern
point of view, to be topping over for
lack of a proper and harmonious pedestal.
Regardless of the defects, the capitol
is splendor of peacemeal construction.
No other architectural pile in the whole
world, erected in such vicissitudes, has
been permitted to retain such thorough
integrity. 1t stands singular in archi-
tectural form and situation, the most i'm
posing of all houses of parliament. Not
one in any foreign land approaches it In
tremendous dignity. Only in the ruins
of structures of ancient days can be
found semblance of the chaste design
of this meeting place of the lawmakers
for more than S0,0O0,00O population
those ruins from which were drawn to
large extent the noble features of the
capitol, the treasury and the building OF
the department of the interior.
1t is not complimentary to the Con.
gress nor to the people that the defects OF
the capitol have gone so long unremed-
led. When the terrace was added to the
western front to give mass to the ap-
parent foundation, an absurd mistake
was made in placing stairways OF black
slate amid the white marble which every
where else prevailed. To the most I'M
educated taste this was offensive, and
architectural artists of every land stood
astonished that such a crime should be
committed in the name of architecture.
In connection with the remedial move
ment at the east facade this mistake
upon the west is to be corrected, and
when that is accomplished and the cen.
trail section of the east front is extended
this so-called crude country of America
will have the most perfect building OF
public use in all the world.
The British house of parliament is not
only Extensively ornate, but it is placed
on the banks of the Thames, and can be
properly seen only from the Surrey side.
The chamber of deputies in Paris, al
though of classic design and having a
curious sentimental outlook in facing
the great Church of the Madeleine, pre-
cisely similar in architecture, but far
across the Seine, and the beehive of the
Place de la Concorde, is dwarfed and
obscured on the banks of the river.
So the changes might be rung on
the houses of parliament of all the great
states of the world. No other stands
forth with such prodigiOus weight and
dignity of proportion and such com
handing situation as this white pile at
Washington, and again let the hope be
expressed that Congress will leave moth
ing undone to finally correct the mis-
takes in art which have been always
recognized, and which are solely due to
the patchwork manner in which the
wonderful structure has been produced