Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-09

lis erection, Of tic loose, porous and friatlc sandstone
of which the ether public buildings have been con.
strncted. This is an ediiice such as every American
should take pride in a%dmiring. II Is constructed OF
beautiful white marble and light granite materials,
which, al first view, might appear more costly Than
the sandstone, but after the reader shall have perused
the lucid and able report from the COMMITTEE on fuoiic
Buildings, by the Hon. Zadock Pratt, who wasa repre-
sentative in the last Congress from the Stale o! New
York, his mind will be brought to a different conclu-
sion. This building, like The others recently construct
cd. is entirely i~ire-proof. The %voluminous records Of ihis
d. Department, at least, will no longer be IN danger rom
fire. They can be preserved within The walls OF inns
building for ages. 1t is To the foresight, prudence, ana
wise economy of the administrations of Jackson and
Van Buren,, that postrrity will be indebted for these
monuments Of the skill of the mechanics OF Inc pre-
sent generation. 4,
Though the heavy expense which has been incurred
in the construction of this and the other %fire-proot pub
lie buildings, was one of the largest items oil extrava-
gance charged to the late Democratic Administration,
and afforded electioneering capital to the Federal Party
in the late struggle for asceudancy, yet no patriot
should regret the expenditure.
The front extends along L street 2O4 feet, and TANKS
along 7th and 9Th streets l02 feet. The plan is a pa
ralleIograrn, and with The wings, forms 4 hollow square
in the rear. The principal facade fronts to the South,
and presents three stories above a low sub-base. The
order of architecture adopted is the Co.Inlliian, accord
ing 10 The Greek detail. The material used on the
street fronts is white marble, aud on The rear front
very light granite. The first story presents Il rusii-
Gated face, over which rises The order composed
Of columns and pilasters, placed III zocle pedestals, d.
viding the series of windows III the two upper stories.
The entablature browning the order is enriched in
its members, and surmountrd by L pedestal blocking.
The windows are all enriched with architraves, and
those of the principal story with pediment surmount-
ings. There are three entrances 10 this building; one
on the main front, South, and two OH the North; one
in each wing. The principal entrance is by u flight
of marble steps, into an ante thanked by marble inches
Th,s ,orcI, loads into y yaot,hula orualppntaI hy n screen
of marble columns, beyond which is a wide corridor, ex.
tending the whole length Of The building, commitment
ing with all the different rooms on this floor, with Inc
cross passages and stairways leading 10 those above
The floors are all covered with tesselated marble ilag-
cling. Two flights of white marble steps ascend, near
each wing. to the stories above, which land Oh spa.
cious corridors, paved with marble. The archet
playfond of the corridor u lie second Or p.IncI.
pal story is enriched with panels and each inter
section Of groin decorated with 4 beautiful centre
piece. All The rooms open into this corridor. Ascend
ing to the third floor, the paralleled enrichments of The
domical ceiling and walls of the staircase come into
view, and al the landing Of the steps OH the floor OF
the upper corridor will be seen two plaster capitals, OF
an enriched order, resembling the Corinthian, taken
from an antique remnant, dug out of ruins oil the cele-
brated city Of Agrigenlum, and brought over by the
late Commodore Rodgers.
The upper corridor, with tue passages, is also paved
with marble flags. On this third floor, occupying the
centre Of the building IS a large room, sixty feet square,
ornamented with tlnied columns, supporting vaulted
ceilings, the centre one pierced b. a circular sky light
venlilator, with sunken panels and carved mould
ings.
All the rooms in this building, from the ~sub-base-
ment to the roof, are vaulted and made FIRE proof -
door and window-casngs are all OF stone, and the
floors covered with hydraulic cement, which becomes
MS hard as stone. The number Of Office rooms on each
floor exceeds twenty-five, and they will be occupied
by the General Post Office Department in the follow
order: The Postmaster General and his Assistants
on The second or principal floor and in the centre, and
the Auditor Of the Department in the east wing-the
clerks OF each occupying the other floors.
This building is not yet completed, but when so, 4
be surrounded By a suitable iron railing, incloslng
n marble terrace, outside of which viii be paved with
large stone fagging and solid granite curb.
Much credit is due to MIR. Mills, the architect, for the
share he has had in the erection Of The building.
Two years have scarcely elapsed since the tounda-
tons Of This building appeared above the ground; and II
is now in a stale fit for occupancy. Such rap'dity IN
construction OF n work of this character, is unparalleled
in the annals Of architecture; and though mainly done
contract, the work for the most part has been faith
fully performed, and without accident. The Govern
ment has now a safe and substantial depository for the
valuable records of one Of IFS Departments; three Of
which yet have to be provided for with places OF safe
iIpositc FOR their invaluable records, now daily exposed
10 destruction by the devouring element. The recent
Of the Tower Of London, not fire-froof, con-
laining millions worth Of property, is q melancholy
warming TO our Government to guard our mere valuable
records from conllagfation. No time therefore should
be lost in providing suitable fire proof buildings.
IGiobs.