The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-28
.s .s. WASHINGTON: MONDAY MORNING, 2s,

Il Z
their extent and importance, will only remark
that they are not, In my judgment, sufficient to
create any apprehensions for the safety OF the
building.
Z The flag pavement in. the passages OF the west
base ment was disfgured, by reason of many of
the pieces being mouldered and broken, and others
displaced from their proper level, as to require the
whole to be removed. There has been laid in its
stead German flag, which is reputed to be more
durable, as IL certainly 10 q more beautiful stone
The superficial area Of tagging thus reaid ID 2,6l3
fect. About seven hundred feet OF tho tagging
under the east portico has also been taken mp, and
reaid with such Of the original pieces Of stone as
were suitable, and the substitution OF others of the
the same quality. The residucwill be repaired in
like manner whenever it can be conveniently done.
When these repairs are completed, the whole OF TINS
tagging will be in excellent order. All the flag
gng upon the terrace and around the building, to-
gether with that leading to different points within
the enclosure, requires, however, to be reset and
otherwise repaired. 5000
The painting Of the Capitol for, which provision
was made was commenced by my predecessor, J,
under whose supervision the interior was partially
fnshcd but much the larger proportion OF the work
was done by my direction. This 10 the only paint
ing the exterior has received, understand, for the
last seventeen years. whilst the preservation OF all
exposed walls Of the same material, independent OF
all considerations Of beauty OF appearances, re-
quires that they should be thoroughly painted at
least once every seven or eight years Ihis branch
OF renovation and Improvement has been extended
in fine, as the law directed or necessity suggested,
W tic cutirc Will itS "iiu
pcndages, except two or three apartments in the
use OF the Supreme Court, some OF the plastered
walls OF the passages and the ceiling over the HAL
OF the House OF Representatives. Inc painsng oi
this ceiling required higher degree OF artistic skill
than could readily obtain for It's execution, before
the season was too iar advanced 10 justify ls being
commenced. Jhe balance oi the approprlation re-
manning on hand will, however, be Sufficient,
think, to meet the cost OF this, and the other work
necessary also to be done, which the want OF time
and convenience compelled me TO postpone. In
conclusion, i Will remark, that tne painting
throughout has been executed IN as faithful and as
durable manner, as the use OF the best materials
and the application OF the best mechanical skill can
accomplish
The plastering and the stucco work Oh the puho-
naVing been long negiected' wero gIneaaiy , ~
an exceedingly bad condition. These have been
duly repaired and, SO lar as couid De, restored 70
their original whiteness. TO cleanse ana wniten
the celhng above the rotundo is IN nis connexion,
necessary perhaps to be done but as II was certain
TO consume much more time than could DC given 10
II, and to involve large expenditure, IN conse.
quencc OF the heavy scafioiding requisite, did not
consider II prudent 10 undertake H. ,elaQ
special character, designed for the use and accom-
mediation of the Senate, have been effected in the
north wing OF the building. In space apparently
useless heretofore there have been constructed seve
raj spacious apartments which are now occupied,
one as ioldng ROOM and the otncrs LOT the storage
of books and stationery. The work, except gene
raj inspection OF the pans ana oisourseent " .ne
money was cnieny oone unuer tie i u .o ~ !. o VIZ
secretary OF the senate, ana VIII ho' "a. ni, = sees
TO me, to give general satisfaction The sum ap-
proprateo or tne purpose, $S'vV, w1s noose.eiy
exceeded some seven nundred ooiiars, which y ye'
auc 70 .ne necnanics ana iuInlsneIs VI ,na'ea's'
iwouiu, tnereore' respecluly sueBes. .nAs AZ aP
preparation to supply TINS dehciency DC mace at an
carry oay.
hoe' ue aPProp.iauon iot lePa P, ~ .le Ii
.. uie nor vi anu 5ou'h oi vic Sapio, ~ M ~ w IL
iot cast Oh ,ne s'aoics, nave peel Persy s'ae'
plhntCu WIN tfcc6, duu ciiCorSd. AhcSS hiiP'
menus, " Is out JUST 70 state' were coinmcnceu oy
my prcoecessor. no non 49, ~ Wy ;iIn
..ahcc hase oscn n.aea WIZ nS"sy ~; h,,
inc TWO uhnhisneo sewers ex.enuou son,e sA .. uu
drcd ieet 70 their proper terminus, aus ,o1 ..s us
tnousano linear ieet Oh prick gu'orins .aiu IN .uS
easu fAIx VIC seMe' o'op ~ a,,hi; ar5Ssner
waiks, unoei sne ~ uno puo;,. ,.. 10TH
iniPfoNeo 'he eniec siaii iui inaseS III W ~ - -
wing OF the oulolng anu an
other furnaces horougniy cAaiiiiieu ai'u
and nearly an ,he hrcPaces inProscu an ',e, s.,,
% o%ra,an % Mnisn, oesioos 81 a;ra haye hem
necessary Improvements anu ,sPans, INV o.en 80.
mace unoer, ano arc cnhr geaoie % ~, VIC 80. as ~
pIoprisiion Anu az .ngs IN, - a. h 20
so VIII ,n.,s 10 :. ihonId he II becyed 10 be
;1,.pd - =; b,,s ond;,ion ,ban a has
,,s..' e. sP P,.,', - ~ ast snch nj lsast Ia the
ocsn io' many as Ps r,na,od srs ~ H., sar,s
Ju,us J, u y. - s,i,, : critycal' ex.rnina
~ 49, ''"'S s"e' - '
,.,.s or rux ,prsnrxr,s sousr
~ ~AhrniAs y, I'M Inn '.''''"' a,.
Inc rresidents mouse ano i's s.'.,.a.
received as extensive repairs and Improvements as
the means at my disposal Ior una, purPosJ wouha .
ADMIT. Inc roof OIL tne MAN ou,ong, ano =. ,ii sne
terraces TO ihe cast ana west mas tne same ne'so
covering as INC rooi oil ,he Capi'oi, anu Ic
pairing very much IN inc same "snne,. nn,,.' ~
deemed 70 be Tree from icaks, sno e'a'iy IN IN
goou condiu9n' inc no1sc n, nss % ,h. %asep,an,
rooms and the south external wall and the walls and
ceilings Of the various passages, halls and apart.
ments, and the wood work and fixtures In and
about them put in excellent order. The furnaces
have also been inspected and repaired, and other
appropriate means used with a view TO heating the
building properly. The stables connected with the
house have been improved IN many respects In adoi
ton TO being newly painted; and portion OF the
fences dividing the parks and that which encioscs
the Presidents garden have been reconstructed,
and The iron gates at the cast entrance extensively
repaired. Various other improvements, which u
we're useess 10 particularize, embracing pavemcnts,
cutters, gravellcd ways, pumps, watcr-pipes, and
hot houses, have also been effected.
These repairs and improvements have certainty
placed the house and It's premises IN very orcoh-
able condilon- there are others ye, 70 ou haoe'
however, Oh urgent necessity, not only "l 'he Pr
seryaion oi The property, po, 70 pro,ee, me neain,
and increase IN reasonable 'ne anu =,
convenience of It's occupants. Inc sparunens IN
tlr h11( rrlf mr. a.