The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1917-08-23
CAPITOL PARK TO
VIE With BEST
Grounds Being Reconstructed
d on Fixed Typographical
i Scheme
"A "PlCTURE" BEING FRAMED
Bet Aside Twenty-seven Acres for
Development Of BeautIfyine Plan
Flowers VIII Flash Beauty Sig
nals-Plans for the Bridge.
Harrisburg.

Harrisburg.
The unsightly structures that long
have stood as an eyesore to the east
side Of the Capitol building gradually
are becoming fewer. One by one they
ARE being leveled to make way for the
beautiful new park that will make Har-
trisburg one of the wonder cities.
From out the dust OF crumbled brick
and stone will arise stately office
buildings, magnificent marble foun.
fains, double lines Of low-trimmed
trees leading through a sunken gar.
den, and lofty monuments.
State street will be widened, digni-
fed and converted into a great thor
oughfare extending from both the east
and west sides OF the Capitol. Certain
city streets will be eliminated and
others will be improved and made to
conform to fixed Typographical
scheme. A great viaduct will replace
che present State street bridge over
the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks, and
into this viaduct the leading streets
will merge.
This, in general outline, is the plan
for great, reconstructed Capitol
Park. II is a big plan and may re-
quire years OF constant work. Gov
ernor Brumbaugh has approved II, and
so has the Board Of Public Grounds
and Buildings. A suitable appropria-
tion TO give the scheme an auspicious
start is the next step.
Arnold w. Brunner, an architect OF
New York City, has drafted the plans.
Mr. Brunner is considered one OF the
best-known experts in city planning
in America. He has erected many
important buildings throughout the
country, including the civic centers OF
Cleveland, Baltimore, Rochester, Al
bany and Denver His most, recent
work was designing the stadium OF
the College OF the City OF New York,
Mr.. Brunner has put his best ef-
forts into the Harrisburg plans. His
sole idea, he has pointed out, is TO
make frame to set off the Capitol.
He desires to emphasize the beauty
OF the structure, but without sacrific'
ing simplicity.
Twenty.seven acres will be set aside
for the development Of the plan. The
main part of the tract will become a
mark which. II is said, will rival the
celebrated Luxembourg Gardens. There
will be flowers of all descriptions,
gardens and large grass-plots. When
the park is completed 1t will be three
fourths as large as the Place de la
Concorde in Paris
"But unlike the Luxembourg and
the Place de la Concorde,' says MI.
Brunner, "the new Capitol Park Will
he built not for kings and their royal
consorts and favorites, but for Mr.
and Mrs. Smith and the little SmFhs
II will be a great pleasure ground IN
which every one may find enjoyment
About the formal court and garden
will be extended two Office buildings
one for laboratory purposes and a
State educational building. These
structures have been planned with
the idea OF accommodating the busi
ness OF the State as 1t constantly
ernands. The two office buildings Will
be placed on terrace which runs
parallel to the Capitol.
Warren H. Manning, OF Boston, the
Landscape gardener who laid out the
city's park system, is collaboratini
with Mr.. Brunner and acting as con
sultant Every move made by hin
and Mr.. Drummer has been to empha
size the lines of the Capitol, to make
its dome. a copy OF St. Peters a
Rome, the central theme in beautifu
picture.
The approaches on the western
front of the Capitol, extending IRON
the susquehanna River, also will o'
altered. The abrupt slopes OF the
western terrace will be cut away ant
che much-overdone sandstone steps a
the State street entrance Will be tori
down and replaced by short fligh
OF broad marble steps.
Fourth street, through when th'
trolley cars now run, will be eliminat
ed in the zone Of the new park, al
will the other thoroughfares whici
extend through It. New and broa'
winding highways will be built. Re
constructed State street, the man
thoroughfare, will extend from tn
pennsylvania station at Aberdeen
street through the park midway be
tween the proposed office buildings
20 a point at the northern end OF tn
new park extension at East street
4 -1 ca.