The Snowflake herald., 1922-05-19

"WiIl you kindly tell me what is that enormous
tower the western horizon"
THAT'S the upper stories of the new Nebraska
capitcl," will be the answer.
"HOw odd 1t looms up like the Washington
monument"
"Sure. Why not? That's what it's for"
And that is exactly tie purpose of this enormous
cover.
The object of the architect in making this
feature says the officially inspired description
twas TO furnish the comparatively flat state of
Nebraska with an elevated building which could
be at once an object of beauty and source of
inspiration. This tower, SurmOunted by colossal
figure called The Sower' will be seen II is esti-
mated, from 80 to 40 miles from every direction"
This capitol marks the greatest departure ever
made In American statehOuse architecture New
ertheleSS, Nebraska went about 1t with deihera.
zion. 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 considered as we'll as the arcbi
tecturai requirements. Seven firms of national
reputation outside of Nebraska Joined in the com
petition, which resulted in June 1920 in the seIec
tion of Bertram G. Goodhue of New York as the
aTchitect of the commission.
For year after the adoption of the nan 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
a public building of unusual strength and beauty
as well 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 ii has doubtless served as model for most
American state houses. A comparison between
the United States capitol and the Nebraska CAPT
fol 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 1876 feet In diameter: the
building. therefore, 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 $16OOOOOO.
The Nebraska capitol is approximately 40 feet
square it, therefore, covers almost four acres
The cost is to be $5OOO,OOO. 1t will have base
uent below the grade first floor forming 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 height
nf 400 feet. This tower, surmounted by q colossal
fgure called "The Sower" will be 80 feet square
at the base and will taper only slightly as 1t
rises. 1t is square, severe shaft, pierced on
each of It's four sides by long continuous windows
and terminating in a graceful dome of colored or
gilt tile
But while this architectural feature will distin
RuIsh the building and make it different from all
other state capitols it is also utilitarian to the
very top. The lower portion of the tower will
contain the main rotunda. Above this 1t will
carr7 dozen floors of Offices housing many Of