, 1922-05-11

"WiIl you kindly tell me what is that enormous
tower on the western horizon p
That's the upper stories of the new Nebraska
%cspitci," will be TIE answer.
How odd II ioops up like the Washington
monument"
Sure. Why not2 That's what it's for"
Aud that is cXacily tie purpose of this enormous
The object OF the architect In making this
feature says the officially inspired description.
was 60 furnish the comparatively fiat state of
NeiraSka with an elevated building which could
he ut once an object of beauty and Il source of
Inspiration. This tower. surmOunted by a colossal
figure called The Sower.' will be seen. II is est.
mated. from 80 to 10 miles from every direction"
rms capitol marks the greatest departure ever
made Ia American state-house architecture Nev.
erthclcSs, Nehruska went about il with deliher,.
ton The plan was secured through II series Of
compositions given under the auspices Of the
American Institute II Architects. Three Nebr,ska
men were selected in a preliminary comnetItior
IN which The economic ana political nspects ~ d.
problem were considered as well as the ,rrbt.
teciurai requirements. Seven firms of uutionot
reputation outside of Nebraska Joined In the com.
petition. which resulted In June, 1920, In the selec.
non OF PertlHm q. Guodiiue of New York ms the
architect ct the commission.
tor n yenr after the adoption of the plan il was
studied and re- tudled. not only by the archItect
ana his stan but hy the commission ana by the
public. Some changes have been made. but Inc
essence Of tle Original design remains. promising
n public budding uf unusual strength and beauty
as wen rs economy Of space ana low operating
costa according tu the Nehraskan view.
The appearance uf the United States capltol
NJ Washington Is numiliur to most Americans.
Also 1t has doubtless served as Il model for most
american state houses. A comparison between
the uhted States capitol and the Nebraska cnpi.
i"l VIII cmpllua.sc the extent OF the latter from
lie conventional and also give an idea of the size
81 The new structure.
The United Suites capitol is about $50 feet
long aud tie duule is 1915 feet In dlnmeter; the
building. therefore, covers about four acres. The
domc Is 80 feet IA height. from the bnse TO the
crest Of lie statue Of "Freedom." The cost was
about SiG.OOoO0O.
1he Nebraska capitol Is approximately 40 feet
square. IT, therefore, covers almost four ac-es.
Tho cost is 10 bo S5.OO0OOo. II viii have n bnsc.
mrni below The grade. a. first floor forming a ter.
race entirely around the building. and a main floor
bringing the fnrupet To Il height OF 81 feet from
the ground ievel. The chief feature OF the struc.
ture Is a tower rising from the center 10 a height
of 400 feet. Tits tower. surniounted by a colossal
figure called 'lhe S0wer." will be 50 feet square
At the base and will taper only slightly ms IL
rises. II is n square. severe shaft, pierced on
esci, Of It's four sides hy long continuous windows
and, terminating In n graceful dome OF colored or
yiit tile.
Buf while this architectural feature will distin.
guish the building AMI mike II different from all
other STATE cnpltols. " il also utilltnrian to the
very top The lower portion OF the tower will
contain the main rotundn. Above this II VIII
carr, u d,zen aoors OF offices. housing many "