Morning herald., 1839-08-31

Brick, granite, and marble used in the construc-
tion Of this splendid building all the inside parti-
ton walls are brick, with the exception OF those in
the rotunda which are Of marble. The outside walls
throughout the building entirely of marble, faced
inside with brick. The steps and stairs throughout
are Of granite, employed for the sake Of durability,
although the steps the poricos will not hamonze
with the marble columns. The largest blocks Of
marble used in the building weigh 80 tons the
majority weigh from IL to IA tons though the whole
vary from 10 to 33 tons. The roof will also be Of
marble, similar in its design TO the Grecan marble
tile roofs for the invention Of which Bses Of Naxos
had immortal honors decreed him, and which
then thought the greatest invention Of the age The
marble slabs for the roof weigh 300 400 pounds,
and lap over each eight inches with an upper and
under lip to allow Of the expansive power and to
keep out the least particle Of water. Thus the
tire outside Of this splendid cdiice will be Of
bic, with the exception Of the granite steps. The
portico steps Wall street will form grand gra-
mite staircase 10 in nsmber IL feet high and II feet
wide
The entrance hall, passing in at the north end will
be CD feet long, by 40 feet three inches each side
Of this will be two large 40 feet long by 30
| feet wide for the Naval sicer and the surveyor.
The roof Of these rooms supported by three
| fluted marble columns, of 3 feet diameter Under
meath these similar TO correspond both on
| the basement and cellar foers, with pillars each
feet square, to support the bearings all the way up,
and 50 the 4th story. At the extremity Of the
entrance hail. is the Rotunda large circular room
to be used as the Collectors Office.
This will be a most splendid room; the -oof will
be supported BY 10 beautiful marble columas s. with
Corinhan capitals 30 feet high and feet inc he.
in diameter--the Whole highly polished The dia
meter Of the rotsnda is 60 feet in the clear and ~
feet in the recesses and yet il is thought will be
barely large enough for the public business re.
auired to be transacted in IT, The capitals Of these
pillars are cut in this country by Italian artists, be
cause they werk cheaper than Americans. In the
Of that part Of the building containing
rotunda, are four large rooms Of an irregular form
arched, as indeed are all the rooms throughout tho
building, which comprise 80 in number, 10 on each
floor. The cellars admirably constructed and
arranged, and are 10 be used for storing wines and
liquors; these lighted only BY glass let in tn,
floors above. The doors throughout are of Stock
bridge marble, and instead of mortar, cement is in
variably used in every part Of the work. The door
ways are all trimmed with marble; the doors are al
Of wrought iron from Tibbets in Grand street; tn,
small doors weigh 700 pounds; the large doubl,
doors weigh $500 pounds, besides permanent toI
piece weighing 1900 pounds making the total weigh
OF the main doors 1000 pounds; and all this immense
weight hangs comparatively small pivots, whicl
are not likely 70 yield in the least, and admit Of Al
easy movement TO the, door The window ssshe
are all of wrought iron, and weigh about 1900 pound
each In short, there is not a particle Of woo'
work in any part of the Building, and il is probably
the only structure in the world that has been cree
ted 50 perfectly fre-proof Even the gale ric
around the rotunda Of iron
This superb building was commenced IN May
1884, and will be finished in May, 1884, Il cost .
sbout 81 10000, some say sl3o00O0. The origina
superintendent was MIR Thompson, who quarrcle,