Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-01
Contract Price Of R. |.
Capitol $1,576,ooo.
Cost Of Structure and Furnish,
ings Nearly 100000.
But One Building Within Appropri.
, ation... That Is CrumblIng.

Providence. r. l.. Jan. 31.-(SpeciaD.
In the colonial period the
Rhode Island General Assembly
met in the Court Houses of
several Of the counties. These Court
Houses were built at the expense of
the several counties. The General
Assembly for several years also met
in private residences in Providence and
Newport. In 1854 all capitols except
Providence and Newport were abol-
ished. The regular sessions met in
Newport in May and then adjourned
met in Providence.
In 1890 the Genera! Assembly first
occupied the Colony House in Newport.
This building, on the site of the present
old State House in that city, was built
by the citizens Of the county. There
is no record of the cost. In 1888 the
General Assembly in session at War
wick authorized the erection of a State
House at Newport. There is no rec
ord of the cost Of this building. 1t was
used for the May Sessions of the Cen
eral Assembly until in 1900 when New
port was abandoned as a capital. The
first State House was finished in
Providence in 1871. 1t cost about $3.50.
It was destroyed by fire Dec. "a, 175S.
May. 1853, new State House
was authorized and the money was to
be raised by lottery. 1t cost $3.50. 1t
was used until the completion Of the
present State House in 1901. Large
sums OF money were spent upon it for
repairs, etc. but it was used for many
"a tho az
pense is not properly charged up to the
State House. In 1890 an act author
iZing the erection of a new State
House at Providence was passed, and
bonds were issued for $1.500.000. The
city of Providence was to pay 100000
for the lands and it was estimated that
this amount would cover the total
cost.
To obtain the land condemnation
proceedings were resorted to and the
final cost of the land amounted to
nearly $400,0 coo. After several changer
had been made in the original plans
the contract was let to NOrcross Broth
ers for S1.576,0 coo. The final cost of
the building including decorations and
furniture was about $2,900,00o. No
public building erected by either the
State or the City of Providence has
been built within the appropria tons,
with the exception of the Providence
county court house, in which case
the board in charge of its cOnstruc-
ton turned back to the State the sum
of S34.
The brown stone which was used
largely in the construction of the
court house is rapidly crumbling, large
flakes OF it peeling off with each sue
cessive freeze and thaw. SO that sever
al sections of the buildings exterior
present an unsighty appearance. 1t
seems but a question of time. and not
a very long time either, before this
crumbling will cndanger the stability
of the building. In fact there is al
ready one place, on the College street
side, near the BENEFIT street corner.
where extensive repairs may become
imperative in a very short time. 1t
has been limited that i'll their desire
10 complete the construction of the
building within the appropriation. the
commissioners leaned little too hard
towards the side of retrcnchment. re
this as it may, the structure, the only
public building ever constructed in the
state within the appropriation, IS sure
" crumbiing rapidly.