Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-08-30
Preliminary Work in Pro-
gress on Capitol Extension
Commissioner Lyons Seeks In.
formation Regarding Farms.
Brotherhood Accident Co. Of Bos.
ton Granted State Certificate.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Next Meeting Of Governor and Council
Wednesday, Oct. 6, at 10 A. M.

r. Henri Desmond of Boston, the
architect for the extension to the State
uouse. has had surveyors at work
during the past week getting the levels
nr.ns ratory to the changes of grade
tn accommodate the new building. The
commission to enlarge the State House
has decided that the front entrance to
the rotunda will be up the broad steps
az at the present time, but the upper
terrace corresponding to the steps is
to be entirely removed SO that the en-
tire front except this central section
will be above the ground instead of be-
ing reimbursement story as now.
nv entering the new building, there
fore, from Capitol street, one will have
to go up only one short fight of steps
and all three ofsthe elevators will go
from this level to the top of the build
ing
AS matter of fact all the interior
of the old part of the present State
HOUSE is to be transformed All of the
wooden portions will be taken out and
when completed the building will be
modern, tire-proof structure in every
detail. Steel, tile and cement will take
fire risk which is always a menace to
the valuable State records will be done
away with.
The commission has decided to pro-
vide place for d museum in the new
building. and this will probably be To-
Gated in the south end on the first
floor. 1t is planned to keep in the
museum the exhibits of the fish and
game department, minerals and all
matters of interest representing the
resources of the State, in fact, any
thing which would naturally be found
in a place of this kind. 1t is very
likely at some time in the future that
tanks will be erected in the building
for trout salmon and other fishes.
There will be new House of Repre-
sentatives and new Senate in the new
building, the former to be located in
the north and the latter in the south
part of the structure. Provision will
also be made for 10 committee rooms,
which will be well ventilated, well
lighted and commodious.
AS soon as the detailed plans and
specifications, work on which is in
progress night and day, are prepared,
the bids will be advertised. On acc
count of the referendum law nothing
could be done, not even could the APP
pointment of the commission be made,
until the third of July, and thus
three months of the best time of the
year for building operations were lost
The law requires that 30 days shall
elapse after the bids are advertised, so
that it is believed that it will be i'm
possible to begin work before the first
and possibly not until the middle of
November. The commission is in
hopes to get the contract let so the
granite can be quarried before the
heavy SHOWS of the winter The stone
could then be cut in the sheds during
the winter months and be ready for
setting in the spring.
Eve shall not make stroke" said
Hon. Charles S. Hichborn, the chair
man of the commission on the State
House extension, until we have con-
tractcd for the entire work within the
appropriation. If what we have I'M
dertaken cannot be built within the ap-
preparation why we will reduce the
amount of the work to conform to the
amount of money, $350.000 which was
Set aside for this job by the last Leg
iSlature. The commission regards the
limit fixed by the Legislature as an
absolute one and we shall not exceed
1t to the amount of one dollar
1t is the idea of the commission to
have the building all completed and
ready to turn over to the State by the
time that the next Legislature con-
venes In 1911.
The state bureau of industrial and
labor statistics is now engaged in the
work of gathering statistics in regard
to the people from outside of the State
who have bought farms or summer
cottages in Maine during the past five
years. the result Of which will be en-