Evening star., 1921-07-24

1NLANS for correcting some drchi-
=. L. tectural faults in the national
Capitol building, contemplated
since 1865, are nearing COM
pletion and Elliott Woods. architect
of the Capitol, is now preparing
report on which he will soon go be-
fore the appropriations committee
asking funds to carry out this, WORK.
Briefly. these plans consider the ex-
tension Of the centrol portion Of the
Capitol on the east front so as to give
q better setting for the dome. which
now projects over the east wall, ana
tearing off the outer shell of the en-
tire central portion of the building
on both east and west fronts. resur-
facing it with marble in conformity
with the Senate and House wings.
This would provide additional commit
tee rooms and much needed space for
the Supreme Court and it's law library
From the artistic as well as the
historic viewpoint. this proposed re-
modelling in conformity with the
original plans. which were never car
ried out, making the only extensive
alterations in more than three score
years on this monumental and beauti-
full edifice, has aroused the interest of
Congress. There Is every probability
that 1t will be approved and the ap-
preparation authorized by the ap-
propriations committee headed by
Representative Martin B. Madden of
Illinois. who is himself an expert on
big building construction.
Recommended In 1854.
That this work has been recognized
as very desirable for more than
ffty-five years is shown in the re-
port Of Thomas U. Walter. as archi-
tect of the Capitol, in charge of the
improvements then being made. In
November, 1864. He said:
Now that the new dome and wings
Of the Capitol are approaching COM
pletion, it must be apparent to every
y one that the extension of the center
building, on the east. to the line of
the new wings becomes an architect
ural necessity. 1 have. therefore. pre-
pared plans for thus completing the
work in harmony with what has al
ready been done. and will place them
m the Capitol for future reference"
In 1904 an extensive report on this
proposed extension and completion of
the national Capitol building, pre-
pared under the direction of Mr..
Woods, was made to q Joint commits
sion of the Senate and House or
ganized for the special consideration
Of this important improvement. which
has the support of the architects of
the country. The latest action by
Congress in recognising the need for
this work was an appropriation of
$2.50O authorized for the fiscal year
1919 and 1920 for revising. these
plans.
The report on which Architect Woods
is now working will show that where
before the war it was estimated that
these improvements could be made for
about s1.50O.000. it will now cost ap-
proximately twice that amount. The
recommended improvements will be con-
sidered under five headings: (a) Ex-
IL in marble; (b) reproducing the west
front in marble: (c) replacing west ter
race steps in granite and repairing the
terrace which faces toward the White
House: I'D constructing cellar entrance
on west front and constructing new ele-
yators; (e) putting fitting permanent
sculpture in the new east pediment or
tn
building.
The thousands of tourists from every
mart of the country who make Pilgrim
age annually to the seat of government
are expected to take much interest in
these improvements designed to carry
out the original plans and to give ar
tistic and architectural grace as we'll as
enduring permanence to the building,
which represents in tangible form the
st.bi,itv and grandeur of the American
gover1ment.
ymproyenients ON East Front.
Conclusions that have been reached
nv Architect Woods after careful study
and consultation with the best arcnl-
tects in this country and which he Will
make to Congress are:
Regarding the east front-that the
present sandstone walls Of the entire
central portion Of the east front should
be taken down, together with all the
construction in front of them-portico.
pediment, steps in front Of them, ETC.,
e,cept a portion Of the wall back OF
the supreme court, which should be LETT
as an interior wall. but In this portion
the exterior architecture should be
left as an interior wall. but In this por-
t;on the eterior architecture should be
stripped Off and the Supreme Court
chimneys taken care Of.
II is proposed that a new wall shall
be built twelve feet and ten inches
farther eastward than the-eld wall, with
a white marble facing and granite base,
substantially reproducing the old design
except as follows: The pedment, which
now is eight columns wide. should be
widened to ten columns, and the steps
widened correspondingly. The columns
should be fluted. like the present col
umns of the wings. The parapet balus-
ttades should be like those on the wings.
The pediment in this work is proposed
plain, its sculpture being considered in
Q later item.
The present iron railing would be
replaced with bronze Of the same de-
lamp standards would be reset. The
present marble sculpture would be
reset in position on the new marble.