The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-01-19

foundations Of gneis, il built of very superior
compact red sandstone, Of the quality Of the brown
stone used in veneerins the fronts Of modern houses
in New York The new wings to the Capitol arc to
be built Of marble. They win probably cost not
less to complete them, with all the modern i'm
provements," than three millions Of dollars-some
estimates run rs high as five millions.
The present hall Of the House, with its magnif-
cent semi circle of massive columns Of brcccia from
the upper Potomac, is proposed to appropriate to
tho library of congress, and most superb
library 1t will make. Those breccia columns are
one Of the NEST remarkable features Of the Capitol
The stone is concreton of pebbles Of oil sizes and
oolors, and shapes that pebbles are known to as
sumo, blended together by nature in solid mass,
ment unknown in the laboratories of science, and
requiring, it may be, for it's congelation cooling
process Of several thousand years.
In the rotundo, which occupies the centre Of the
central building and which is ninety six feet diane
to, BY ninetysx feet high TO the top Of the dome,
are the following national paintings and sculpture,
the figures IS large as life, viz-West side
/. Declaration OF lnde pendence.
= Surrender Of Burgoyns, Al Ssrstoss
5 Surrender OF CORVALLIS, st Yorktown.
Resignation Of General Washington at Annapolis
AL painted by Yruuhuil
East SIDE, for the reception Of
S. Baptism Of Pocshontss, by Chapman
g. De Soto discovering the Mississippi by PoweI--no
yet finished
!. Sailing Of the Mayhowsr by Weir
s Larding Of Columbus by Vspderiin
The sculpture subjects are
/ The Preservation Of Captain Smith By Pocahontas,
by Cspeiano
2 The Landing Of the Pilgrims By Caucici.
The Treaty q Penn with the Indisns by Gsvelot.
4 The fight Of Boon with the Indians by Csucici
THE NATIONAL BUILDINGS,
We annex q list OF the Capitol and other public
building in Washington -
Total Of Capitol aud grounds inclusive 50 800 45o 20
Presidents ii ouse ari groudas ....... 100000 90
Treasury Building thus far. ........... $50 600 90
Patent Office ............... $50 900 90
General Post Once ..................... 100000 co
War, State and Navy Buildings, old style
pricn, SSuocV .......'..'-..'.. l9Oouu w
u States Arfenal buildings and gouuds 800 600 co
Navy Yard Buildings grounds &c........ 600 600 90
National Observatory, instruments grounds
60. sc. ..............,,t........ $50 900 90
SO that the whole Of the federal buildings in
Washington, exclusive OF the DistTic Penitentiary
and an interest in the City Hospital the City Hail.
80, amounted in cost 10 less than 9sven millions
Of dollars, a very Insignificant sum compared wish
the cost Of the single palace OF Nersales
The Capitol was commenced in i1;lJ apd flushed
-7s3 and finished in 1900 The new Treasury
Building was commenced in 1896, MT yet finished
The Patent Office was com menced in 1886 one wing
vet to be built. General Post Office commenced
in 1899, finished IN 1874 Upon the whole, the fede-
raj buildings in Washington, without having cost
great deal of money. are both useful and ornamen
tai, and answer well the purposes for which they
were Designed. FOR the future, however, the CON-
siderasions OF the durability Of the MATERIALS aad
their safety against fire, will unquestionably be
more strictly regarded than heretofore. The cost
of tho War Office the Treasury Building. the
General Post Ofi:e, and the Library of Congress,
little more to the preservation Of the public pro.
perry, by FIRE r1eot buildings as the present Post
Office, Patent once, aud Treasury Department may
be so considered W.