Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1906-10-04
Finest in Entire United States, Cost of
Which Will Be 3,5O0,OOO When
Completed and Furnished.
OPPOSING POLITICIANS HAVE MADE ISSUE ON THE cos
President Had Audience of $4,000 and Delivered AddreS:
Against Corporation Evils in
Industrial World

served and an informal reception was
held, the president and his party be-
ing the guests of Governor Penny
packer. The entire program was con-
cluded before 3 o'clock, at which hour
President Roosevelt departed for
York
Description of Building.
The Pennsylvania state capitol
which was dedicated today cost more
than $5,000,000. The structure con-
sists of a main building. with impos-
ing facades, and two wings equally
impressive as to mural ornamentation
and design. The building is 525 feet
long, 254 feet wide and covers a tritie
more than two acres of ground. The
height from the ground floor to the
top of the allegorical figure surmount-
ing the dome is 292 feet.
The three requisites for achitect
ural perfection, form, color and pro-
portion, mark every feature of the
vast edifice and give balance and
symmetry to the whole. The style
of architecture is Roman Corinthian.
In the construction of the building
10000 separate pieces of granite were
used, weighing from one to thirty five
tons each. There are thirty-two mag
nificent monoliths in the structure,
weighing thirty-fi five tons each. A to-
tai of more than 100000 cubic feet of
granite was used on the exterior of
| the building alone, or something more
| than LOO carloads of that material.
But it is in it's interior furnishings
and decorative features that the cap
itol surpasses almost every other pub
lie building on this continent. At the
main entrance are the famous bronze
/ doors, each leaf of which weighs a
| ton, and is q masterpiece of the art.
list and foundryman. The rotunda is
! finished in white Vermont marble. A
magnificent marble stair case. with
elaborately wrought balustrades, rises
| from the center of the rotunda, and
it's purity and beauty are enhanced by
| the dull luster in bronze in tracery
and massively wrought work in can
! delabra and hanging lanterns and the
! Illuminating auxiliaries which every
| where abound.
The predominant colors in the
massive dome are gold, cream and
/ light blue, while a softness and
/
of amber lights in concealed win
dows From the great gallery run
ming around the dome at the second
floor, the main entrances to senate
and house lead through elaborate and
beautiful doorways, surmounted with
sculptured figures. These two cham
bers present the most elaborate and
artistic decoration to be found in the
building outside of the interior of the
9 dome. Thousands of dollars were
spent in the decoration of the cell
ings alone. Six immense gilded
bronze chandeliers are suspended
from the ceiling by massive chains OF
the same material, each chandelier
supporting six great cut-glass cleo
trio light globes. There are two large
panels, outlined in dull gold, on each
side of the speakers chair, while the
entrances TO the side rooms are
through doorways of massive mahog'
any.
The governors offices, the supreme
/ court chambers and the rooms on the
upper floors where are to be located
the various departments are all fin
ished in the same lavish style. Sc
far as the designs of everything in
the structure are concerned they are
of special creative workmanship. Ev-
cry chair, clock, chandelier, divan and
mantel is in harmonious design with
the apartment as whole. The chairs
and desks are carved from mahogany
or walnut.
Every continent on the globe has
contributed in some way, in wood
metal, marble, glass or other material
to the beautiful perfection of the
building while artists and sculptors
of world wide repute have helped tC
make the massive pile what it is to-
day. Thirty thousand dollars has
been spent in the mural decorations
while 100000 represents the cost OF
the sculptures
The present building replaces the
old capitol which was destroyed by
fire February 2, 1897. Probably the
most striking feature of the whole
building is the inscription encircling
the dome in massive letters:
There may be room for such a
holy experiment. And my God will
make it the seed of a nation thacsan
example may be set up to the ma
llohs. mat We may do the thing tha'
is truly wise and just"
These are the words of William
Penn, at once an inspiration and q
prophecy, and eminently fitted Il
adorn one of the greatest architect
ural and artistic triumphs of America
The president headed the militar!
parade and was cheered TO the echo
He held brief reception, afterwards
taking luncheon with the governor.
The mural paintings were not huns
in the state capitol rotunda and cor
ridors at the dedication because the
walls We're damp and it was consid-
cred necessary that the building
should be made dry before they are
put into place, as the paintings are OF
such rare value that no risk OF mil