The Stone Capitol Olympia Was Promised

Work on the new state capitol at Olympia is progressing favorably, the foundation having been almost completed. The superstructure is pronounced by Ernest Flagg, the architect, to be one of the most substantial he has ever seen. Mr. Flagg, who was in the city yesterday, the guest of Erastus Brainerd at 1116 Fifth street, says he has finished the plans and specifications for the superstructure and will call for bids in a few days. Under the law passed by the last legislature the plans cover everything connected with the building, even to the steam heating and electric plants. Until the contract has been awarded work will be suspended.

The general shape of the new building, says Mr. Flagg, is a parallelogram measuring about 270 feet one way by 150 the other. It will be about seventy feet high and the dome will rise to 190 feet. The corners of the building are accentuated by projecting pavilions, and between these pavilions on the south front is a colonnade of Corinthian columns extending through two entire stories and forming loggias on either side of the main entrance. In front of the latter is a portico approached by a semi-circular step in the level of the terrace. Above the portico is a rich pediment, the tympanum being ornamented by statuary and carving.

The east and west fronts of the building depend for their ornamentation chiefly upon a row of monumental windows at the level of the first floor. These are ornamented entablatures and pediments supported by consoles above an ornamented architrave. The same ordinance is continued along the north front, except the center, where there is a semi-circular projection with a colonnade of free-standing columns corresponding to those of the south front. The pavilions at the corners are decorated with pediments supported by columns of the same kind. The whole is surmounted by an attic story which will be crowned by a rich chimeau carved in stone.

The dome and lantern is entirely of stone, the dome proper resting on a drum which is fortified by projecting buttress-like structures, which are decorated with pilasters and other architectural features. In the drum are eight large windows in the form of arches standing between the buttresses above described. Above the entablature are eight highly ornamented tablets surmounted by pediments. The dome proper is pierced with numerous apertures, giving it the appearance of open-work construction, all of which will be self-sustaining without the use of iron. The lantern, which is also entirely of stone and of a very rich design, will be supported by sixteen ribs of brick, which are concealed by the covering of the dome.

Inside the building the rotunda will occupy a central position under the dome. This is to have double walls, between which are four flights of stairs to give access to the upper story. The rotunda is about sixty feet in diameter at the level of the first floor, and above that at the second floor is about eighty feet in diameter. The innermost of the walls which inclose it is pierced at this level by openings, forming a circular arcade. Pilasters start at this level and support the main interior entablature, above which rises the inner dome, which will be decorated with relief work in plaster and papier mache.

The senate and house of representatives are respectively to the east and west of the rotunda. These are semi-circular in form and although of the same size there will be much less room in the senate than in the chamber of the house, owing to the architectural embellishments of the former, which consist of a semi-circular colonnade of Corinthian columns about twenty-five feet high. The architect hopes that the appropriation will admit of constructing the entire interior of the senate chamber in stone; if not, the work is to be done in plaster.

The chamber of the supreme court is circular in form, and is located on the main transverse axis of the building. The room is about forty feet in diameter, and extends through two stories. It will have an elaborate ceiling of raised plaster work, and the side walls will be ornamented with panels of the same material. The judges' rooms are conveniently located with respect to the court room, all being on the first floor and communicating with one of the two longitudinal corridors which traverse the building from east to west. Four similar corridors cross the latter at right angles, separating the senate and the house from the rotunda and the former from the offices which skirt the outer walls of the building.

The governor's suite is in the southeast corner and occupies one of the pavilions before mentioned. It consists of a very handsome reception room with windows on three sides, private offices, etc. The second floor is given up entirely to offices and to the upper part of the main halls of the building.

With the exception of the library room, the third floor is unallotted to any purpose, and is to afford room for future requirements. The library occupies the center of the north front, and extends over the court and judges' rooms, all of which communicate with it by means of book lifts. There will be accommodations for about 75,000 volumes. The entire basement is appropriate to committee rooms, etc., connected with the legislative departments.

Mr. Flagg says the best view of the new building will be afforded from the water and from the bridge which connects the east and west portions of the town. From here it will present a very imposing appearance, as its entire length will be in full view, as it stands on a plateau elevated about 130 feet above the water on a projecting promontory. The problem of placing the building so that it would show to the best advantage was a very difficult one, but the present location seems to combine all advantages; in addition to the long pile being toward the water, the semi-circular colonnade will secure a good play of light and shade in the portico to the south.

One of the features of the new building is the lavish use of stone. The dome and lantern will be entirely of stone, and will form the only one of the kind in the United States. The rotunda inside will also be of stone, as will be the main entrance, while stone will be used extensively to trim the interior. It will be employed for pavements, for wainscoting and for the facings of doors and windows. It is the intention to make the building absolutely fireproof, and to that end wood will be avoided.

The reason for the extensive use of stone is that it can be obtained at a low figure, in many instances, particularly in the case of staircases, it costing less than iron. It can be delivered on the ground at a low price; in New York the same material would cost much more. The stone to be used in the building will come from Tenino, and the only objection to be urged against it is that it is of a greenish tint. If a marble quarry could be developed that material would be preferable, but the marble on the Sound is of uncertain quality, because the quarries have not been developed, and to commence the building with it would involve risk.

Mr. Flagg is of opinion that the state should buy the strip of land between the building and the bluff to the north, comprising about twelve acres, and add it to the ten acres forming the site of the capitol, thus opening up a magnificent park. He is now perfecting plans to lay out grades for the grounds after the style of the French renaissance, combining stateliness with great architectural beauty, similar to the garden of Luxembourg, Paris. Such decoration, he says, would make a grand setting for a building like the new capitol, and, he thinks, could be brought within the appropriation.

The work on the capitol will consume at least two years, and the building when completed will be an ornament to the state. Mr. Flagg is anxious to have the legislative halls carried forward so that the legislature will be able to meet in them for the next session.

Mr. Flagg will return to Olympia today, and some time next week will leave for his home in New York. From there he will go on to Washington City, where he has been employed as architect for the new cathedral of the Episcopal diocese for Maryland, the structure to cost $3,000,000, with perhaps another million for dependencies. He is also engaged at present in building the new Corcoran art gallery in Washington City.