The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-02-01
CAPITOL BEAUTIES HIDDEN
Park Should Be Extended to Af-
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 if 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 splendot 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. will be practically hidden. A
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-
appreciated unless one goes almost be-
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 10 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 beau
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 clty's largest
churches, the new Y. NJ. c. A. building,
one new theatre, the governments
stately granite building ana for which
are projected Masonic temple and a
Roman Catholic cathedral, which will
cost far over half a 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. If 1t had been
destined by the founders and builders
of the capitol to have IL taken into the
park some day it could not have been
planned better. 1t has never been de-
veloped worth speaking about. 1t con-
tains some industrial plants, none of
them attractively built, a soap factory
or two, a 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 a city. Some idea
Of their character can De gleaped 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
a block a view embracing about half
Of the front of the building, with iLs
fight 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 clrcumscribed. At
no place can there be obtained a view
OF the state house so that its decora-
tion and graceful outline can he salts
factorily observed On the side where
It IS proposed to make the extension
of the park the capitol rises from a city
street, towering so that even on the
opposite side Of the highway il Is
necessary to crane ones neck TO see