Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1952-03-07
CAPITOL ARCHITECT
Staff Works Months to Renovute
CdPitoI Building for Congress

operation with the proper authori-
ties. for ceremonies held in the
building. and on the grounds which
comprise 1911 acres.
He Is also charged with the struc-
tural and mechanical care of the
senate and house office buildings,
the capitol power plant, the legis-
lative garage, the Library Of Con-
gress building and grounds, the
United States Supreme Court build
ing and grounds, the United States
Court Of Claims buildings, the Unit
ed States court house, the United
States Court Of Appeals building.
and the Columbia Hospital for
Women.
The architect Of the capitol is also
the acting director Of the Botanical
Garden, and is charged with its
operation as well as the house and
senate restaurants. He serves as
member Of the Capitol Police
Board, the Commission for En-
larging of the Capitol Grounds. The
District Coming Commission, and the
National Capitol Housing Authority.
With all these duties, the architect
maintains staff of $50 persons.
THE CORNERSTONE of the cap
itol was laid September 10, 1893. The
north wing of the old building, con-
tanning the senate chamber, now
known as the old Supreme Court
room, was constructed between 1893
and 1900. The senate chamber was
ready for occupancy for the second
session Of the sixth congress which
met November IT, 1900. The south
wing, containing the house chamber.
now known as Statuary Hall, was
constructed between 1900 and 1911,
and was completed for the first
session of the tenth congress Octo-
Der 26, 1907.
After the British burned the cap
itol building in 1914, congress met
in brick building in northwest
Washington known as Blodgett's
Hotel, but the Accommodations were
inadequate. A group of public spir-
tied citizens built a larger wooden
building on Capitol Hill on the site of
the present Supreme Court building
and offered it to congress. The offer
was accepted and the first session of
the fourteenth congress was held
there. Both houses continued to &C.
cupy this building until the capitol
was restored in 1919.
The addition of the present house
wing in 1857 and the senate wing
in 1859 made the construction of a
new dome necessary for the pres
ervation of architectural symmetry.
The dome of the original central
building was made of wood covered
with copper. This was replaced by
the present one of cast iron, COM
pleted in 1865.
The first major changes in the
house and senate chambers during
the more than go years of their &C.
cupancy were made between 1949
and 1851. Temporary steel Orders
were removed and the old roof and
skylights were replaced with a new
| roof of concrete and steel construc-
ton. covered with sheet copper. The
cas-. iron and glass ceilings were re
placed with new ones of stainless
steel and plaster. Alterations were
made in the interior Of each cham
Der from floor to ceiling, with mod
ern air conditioning and lighting
Changes and improvements were
also made in the cloakrooms and
| other adjacent areas.
The 100000 tourists who visit the
building each year, as we'll as tho
congressman and their staffs, ano
citizens generally can be proud o.
Mr.. Lynn's work during his go year.
Of stewardship as overseer of the
capitol, to which part he was ap
pointed by President Coolidge il
1928.