Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-18
CAPITOL ADDITIONS
PROPOSED TO MAKE
ED|F||CE COMPLETE
Changes Would Put Dome IN
Center Of Building, as Was
Fkst Planned.
MARBLE REPL ACEMENTs
TO ENHANCE IT'S BEAUTY
Next Session Of Congress viii Be
Asked to Approve Execution
Of Original Design.
By WILL r. KENNEDY.

The Capitol. OF the United States,
which visualizes the self-gOverning
power OF the American people, which
dominates all the many beautiful
Federal buildings In this most
beautiful city IN the world, ''is not q
creation. but growth" erected
piecemeal and never completed, al
though plans for this work were
prepared In 1860 and formally pre-
scented to Congress In 1864. 1t is
now proposed to press upon the next
session OF Congress the Importance
OF carrying out these plans. various
adaptations Of which have been re-
peatedly recommended.
For half century intermittent ef-
forts have been made by Senators
and Representatives to secure legis.
lation to direct execution OF the
plans made nearly 70 years ago by
Ekonlas u. Waiter OF recent years
the leadership has been taken In the
Senate by Senator Dale. Republican,
OF Vermont. and In the House by
Representative Montague, Democrat,
0t Virginia, who have repeatedly
chided Congress that 1t Is q national
| ~e---oASSN<S
all Government buildings should re.
main uncompleted. The present
architect Of the Capitol, David Lynn,
is prepared to submit plans and
specifications and estimates Of cost.
Early Action Is Desired.
Leaders in both houses Of Congress
nave expressed a willingness to co.
operate in getting early action upon
the proposed legislation.
II - not generally known, and few
OF the hundreds Of thousands Of Wis
itors annually fail TO notice, that
the magnificent dome on this stately
structure which towers 287 feet. Is
over one side instead or being over
the middle Of the building. This Is
due To- the fact that IN 1851 Conrress
adopted the plan OF Mr.. Walter for
the extension Of the Capitol under
which the wings used as the House
and Senate chambers were added.
subsequently Mr. Walter erected the
western addition, so long used as the
home Of the Library Of Congress. He
also designed an eastern extension.
which when completed will balance
the building. and while bringing the
east front Of the main structure into
line the two wings will leave the
domewhere II ought to be-oyer
the middle.
The Walters plan for the exten.
sion Of the east front was adopted
by Congress In 1904.
The work now proposed, and recon-
mended in q report made in 1921 by
Carrere and Hastings, consulting
architects, with an estimated cost Of
approximately $4,000, 900 comes under
five headings, as follows:
Extension of East Front.
4 [a) Extension OF east front and re-
building It in marble.
(b) Replacing west front in marble.
(cl Replacing west terrace steps IN
granite and repairing terrace.
Id Constructing cellar entrances
on west side leading to elevators and
constructing new elevators.
te) Sculpture In new east pediment.
For thorough understanding Of
the proposed rebuilding, a brief his.
tory and description of the Capitol
must be given. It fronts east and
stands on plateau 8S feet above the
level Of the Potomac. The entire
length Of the building from north to
greatest dimension from east to west
Is $50 feet. 1t covers an area Of
1912 square feet.
The southeast corner stone Of the
original building was laid on the 18th
:of September, 1898, BY President
Washington with Masonic ceremonies.
It Is constructed of sandstone from
quarrieg on Aqua Greek. Va. The
original designs were prepared by DR..
William Thornton, and the work was
done under the direction of Stephen III.
HAILED, James Hoban, George Hadfield,
and b. H. Latrobe. architects. The
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