Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-30
0LD-WORLD ARCHITECTURE is
THE MODEL
Work Will Be Begun in Summer and
Edifice Will Be Completed for
Dedication in 1919 1t
Is Expected

Continuing the work begun at the
first dawn of civilization in this south
land, the new Cathedral of st. Vibiana
will follow the lines of the early mission
architecture constructed in the wilder
ness by the brown-robed padres and
will represent the highest form of archi-
lecture combining the best elements
of all ages into a perfect whole.
The new cathedral, which will be
located in the block bounded by West
Ninth street, Grand avenue West
Eighth and Green streets, which was
purchased by the bishop over two years
ago, as exclusively announced in The
Herald, will be of Spanish Colonial
architecture and will combine many
features which will make it one of the
finest churches in this country.
The new structure will mark the third
epoch in cathedral building in this dio-
cese. Commencing with the old Plaza
church, then to the present cathedral,
which at the time of its erection in 1876
was considered out of town, to the
present move which will place the new
church in the finest residence portion
of the city.
Bishop Studies Plans
Bishop Conaty on his recent trip,
studied the Spanish cathedrals and
those of the old world with the view
of making the new structure of this
diocese the finest that could be built.
1t will stand as a monument to his
work, with the many other structures
which have been erected since his ad-
vent tc this see.
The main feature of the new building
will be two lofty towers, rising 1856
feet above the level of Ninth street,
and great central dome, 164 feet high
and so feet III diameter The towers,
the shafts of which are severely plain,
bursts out in luxuriant tracery and Or
namentation from story to story up to
the pinnacle, surmounted by the golden
crosses. In them are marked charac-
teristics Of the mission towers familiar
to Southern Californians, but the bulki-
ness is lost in graceful lines, though
the idea of massiveness and strength
is retained in the plainness of the
shafts.
The DOME which will be a conspicu
Gus feature of the Los Angeles skyline,
will be 164 feet high and so feet in diam
eter. Like the towers it will be richly
ornamented and will be covered with
tiles in polychrome of blue. yellow and
green, of elaborate pattern.
$50 Feet Long
The full length of the cathedral build
ing will be $50 feet, and the full width,
including the cloisters around the sub
sidiary chapel of Our Lady of Guada
lupe, on Green street, 19S The length
from end to end of the transept will
be las feet the length of nave 1856 feet
without chancel and 200 feet with chan
Gel, and the width As feet. The height
of the interior will be ca feet
Not the least impressive aspect of the
whole structure will be approaches,
stairways and terraces made possible
by the high site. A plateau will be
built at the level of Eighth street to
provide the base for the entire compo-
sition. This will result in an elevation
of thirty feet above the level of Ninth
street. The entrance possesses in some
measure the character of the Old MeXi-
can cathedrals. the eXuberant richness
of ornamentation being given a more
orderly setting within the immense re-
cessed arch which rises 64 feet from
the terrace.
The organism of the structure has
been conceived with the view of en-