New-York tribune., 1905-03-03
EXTENSION OF CAPITOL.
THE ARCHITECTS PLANS.
To Make the Great Building Still
More Beautiful and Impressiue.
EFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU.


washington, March 2.-Congress to-day re-
cejyed from the joint commission of the Sen
sse and House the plans and recommendations
which has adopted for the extension and com
r,etiou Of the Capitol Building While this
edtHce is even now regarded one Of the most
,r,rnsing and beautiful in the world. uotuith
standing its acknowledged architectural faults
,he designs submitted by the consulting archi-
,a-.s Carrere & Hastings, Of New-York who
FOR more than year have been at wori: on
4nAn, under the supervision of the Joint com
mission. will II IS declared. add greatly TO the
tnnress:veness Of the structure. and AT the same
time materially enhance its artistic beauty The
project con1emplates the reproduction OF the
east front Of The building in marble. to har-
raonize with the rest OF the Capitol preserving
the design practically il exists to-day with
the slight and scarcely noticeable modification
Of moving the wall eastward II feet 10 inches
n accordance with the architectural necessities
Of the case. This viii provide foundation of
the dimensions required properly to support the
done-the crowning glory Of the building
The adoption Of this plan is largely due to
sentiment and is favored for artistic rather
than for practical reasons. It prevents rad
teal onange from the present facade. so familiar
10 visiting thousands and so loved and venerated
by all. and it is in accord with the views of all
who desire 10 preserve the architectural in
tegrity Of the Capitol Building. The plan has
met formidable opposition. because if failed to
provide Increased accommodations within the
building for much needed committee rooms
which the extension Of the east front a few feet
more would accomplish. It had its friends.
however, who fought long and hard for the
preservation. nearly as possible. of the orig
inal architectural design, and none was more
consistent and insistent in its support than
Elliott Woods the superintendent of the Capt.
toI
REPORT OF CARRERE & HASTINGS.
Carrere & Hastings. the New-York architects.
who have devoted themselves 20 consideration
OF the difficult problem Of extending and com,
pleting the Capitol Building, after an exhaustive
examination Of the subject, reported TO the
commission in part as follows:
4, We feel aeeply the responsibility imposed upon US
u reporting % your commission in regard 10 any
changes 10 be made in the Capitol Building or The
artistic as well as from the historic point Of view
ena winch though il may have some architectural
mental and beautiful edihces in this conntrv We
should advise the Reproduction Of tb esa & we
the Building in marble. harmonize with tbe rest
II exists to-day, or whether we should Recommend
TT.1.i s-i.s Ine bul5alng IN accordance with Mr.
ne Capitol extension. dated November / 1854. he
Now that the new dome and the wings Of the
capitol are approaching completion II must be an
parent 10 every one that the extension OF the centre
pulolng on the east 10 the lines OF the new wings
s.sCones an erchltectural necessity / have there
!oFs prepared plans for thus completing the work
q harmony with what has already been done and
WI pace Jhem in the Capitol for future reference
uV not suppose, nor would recommend that any
action be taken by Congress In reference 10 such an
Improvement until the war is ended and the anan-
CA condition OF the country becomes settled and
Prosperous; but inasmuch il is my purpose TO
reuTe rom these works as the dome is
Illsheo deem II incumbent upon me 10 leave upon
record my views as 10 their final completion
when we read this report accompanying his plans
q 100 We were impressed with the feeling that Mr.
waiter had been Influenced perhaps under pressure
-foIn congress, by the desire obtain increased
Recommendations within the building that he
would have recommended a somewhat different
treatment II he had had under consideration only
ne strictly architectural necessities OF the design
We feel very sure that II would be better to re-
lGooQoe the present design in marble, as nearly
possible II stands. than carry out MI
Mslters plans Of 1865 in their entirety
II seems remarkable, when considering the history
Of this building, that beautiful and harmonious
design should have resulted from the successive
additions made TO the original building the result
ot which is certainly monument o the skill of
Mr- Walter. Whatever faults there may in the
ceagn are distinctly the outcome of the limitations
which were imposed upon the architect in adapting
The new conditions 10 the building It then ex-