The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-02-15

e coSt IN the years to come.
The new capitol, for the purposes
OF description, falls naturally into two
units: The capitol proper and the
administration section. To be con-
structed on site somewhere west
and north of the site Of tho old CAP
itol. and facing south towards the city
OF bismarck, the structure viii have
an all over frontage Of 800 feet, with
the capitol unit to the west, aud the
administration unit rising at the east
end to q height Of 23l feet.
TO Have Great EniSance
The great entrance to the building.
opening directly upon . memorial hall
Of splendid proportions on the first
floor. and leading to the legislative
section and to the administration
unit. Will become one Of the impress
sive features of the building. The
approach Is over rise OF Is feet,
with a width Of - feet, marked by a
series OF easy steps and terraces.
Entering the Memorial hall, from
which will open the offices Of the
governor. the attorney general and
the secretary Of state. these latter
are reached by turn to the right,
while turn to the left will carry the
visitor directly to the legislative halls
the chambers Of the house and the
senate, located on either side Of the
hall at the extreme west end.
The old monumental type Of build
ing. common until recent years, with
Nebraska and Louisiana the first
states to recognize the fact that such
buildings are wasteful, extravagant
and inefficient. was discarded by the
capitol commission early In its stu
dies, on the theory that the condi-
lions under which capitols are being
constructed today, and the require
ments to be met In the housing OF
state government, are entirely differ
ent from those that prevailed when
the old type was prevalent.
Conditions Have Changed
In those earlier days, state govern
rents were very limited in their
scope. There were. as q rule, the few
constitutional officers, the legislature
and the judiciary, but that day has
passed and this was one Of the main
considerations In the capitol commits
sions' decision to adopt the type Of
structure that has been approved.
Compared to the popular" styles Of
capitol architecture, the type adopted
for North Dakota effects q tremend-
Gus saving of space. The dome style
fashioned after the United States
capitol, itself growth Of European
church design. makes available but
% to 80 per cent Of its floor area as
actual working space. the longitudinal
type some so per cent. The plan
adopted by the commission provides
80 per cent Of its floor area as work.
ing space. q potent factor involved In
any construction project for which q
limited amount Of money Is available.
Common Faults Eliminated
Common faults In the LONGITUDINAL
type Of capitol are eliminated In the
North Dakota design. Inter-office
communication In the longitudinal
buildings Is slow and costly. The
very nature Of their pursuits necessi-
tating frequent contact with other de-
partmeuts. executives ana employees
in the administration unit win find
waste time reduced to . minimum
The swift elevators, operated from
small halls In the center Of each floor
provide quick access to Ill depart.
mentS.
With one. two Or three departments
on . floor. there are no hallway
marathons" to h RIM n sknyA ~ tu0