Evening star., 1952-03-18


Under date Of March 8. from Key
West, the President replied as follows:
I'm sorry if an error was made in
the book which Bill Hillman has been
getting together. about the Capitol
Building, but feel very strongly about
that situation.
"As you know, the two wings were
added to the Capitol about 1849 and it
was the intention to rebuild the central
section of the Capitol Building when
the dome was erected. That dome was
under construction in 1868. There are
pictures in the Capitol architects Office
which show construction at that time
and it was intended to make the central
section of the Capitol Building conform
with the two wings. While was on
the Public Buildings and Grounds Com
mittee in 1885 and '36, we worked out
a plan which would have accomplished
the purpose. The dome as it now sits
is seven feet over the front portico
of the central section of the Capitol and
hangs in air. The old sandstone build
ing is in about the same fix as the White
House was when we had to remodel it.
The dome now is about foot or two
out of plumb and one of these days it
will probably come crashing down, which
will be pity That central section
should be rebuilt just as the White
House has been rebuilt to conform with
the Vermont marble wings, then it would
not have to be painted. After that is
done the foundation of the dome will
be strong enough to stand for the marble
veneer that is supposed to 60 over it.
.The Capitol dome is considered one
Of the great domes in the world. The
two others are on st. Peters in Rome
and st Paul's in London. There are a
number Of State capitol buildings in the
United States which have beautiful
domes. but they are all in imitation
of one Of those that have named.
Il wish we could get that piece of
construction accomplished Had it not
been for the opposition of the little
Congressman to whom ! referred in the
book and the propaganda which was put
out by Washington newspapers. and I
am glad that yours was not one of them,
we would have had the job done.
Sometimes when you are at leisure I
wish you would go down to the Capitol
Building and stand on the steps in front
Of the Senate wing or the House wing
and see what terrible architectural
situation confrontS the center section of
the Capitol Building which ought to be
q model for all the world. That same
situation prevails on the Pennsylvania
portico of the White House. It is COM
pletely out Of proportion and if you get
some original pictures of the White
House you will find the proper proper
tion for that portico. Had been in
charge Of the construction would have
remedied that situation just as I did
on the south portico. While am no
architect. I know what proportion means
with regard to great buildings and the
White House and the Capitol buildings
ought to be models for all the world at
this time.
Il appreciated very much your good
letter."
Thomas q. Walter, great architect
of the Capitol. designed and supervised
construction of the House and Senate
wings and replaced the original wooden
0OLdiO Will tAlC PtCSCAt OOkllC VI HUH.
This work took place in the period 1851
1865. The Star began publication in De-
cember of 1882, about the time the
Capitol we know today was under con-
struction. MIR. Walter hoped that his
own work on the Capitol would be COM
pleted by extending the middle section
of the building to make it flush with
the wings he added. and The Star re-
ported his plans.
In 1904 Congress almost got around
to doing the work. A joint commission
Of three Senator's and three Represen-
tatives engaged . arm Of architects to.