Evening star., 1909-05-15
T0CHEAPEN THE WORK
Economies Employed on the
Naval Academy Chapel.
CONCRETE FOR GRANITE
Increased Cost of Labor Since Money
Was Allotted.
MEMORIALS IN THE CHANCEL
Congressional Delay in Providing
Place for Remains of Paul Jones.
Increase of the Grounds.
CONCRETE FOR GRANITE
MEMORIALS IN THE CHANCEL

Increase of the Grounds.
BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.
ANNAPOLIS, May 13, 1903.
As / have stated in q previous letter.
the architecture of the new chapel at the
Naval Academy at Annapolis reminds one
Of several noted churches in Venice and
Rome. although it is not q copy Of either.
1t is stately structure Of granite. terra
Gotta and gray enameled brick, in the
form of a Greek cross, 12S feet square at
the outside base, and crowned with q
dome eighty-four feet in diameter and 100
feet high. The cost was 100000. That
amount was allotted from the general ap-
preparation for this building when the
designs were first submitted. but In the
meantime the cost Of labor and material
had advanced fully 80 per cent, and It be-
came necessary to increase the sitting
capacity, because the number Of cadets
was more than doubled. Nevertheless
the allotment was not Increased, and
various economies had to be practiced to
Keep the expenditures within the limit.
AaC 1AdSSisc Walls OK the original plan
were abandoned for a skeleton framework
of concrete with a veneer OF masonry.
The beams and posts, instead Of being
granite, are in reality Of reinforced con-
crete. The granite of the original design
gave way to brick except for the nodded
surfaces. and even there terra-cotta was
used wherever 1t was possible to save
the expense of carving. The gilded copper
covering of the dome was also aban-
doned for terra-cotta. which Is now paint
ed sickly yellow instead of being covered
with gold leaf like the domes OF similar
structures in Europe. The most minute
economy had to be practiced at the ex-
pense of the monumental character Of the
design. The organ case is OF plaster, and
a great deal of the decoration is molding
that an additional appropriation was not
made by Congress so that the original de-
signs could be carried out.
On a Low Terrace.
The building stands upon q low terrace
with gentle fight of steps protected by
a balustrade of granite. At either side
are pedestals of granite which are to be
surmounted by trophies, consisting OF
beautiful bronze guns Of seventeenth CEN
tury French workmanship. and anchors
with chains. The central frontispiece Is
composed of Doric columns and piers sixty
feet high supporting an entablature and
semi-circular pediment. The columns anC
piers are ornamented with dolphins' heads
and festoons. Below the main architrave
is a large tablet of Levanto marble, which
is intended to contain suitable tnscrip-
ton. The main doorway has richly
nodded architrave and cornice, twenty
three feet high and ten feet wide. This
doorway is to contain a monumental
pair Of bronze doors, the gift Of Col. r
NJ. Thompson, in memory Of the class OF
1868. Miss Evelyn Longman was chosen
to design the doors as the result OF q
competition in which thirty-three artists
great praise for this work These doors
will be one of the chief ornaments OF
the chapel. Above the pediment the
frontispiece is crowned by trophies OF
arms and armOr.
The lransept ends are Of the same size
as the end of the nave. but their treat
ment is different and each contains a
large semi-circular-h headed window filled
with delicate tracery.
The drum of the dome rests on a base
of circular steps Of granite. 1t contains
a frieze of twenty-four round-headed win
dows, separated by Doric piers. The en-
tablature has cresting ornamented with
block and festoons of cable. The dome
eight great panels with trophies In relief.
The lantern. also of terra Gotta, Is sur
mounted by an obelisk and has q balcony
with balustrade at Its base.
The whole interior is finished with imi-
tation Caen stone. The wall surfaces and
vaults are decorated with panels which
are intended to receive decorations in
freSco
A low gallery or balcony supported by
rich corbels extends around the interior,
except at the chancel end it has hand
some balustrade of wrought iron. The
organ stands on a base formed by the
entrance vestibule.
The piers between the windows of the
drum of the dome have figures built
against them representing the different
races of men. The great vault of the
dome is richly ornamented with spiral
caissons, in the center of each of which is
a light. The vault is at considerable
distance below the outer covering; both
are built of concrete. The outer shell has
a thickness of six inches at the base and
four inches in proportion at the top.
which is only about half the thickness in
proportion to it's size that an egg shell is
to the egg, but its strength is ample to
carry the fifty-ton lantern at it's apex.
Memorials in the ChanceL
The monumental window in the chancel
contains q beautiful stained glass me-
mortal erected by the class Of 1869 in
honor of the late Admiral Porter: an
other equally beautiful Tiffany window is
in memory Of Admiral Sampson, and one
of the diagonal windows facing the south
will be filled with q memorial to the late
Lieutenant Commander Theodore Bailey
Myers Mason, originally presented to the
old chapel by his widow, Mrs. McClurg.
This concession, however, Is contrary to
the regulations established by a board
governing memorials and other offerings
to the Naval Academy. approved by the
Secretary of the Navy. which read as fol-
lows:
THE crypt and window spaces of the
United States Naval Academy Chapel are
to be used only for memorials to United
States naval officers who have successful
ly commanded a feet or suQadron in bat
tie, or who have received or may receive
the thanks of Congress for cOnspicuously
distinguished services in time of war, and
no memorial shall be accepted or installed
in said crypt or window spaces until at
least five years after the death of the Off
Ger In question.
Thus you will see that the five windows
remaining will be very jealously guarded
for future naval heroes. The windows al
ready in place, and the Mason window,
are all of Tiffany's best work, and fix
the standard very high.
There is Farragut Association, organ
ized for the purpose of erecting a me-
mortal in his honor. and many of the
members desire something more than a
window. They would prefer duplicate
of the Saint Gaudens statue in Madison
square, New York, to be placed in front
of the pavilion of Bancroft Hall, which
would be a most appropriate position and
was intended by the architect for such a
purpose.
Admiral Dewey is the only living Off