The Bismarck tribune., 1934-09-29
- ON TIN UE n
from page one
Beauty and Utility
Combine in Capitol
place of the structure, but before
examining it let us take a look at
the steps and plaza themselves.
Steps Are of Limestone

Steps Are of Limestone
They are made of Indiana lime
stone, the same material which DOM
mates the face Of the structure, and
are in four terraces of seven steps
each with the intervening platforms
nine feet wide The width of the
steps is 81 feet and they are flanked
on either side by massive limestone
guard walls. The side of each wall
contains indirect lighting equipment
which adds materially to the beauty
of the plaza at night
The plaza itself is l0l feet wide by
60 feet long and also is paved with
limestone
Facing it is the great bronze and
glass facade which is the chief orna-
ment to the buildings exterior.
Placed in almost the center of the
structure, it not only lets sunlight
into the great memorial hall but re-
lieves the monotony of the stone
facing. At the top of the facade are
bronze figures of Indians, hunters
and farmers, symbolic of North Da-
kota's history.
One enters the great hall through
small revolving doors at the right
and left of the big facade and comes
at once upon a place of beauty un-
rivalled in North Dakota and rank
ed by some as one of the most beauti-
full rooms in the world.
Tho hon ifco1f ;c - r;o ', +
corridor, but what corridor. Twen-
ty six feet wide, it is three stories
high and from its ceiling hang five
cylindrical chandeliers. each con-
tanning l2l electric lights The
chandeliers, made of bronze with
blue glass, are of the indirect type
and cast flood Of soft light through
out the entire space The walls
are of honed travertine, a kind Of
marble, except those back of the
stairways leading to the ground floor
below. These are of black Belgian
marble, polished so highly that one
easily can see his reflection in them
Breaking the spaces in front OF
the facade windows and the orna
mental stairway are six huge fluted
bronze columns on each side. They
reach from the floor to the roof
nearly so feet above, and are one O1
the chief ornaments of the massive
hallway.
To the right, as one enters, is the
elevator lobby and corridor leading
into the offices of the secretary Of
state and the attorney general, while
to the left is the legislative lobby
also thing of beauty and really
q continuation of the memorial hall
Expensive Woods Are Used
The legislative lobby is only 2;
feet wide and has no chandeliers
indirect lighting being provided b,
wall fixtures. The lower parts O.
the walls are beautifully paneled il
rosewood, the most expensive uset
in the building. The upper part!
are In curly maple, paneled to brint
out the natural beauty.
Seats are to be provided along tn,
sides under canopies of ornamental
wood, each containing a light fix
ture. The canopies already are il
place.
Taken together, the two section
Of the great hall are l72 feet lonl
with q huge window at its western
end. Few places are more beautiful
than this can be in the late after
noon with the sun flooding through
the clear glass and penetrating tn,
entire length Of the noble structure
Only the first three floors Of tn,
building are decorative in theil
nature, the remaining l6 being de
sSigned largely for utility. It is in tn
lIf6t three floors that the fine mar
sh1e. the rare and expensive wood
sAnd the bronze fittings are to b
laOoai. Above them, the structure /
|s1,a1laf 70 any modern office build
~ Of similar size.
Mort extensively ornamented i
tie eovernors section in the south
ern nart Of the towers main floor
II consists Of reception room pan
Add s. laurel with an English oal
SIoo9tng n . cubist design. It IS 3