The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-04-01
NEW CAPITOL PLANS
I ARE AGREED upon
Extensions Will NOT Cost More
Than $4,000
WILL BE BRICK AND STUCC0
New Building viii BE Much Smaller
Than Was Anticipated Under Bids
for Plans Were Submit
ted Some Months Ago.

Montgomery, March 31.-(Speeial 1.-The
plans for a two-story south wing or ad-
dition to the capitol have been agreed
upon, such agreement being reached at
a meeting of the commission In the office
of the governor this forenoon. IL Will
cost not more than $4,000 and bids Will
be received up to April Is. at which tiine'
or as soon thereafter as possible, the
contract will be let The structure Will
be of brick and stuceo and finished IN
hard wood The architect VIII be FRANK
Lockwood of Montgomery, whose orisl-
nal plan accepted by the commission was
two-stories. but not the same as Will De
used for the building
The new building will be much smaller
than was anticipated when bids for plans
were submitted some months ago. Inc
winning estimates then provided Tor o4so
square feet and the one just adopted lloo.
1t will be used for state officers rooms,
none of which have yet been assigned or
provided for. 1t is expected that the
building will be completed by the last
of the year. 1t will be ready for the
next session of the Legislature.
Will Be Two Stories High.
The building proposed to be erected Will
be two-stories in height, with basement
the floor above the basement correspond
ing with the level of the present grouha
floor. There will be a corridor running
through its center north and SOUTH peihs
an extension of the main corridor through
the old building. 1t will be situated TWEEN
ty-nine feet from the south end OF tne
nj a
corridor will unite the two. In the cas-.
side of this corridor a broad stairway VIII
ascend to the second floor On the right
of the corridor will be large doors open
ing on a small portico. This VIII serVe
as a minor entrance. On the south eN
posture will be portico similar III e,.ee'
To the main portico of the old buiidihg,
with the exception that the columns WIN
be only thirty-four feet In helgh|
There will be six of these columns
ON the west front there will be SIX COL
umns. while on the east. front there VIII
he a. like number. These columns now
ever. will be in effect pilasters. There VIII
he no entrances on the east ana west
of the new addition Broad steps Will
lead into the corridor from the south
portico. In addition to the entrance
through the west side or the conhectiiis
corridor, the new building can be reach-
ed from the corridor OF the GU ne
| center of the new building is on a direct
axis of the old.
The area OF the addition. will be seventy
| two feet north and south by ninety feet
| east and west The height OF the cell
| ings, of the first floor will be hfteen iee'
I'D six inches. while the ceiling of the
second floor rooms will be fifteen feet.
Built of Brick and Stone.
! The building is to be of brick and stuc'
| co, similar in effect and appearance tt
| the architectural finish and design of the
present building. Hardwood finishings are
| to be used throughout. The basemen
walls and the ground floor are to be Of
fire proof construction throughout Th'
plan adopted involves, as can be seen
a two-story addition Or wing hardly more
! than one-half the size of the design frs
| discussed.
| The commission in reaching conclu
sion as to the ACCESSIBILITY OF the selection
of two or three-story pan some two
weeks ago called in Mr.. Charles F. Nc
Kim of New York. perhaps the leading
architectural authority in the United
| States. Mr.. Mckim went over the whole
| ground of the proposed extension, an6
| gave 1t as his fixed opinion that the only
appropriate method of extending an his
toric building. where Its Importance was
| to be accumulated was by an addition
| or wing subordinate In height to the mair
| structure.
Tt will be remembered that in the orig
inal contest or competition for the selec-
ton of plans and choice of an architect
| Mr.. Lockwood was the successful con
testant. At that time 1t was In contem.
| p1ation to make an addition or wing oil
| suitable size to meet the needs of the
| supreme court, looking to the accommo-
| ID nf ba ~
brary. judges chambers, offices. etc. etc
The two-story plan then designed was
| eighty-five feet front on the west. by
| one hundred and thirty feet facing south
| The building thus proposed would have
| cost in the opinion Of the commission
$4,000, a sum the commission did not
| have. The area of the first design was
| 1850 square feet as against 64s0 in the
plan as finally agreed upon and to be
built. This reduction in size was made
necessary from the fact that 1t was found
impossible to devote as much as even SIS,
900 to the addition. The present plan In
| wolves only an outlay of $4,000 at the
outside. and leaves a substantial sum for
the improvement of the Interior Of the
| old building
| viii Be Suitably Sub-Divlded.
The new wing will be suitably sub-di.
vided. and will be devoted to the uses
| OF several of the state offices, but the
| designations have not yet been agreed
upon. The removal of several Of the off,
| GERS now occupying rooms or quarters
| in the old building will leave consider
able space. which will be overhauied and
| put in the very best condition.
| The commission has already agreed upon
| the expenditure of $4,000, or so much as
may be available. in repairing and putting