The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-05
NEW CAPITOL To
Be OPENED SOON
The Big Building Will be
Complete by First Of
December.
APPEARANCE is
VERY IMPOSING
-----
Late Changes Made in Specifica-
tons Increase Cost About $780,
900 Above Original Bid Of
Contractors 80 Chambers
Will BE Magnificent
ly Furnished.

Will BE Magnificent- &
ly Furnished.
Upon the historic site OF virginia's an
cient Capitol. Il new and stately building
has rlsen. enclosing within its walls
sacred portions Of the old. but presenting
Ag n whole an appearance entirely mod
ern and somewhat unfamiliar, but at the
came lime distinctly pleasing to the
eye.
The great building is now practically
complete During the past weeks the
work has been progressing by leaps and
bounds, the mysterious fences have
dwindled AZ the imposing walls lowered
higher and higher and to-day, to the
i casual eye all seems finished. Where
hundreds, passing through the Square
and seeing no form in the heap, recently
( looked askance and saaely predicted an
architectural puzzle little better than
nothing, but good deal worse than
what II replaced, many are now pausing
to inspect and admire EMPOWERED In its
trees and surrounded b. its statues and
slipping walks the new Capitol u.s. above
all. a thing OF beauty. Imposing In size
and striking in design. Standing upon
the summit OF the hill. 1t is visible from
Z all directions. and the CLEAN OF its white
walls Is one OF the first sights that strikes
the eye of the visitor approaching the
city.
In less than @ month more the last
touches Will have been given to the,
structure Itself. Men are still at work
upon 1t. though there Is not much left to
he done. II viii probably be January list
before the furniture Is installed. The
State Legislature will meet on the third
day OF the new year.
The Old and the New.
The work on the new Capitol began
about fifteen months ago Ground was
4 broken In the latter part OF July OF last
year. Immediately after the contrac, had
been let to Mr. Wirt a. chestermnn, OF
this city. The plans were drawn by
john Keran PEBBLES, of Norfolk: Nolan
and Baskerville. OF Richmond, and Frye
and Chestcrnan, ofLynchburs. The old
= Capitol, designed by Thomas Jefferson.
and dating from l7s5. outgrown after
many long years OF service. sadly worn
and In part die pida,ed, was TO be re-
tanned In form and in part in substance.
The historic walls were left to stand and
are now portion OF the new building.
The remainder was removed, and though
1t has been replaced IN substantially ,hes
appearance In which IL once existed.
the material is no. the same. Iron,
4 stone and marble have taken the place of
wood and brick. Isartling doors, loose
Z flags and hollow sounding spaces are no
more. ~ r.
AllEls modern erd new. Tue ancient
1 elevator lis gone with it's caretaker, and
a genuine piunger OF The latest ~ pc has
been Installed Sumptuous mahogany
any walnut Will CLEAN in al. the rooms.
Automatic heating and Lighting devices
( Ea {, sat
cent here except name and sentil
nsent and few relics.
i On the outside there is the same ap-
! pcarance of newness everywhere. 1t is
true. as said already, that the old capi-
toll Is there in form at least, but II is so
lest in the ensemble as to be almost
obscured and to require an effort TO
trace its familiar lines. Once the scheme
OF IL has been figured out 1t IL easy. to
see. but at first glance it Is a strange
building that sits upon the hill The por-
t!co where Daniel Webster once stood
and paid his famous tribute to the V!r-'
GINA October skies, Is a portco still.
but leading down from It now is a
great stairway that changes the entire
appearance of the front On either side
are wings connected by big vestlbules
with the main building. more than
Yet there are many reminders Of the
ancient place. The Senate chamber is
gone from the main building, 1t Is true.
and the House chamber, though 1t Is
there, Is used for another purpose. But
the rotunda, at least, Is unchanged, and
in it will stand again, as in the old days,
that statue of Washington by Houdon.
that Lafayette declared to be fac
smile of Washngtons person, Some OF
the old ratings and door trimmings will
he back again, The dome wi be as be-
fore though new and tho roof railing
and trap door. used by so many, have
been restored In modern condition. Scat
tered about here and there will be other
relics OF the past, but for the most part
the new capitol will be new sure enough
from top to bottom-new and hreproof,
which is the most unquestionable proof |
Of Its modernity.
The New Building.
The building is a classic design Of the
Ionic order. An appropriation Of $3.50, 600
was made for Its erection. Mr.. Chester
man secured the contract with bid OF |
100000 This left snug balance OF
sSl 900, which, 1t was thought, might be
turned back into tho treasury when the I
work WAS completed.
Since that time, however, the specih-
cations were gone over again, and tho
committee ordered many improvements ,
made possible by tho low bid. More |
marble was used, there are5now genuine |
limestone Sis instead of artificial stone,
and what was to be a galvanized iron
eornice is limestone and terra Gotta
About $4,000 more was expended in maxi
ing these improvements
The basement of the building Will, con-
tain the offices of the Register Of Lands.
The clerks of the House and the Senate,
the committee clerks, the enrolling clerks
and some other Offices The State Legis- |
lature will be housed upon the first floor.
The old Senate chamber. at the south
end. has heen converted into a large |
committee room. Across the way the
House chamber will be as it was before
in size and shape, but It will be used |
now for a museum. in which confed- |