The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-05-31


How far these and similar Considerations are entitled To-
regard, WIZ be ior Congress, upon admonton OF the
effect which is about TO be produced, 10 decide.
H. The erection Of The mem building uDoa ifs yreseut
ste and plan o. construction p,ua unaroida5lv pyo-
ducs1e reaorai and destruction Of The building no,o
occupied by Le State Department.
II it was the intention OF the late President Of the
United States TO preserve the last mentioned build
ing, that intention has been disrepsrded by the
architect, IN the position and plan Of the new
structure. The old cannot remain, and the nep be
completed Should II be suggested, that the walls of
The new building may be terminated with their present
extension morrill, II need only be replied, that this would
give unequal length 10 the parts the right and left of
Inc cenre and besides would allow neither Of entrance
nor admission ofhght the north Of the building Such
termination, oil the walls is wholly inadmissble. To
extend them stl further north, according the pan
70 ehuer unavoidable the removal Of the present build
ing. a diagram, which accompanies this report, will
show how utterly ncongruous must be the attempt 10
preserve any portion Of this ed6ce Conforming in
nothng--neher IN material arrangement Of rooms
height or number OF stories, nor elevation OF rool-t
could be made to correspond with part Of the
plan, but by alterations and expense greater than the
cost OF its entire demolition, and the substitute Of an
appropriate order OF work IN its stead The opn on Of
the architects consulted by the committee is full and
explicit, on this point. And even Mr. Mills was con
strained TO admit that the entire removal of the old
building was the best and most expedent course to be
adopted, # the new building to be prosecuted TO its
completion.
building nanifestiy defsctipe neither ADAPTED
10 Tie object Of its construction nor admitting the
necessary recommendations for he present acants Of
he Department.
The Secretary Of the Treasury, in an official commu-
hication 10 the President (narkcd F. with the docu-
mens accompanying this repor,) has certified that
hundred and Mrfyteo rooms are now required for the
convenient transaction Of the business Of his Depart
ment. 1t is reasonable to believe that with the rapid
CROWN and vastly expanding and multiplying interests
OF the country still more and ample accommoda-
tons will continually be demanded for the management
OF the concerns Of the nation in every department Of
the Government In the building now erecting one half
at least OF the rooms in the basement and attic stoes
will be totally unfit for office purposes In the emphatic
language of Mr. Walter, the rooms in the basement
story will be entirely too dark and damp; and the
apartments in the third story, having windows but half
the size of those below will be darkened by the CO.
lonade. as to render them almost useless The only
comfortable rooms IN the building WILL therefore be
found IN the first and second stories which embrace
but seventy five apartments" In accordance with this,
Is the opinion of Mr.. Paris. He pronounces, "From
such observations as have been able to make of the
rooms IN the basement story, Of opinion they will
be too dark for the occupation Of clerks, and Damp
when closed, for the deposte of papers" And in rela
ton to the front range othe in the attic, he adds
"Al these arrangements combine to render the rooms
dark and IN my opinion they will not be sufficiently
lighted. especially IN cloudy weather. to render them
suitable for the occupation Of clerks" Both Mr. Par
rs and Mr. Walter alike condemn the construction of
the principal passage-way The former reports that he
finds the centre main passage 10 be only nine feet
four inches in width, and much too either for
lighting or ventatlng SO great extent. He further
observes that considering the length Of the building,
the number Of rooms 10 be entered through the PASSAGE
the many occupants and others having occasion for
gless and egress through it, in my opinion this great
horoughfare for the whole building should, at least,
49,, , ~. 49,
able to perceive any sufficient for confnng this
important passage to its present reduced limits. con.
sder this defect without remedy" To the same point
Mr. Walter remarks, that "al the passages in the
building entirely too for either beauty,
venience, or comfort. The main passage by which all
the approached, will be 456 feet in length,
should the whole design be carried out while its width
is only nine and haJ Jeet' The only means Of light
ing this passage by window Of four feet by eight,
al each end, and the secondary lights It may receive
from the entries and glass that may be
inserted in the doors all Of these, however, will
amount TO much. A passage as long as the one in
question should have been at least fifteen feet wide
with much light each end as could possibly have
been introduced. Ample arrangements should also
have been made for introducing intermediate lights"
The committee adopt the foregoing opinions Of the
chiects, and also in the judgment pronounced
by lhem that these capital defects and admit Of
remedy
w. The construction Of The rails Of the building is
imperfect anarifciai, and deficient of the requisite
Strength fer secure and durable structure
To this conclusion the committee are brought by the
descriptions and representations Of the architects,
Mcssrs Walter and Paris and the confidence reposed
IN their skill and capacity TO form correct opinion Of
the character Of the work II is not to be expected,
that question of practical architecture depending
upon the proper application Of technical rules Of art
the committee would hazard on expression of their own
unrestricted Judgment. They have rcsored TO the best
sources of information which were onen 10 them they
have carefully examined the evidence which have been
obtained and compared the representations Of others
with their personal observations and they but declare
the effect produced upon their minds, by candid
and faithful regard TO all these considerations The
House will be put in possession OF all the information,
and it will be made IN the power Of every member, if
the committee have erred to avoid being msled by the
opinions here expressed
The principal defects under this head Of the subject
may be resolved into tho want Of sufficient thickness
the walls and proper bond of connection between the
blocks composing the an'9 and the courses Of the
ashar This viii be better understood by the following
extract from the report Of Mr.. Walter; my decided
ouion, (says hel in reference to the subject, Is, that
all the outside walls entirely too thin and too weak
for so large vaulicd building the in question
These walls should have been at least three and half
feet thick exclusive Of the anta or pastcrs, they
are commonly called y instead of which, they only
two feet three inches" After treating Of the mode in
which the walls should have been constructed, aludng
TO the defects Of the work. he suhoins, Under existing
circumstances the whole bond Of the ashlar is of,
from the ottom 10 the top of the building, each side
Of every one of the anita while the anita themselves
offer little resistance TO lateral pressure, being
composed OF large stones set the end OF each Other
without single cfamp or he TO hold them TO the ashlar,
or dotrei to keep them in their places" Again, he
remarks that "the strength which would have heen de-
rived from these ann had they been constructed
cordng the principles Of sereotomy, not only lost