The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-25

will show that they were beneficial as
they gave time and moisture for the
cement and the mortar to get fully set.
This wing will take care of the members
of the capital family who are not now
well provided for and will give what has
long been needed-adequate room TO trans
act the immense business of the state.
What Has Been Done.
OF the original appropriation for capt.
tol Improvement made by the last legis-
lature, only about $4,000 is left unappro-
priated. 1t can not be told exactly how
much is available as several small ac-
counts have not been audited and filed
for payment. The principal expenditures,
of course. have been $4,000 for the south
end of the capitol lot, comprising half
of a city block, and SOL 1923 for the south
wing now going up. The balance of the
money has been used In hundreds of
smaller things that have been done in the
plan of repairs and reconstruction. The
commission has been very active and the
reports will show exceedingly economical
and cautious. Almost all the members
have attended the meetings and have
taken in every instance marked interest
in the work TO be done.
Among the things looked after for
which money has been spent are the fol-
exterior and retaining the walls. reset
ting the front and side steps with marble
fitting the basement under the office of
the secretary of state and cleaning up
the entire basement, purchasing dirt for
the new lot and landscaping architects
fees for the nesY work and $3.50 in prizes
for the competition of architects, terra
Gotta drainage of the capitol grounds.
improved sanitary connections and
great many other important things of
more or less Importance.
Yet to Be Done.
The work yet to be done includes fixing
up the rooms for the supreme court and
carpeting and painting the senate cham
Der and the house of representatives. This
will require some little time. All the
historic pecularlties of the legislative halls
are to be retained, including the desks,
for members, speaker and reading clerks,
in the senate chamber in use when the
Confederate government was organized.
The basement under the library OF the
supreme court will be fitted UP with
shelving and book cases to take care of
the overflow of the library, and new
carpet is to be placed on the main library
floor. The supreme court room will be
repainted and decorated in taste and the
same will be the case with the woodwork
in the library. Book racks and cases.
tables and chairs will be supplied in
such beauty and convenience as the i'm
portance of the state demands
In the arrangements for the members of
the supreme court every judge will have
a room to himself with private conven-
fences and accommodations. The clerk
will be given adequate quarters, and a
separate place will be provided for the
secretary The consultation room will be
provided with separate desks and chairs
for each judge. so that the work can be.
done as quickly as possible.
The court. just before adjournment, ap-
pointed Chief Justice Weakey to act with
the capitol commission for the arrange
ment of all details. and he will confer
with the other officials in the final ar
1t is a matter of interest that the $500
prize for the second best set of plans for
the improvement of the capitol. taken by
B. B. Smith of Montgomery. was finally
accepted by Mr.. Smith. though he at first
refused to receive 1t. His were the three
story plans, as will be recalled. about
which there was much comment at the
time the Lockwood plans were adopted.
The carpets on the floors of the house
and senate will be of cork. soundless and
durable. They will be painted and made
to look bright and attractive. The COM
mission will leave the matter OF furni-
ture to a later legislature, as well as some
other details that all think are essen
tfal