Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-04
AREA AROUND CAPITOL
WILL BE BEAUTY SPOT
Plans Awaiting Execution for 65 Years
Expected to Be Carried Out
Under Hoover.

bringing the east front into line with
the two wings will leave the dome
where 1t ought to be-over the middle
of the building.
The Walter plan for the extension
Of the east front was adopted by Con-
gress in 1904.
The work now proposed, and recon-
mended in report made in 1921 by
Carrere g. Hastings, consulting archi-
tectS, with an estimated cost of ap-
proximately $4,000, 900, comes under five
headings, as follows:
(a). Extension of the east front and
rebuilding it in marble.
(b). Replacing west front in marble.
(c). Replacing west terrace steps in
granite and repairing terrace.
(d). Constructing cellar entrances
on west side leading to elevators and
constructing new elevators.
(e). Sculpture in new east pediment.
For thorough understanding Of the
proposed rebuilding brief history and
description Of the Capitol must be
given. It fronts east and stands on
plateau 88 feet above the level of the
Potomac River. The entire length of
the building from north to south is
ISL feet inches. It's greatest dimen-
sion from east to west is $50 feet. It
covers an area of 1912 square feet.
The southeast corner stone of the orig
inal building was laid on September Ia,
|. 1893. by President Washington, with
Masonic ceremonies. The original de-
sign was prepared by Dr. William
| Thornton and the work was done under
the direction of Stephen H. Hallett.
James Hoban, George Hadfield and B.
II. Latrobe, architects. The north wing
was finished in 1900 and the south in
| 1911. wooden passageway connected
them.
On August "a, 1914, the interior of
both wings was destroyed by fire set
by the British. The damage to the
building was Immediately repaired. In
1918 the central portion of the building
was commenced under the architectural
superintendent of Charles Bulfnch
The original building was finally COM
pleted in 1927. Its cost, including the
grading Of the grounds, alterations and
| repairs, up to 1927 was $2,433,844.13.
The House extension was first &C.
cupied for legislative purposes, Deem
Der Is, 1857, and the Senate wing on
January 4. 1859. The value of the Cap
ttol Building and grounds, October IA,
1911, was as follows: Building, $15,000,-
900; grounds, $40, 400, OO0-total $25.-
100000. Its present value is beyond
computation.
The dome of the original central
building was constructed of wood COW
cred with copper. This was replaced in
1856 by the present structure Of cast
iron. 1t was completed in 1865. The
entire weight of iron used is S,909, 200
pounds.
The dome is crowned by a bronze
statute of Freedom, which is 10 feet
inches high, and weighs 1895 pounds.
1t was modelled by Crawford. The
height of the dome above the base line
of the east front Is 287 feet inches.
The height from the top of the bal
ustrade of the building is 217 feet IL
inches. The greatest diameter at the
base Is 135 feet inches.
The rotunda under this dome Is 81
feet inches in diameter and the height
from the floor to the top Of the canopy
is $50 feet inches.
/ Extension Necessity.
In his report as architect of the Cap
itol extension, dated November /, 1864,
Mr. Walter stated:
Nov that the new dome and the
wings of the Capitol are approaching
completion it must be apparent to
every one that the extension of the CEN
ter building, on the east to the line of
the new wings, becomes an architectural
necessity. I have, therefore. prepared
plans for thus completing the work In
harmony with what has already been
done, and will place them in the Cap
itol for future reference.
Il do not suppose. nor will recon-
mend, that any action be taken by
Congress in reference to such an i'm
provement until the war between the
States is ended and the financial con-
| nf fhn kryv
and prosperous, but inasmuch as it Is
my purpose to retire from these works
as soon as the dome is finished, deem
it incumbent upon me to leave upon
record my views as to their final COM
pietion.