Perth Amboy Evening News

TROUBLE AT ALBANY.
Great Assembly Staircase at Capitol
Condemned as Unsafe.

ALBANY, N. Y., Jan. 29.-The great
assembly staircase in the northeast
corner of the state capitol, after being
for several years under suspicion, owing
to cracks developing in the supporting
piers, was virtually condemned, at least
for the time being.

The trustees of public buildings, consisting
of Governor Higgins, Lieutenant
Governor Bruce and Speaker
Wadsworth of the assembly, on the
recommendation of George L. Heins
state architect, directed Superintendent
Robert J. Hill of the department of
public buildings to barricade all the
approaches to the staircase on all four
floors of the capitol and keep the public
away from what is now regarded as a
zone of danger.

It is said Mr. Parsons found that the
center of the great building was sagging
and that the southwest wing, including
the senate chamber, soon would
be as unsafe as the northeast wing.
Indeed, he expressed the fear that the
structure would become a ruin unless
work was begun without delay to
strengthen the foundations.

Not only are the great assembly
staircase and the adjoining walls unsafe,
but the famous western stairway
and the library show that the settling
of the main walls may bring destruction
there at any time.