The herald., 1922-05-18

Twill you kindly tell me what is that enormous
tower the western hOrizon?"
That's the upper stories of the new Nebraska
capitol" will be the
How odd! 1t looms up like the Washington
monument"
"Sure. Why not? That's what it's for"
And that is exactly the purpose Of this enormous
tower.
THE object of the architect In making this
feature says the officially inspired description
was to furnish the comparatively fiat state of
Nebraska with an elevated building which could
be at once an object of beauty and a source Of
inspiration. This tower, surmounted by colossal
figure called The SOwer' will be seen It is esti-
mated from 80 to 40 miles from every direction"
This capitol marks the greatest departure ever
made In American state-hOuse architecture New
ertheless, Nebraska went about it with delibera-
ton. The plan was secured through a series Of
compositions given under the auspices of the
American Institute of Architects Three Nebraska
men were selected in a preliminary competition
In which the economic and political aspects of the
problem were considered as well as the archi-
tectural requirements. Seven firms of national
reputation outside of Nebraska Joined in the COM
petition, which resulted in June 1920, in the seec-
ton of Bertram G. Goodhue of New York as the
architect Of the commission.
For year after the adoption of the plan II was
studied and restudied, not only by the architect
and his staff but by the commission and by the
public Some changes have been made, but the
essence of the original design remains promising
public building of unusual strength arsi beauty
as we'll as economy of space and low operating
costs, according to the Nebraskan view.
The appearance of the United States capitol
at Washington Is familiar to most Americans.
Also it has doubtless served a model for most
American state houses. A comparison between
the United States capitol and the Nebraska capt.
tol will emphasize the extent Of the latter from
the conventional and also give an idea of the size
of the new structure.
The United States capitol is about $50 feet
long and the dome is 135 feet in diameter; the
building, therefore, covers about four acres. The
dome is 2S5 feet in height from the base to the
crest Of the statue Of Freedom" The cost was
about S16,0O0OO0.
The Nebraska capitol is approximately 40 feet
square; 1t, therefore, covers almost four acres.
The cost is to be So 100000 It will have q base
ment below the grade, first floor forming q ter
race entirely around the building. and main floor
bringing the parapet to a height Of 81 feet from
the ground level. The chief feature of the struc-
ture is tower rising from the center TO a height
of 400 feet. This tower, surmOunted by colossal
figure called 1.-The SOwer," will be so feet square
at the base and will taper only slightly as 1t
rises. 1t is a square, severe shaft pierced on
each of its four sides by long continuous windows
and terminating in graceful dome of colored or
gilt tile
But while this architectural feature will distin-
guish the building and make it different from all
other state captOs, it is also utilitarian to the
very top. The lower portion of the tower will
contain the main rotunda Above this it will
carry dozen floors of offices, housing many of