The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-06-14
LOCAL MATTERS.


LOCAL MATTERS.
THB PATENT OFFICE BULDNG.-Congress at its
last session, having made appropriation towards
the erection of the two wings of the Patent Office
building according to the original plan, and the
execution thereof coming by law under the au-
thority of the Home Department, the Secretary of
the Interior selected Robert Mills, esq.,, as the
Architect and superintendent for the building
Proposals for the building were thereupon issued
and the successful competitors were found to be
Messrs. Winter and Provost of this city, who were
the lowest bidders for the marble and free-stone
work. To qualification which we naturally feel
at the allotment to our own mechanics of this work
is added conviction that in their hands the con-
tract will be faithfully and we'll executed, both be-
ing practical business men, industrious, responsible
and energetic. The east wing, (Which is designed
to be occupied by the Home Department. to be
first completed, will be two hundred and seventy
feet in length by seventy in breadth, having
height ofsixty-three feet from the base. The wings
are to be built of white marble, like the General
Post Office, and, when completed, will add much to
the beauty of our city. A large number of stone
masons and laborers are already employed in pre-
pairing stone for and in digging the foundations
Mr.. David Hepburn has been appointed superin-
tendent of the brick and stone work, and Mr. Will
liam Morrow, superintendent of the marble, stone,
and granite work 1t is calculated that the building
will be ready for the reception of the " Department
of the Interior" by the first of July, 1851.
Weregret to learn that, while the laborers were
engaged in digging the foundations of this building
on Tuesday, bank of earth, which they were un-
dermining, gave way, and one of them, German
named Daniel, was caught by the falling earth, and
very seriously injured
NArroNAL HorEL.-An extensive sale of the old
furniture of this popular hotel has been going on for
the last three days, under the hammer of A. Green,
the auctioneer, preparatory to the new furnishing
and equipping throughout, soon as the extensive
repairs which are now being made to this house are
completed The proprietorship will then be as
sumed by CHARLES B. CALVERT, esq, ofMaryland,
one Of the principal owners of the establishment;
while the management Of the hotel and its business
affairs will be entrusted to Mr.. z. D. Willard,
whose alone is a sufficient guaranty Of success
UNITED STATES HorEL.-This hotel closed last
Saturday evening, and the partnership firm con-
Quoting it, consisting of Messrs: Branch, Haw, and
Scott, have announced their dissolution. II will be
reopened shortly, under new and more complete
arrangements, we learn, by Messrs. Haw and
Scott
OUR OTHER Misunderstanding and especial
ly while two such formidable competitors for po-
pular favor as the National and United States are
closed, Browns, Wizards, Gadsby's, and the Irv-
ing House, are seemingly doing a fine business
and we risk little in saying that they compare ia
vorably with the first class Hotels in most of our
principal cities Though not exactly, as at the
Astor, having three doctors in the house to attend
to any case of cholera which might happen, there
is suffciency Of the medical profession in their
immediate neighborhoods, who are ready at a mo-
ment's notice to lend their aid to suffering humani-
ty but, what is far better, such is the healthiness
of our city, the cleanliness of Streets and the well
conceived bills of fare which are daily presented to
their VISITORS that sickness of any kind is nearly
stranger at their doors, and we sincerely trust il
may long continue so.
SACRED PAMTMes.-Tatum's splendid paintings
of the Passion, Crucifxion, and Resurrection of
our Saviour, now on exhibition at Odd Fellows
Hall, on 7th street, are well worth visit from all
who admire the arts, or cherish a love for the Re
deemer Of Man, the three principal events in whose
soourn upon earth are here so feelingly and beau
tifully portrayed. We hear that the exhibition will
positively close in this city this evening.
WALKER Notwithstanding the !
lowering and disagreeable state of the weather on
Tuesday evening, quite goodly number of ladies' !
and gentlemen united with this fine body of our ct
zen soldiery in an excursion down the Potomac
in the steamer Columbia. The party returned at a /
late hour, highly pleased at the courtesy and atten-
ton of the Sharpshooters and with the expression
of wish that, at future day, another excursion /
may be gotten up by them, when the weather
should be more pleasant for trip upon the water.
On Tuesday evening last, meeting of the mem
bers of the Protestant Episcopal church, under the
pastoral charge Of the Rev. Mr.. Butler, held a
meeting for the purpose Of examining the various
designs for a new church edifce. Owing to the
state of the weather, the assemblage
was not as large as expected. General Weight
man presided, and Mr.. E. L. Childs acted as sec
rotary. The plan of Mr.. Renwick was exhibited,
and advocated by r. s. Coke, esq, after which