The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-03-02
top by thick plates Of glas. placed on the line of

Top by thick plates Of glass placed the line of
the roof
The floor will be composed Of marble tles the
walls pIastered, and the interior painted in colors
appropriate TO the materials Of which il ID com
posed.
lpropose TO warm this portion Of the building by
means Of hotwater pipes enclosed in chambers
erected In the present furnace rooms in the cellars
and connected with boilers for heating the water;
the external air to be admitted into these chambers
where it will be warmed and conducted by iuss to
the library, and such Of the adjacent roors ns arc
heated by the present furnaces. The uuality of
the heat thus produced is not only unobjectonabe,
as regards health and comfort but il 10 pee uliar-
~ adapted to the warming of libraries, as it re-
tains Its original moisture, and is not injurious to
the binding OF the books, besides being free from
dust and other impurities.
Inc room Will be ventilated by means of aper-
tures IN the ceiling, opening into the space be.
tween the ceiling and the roof from which the
ioul air Will be extracted by means Of an air shaft
In which vacuum will be produced by artificial
heat.
The execution of the entire plan here proposed
VIII In no way impair the stability of the structure
but rather promote il; none of the main wills will
be disturbed, the removal of the arches over the
rooms will relieve the outer walls of horizontal
pressure, and the aggregate weight of the SUPER
structure will be reduced; all of which are import
ant considerations when il 10 remembered that the
western projection has always had a tendency 10
settle oil from the rest of the building, which is
shown by the cracks in the angles ON the
outside.
The injury to the building produced by the fire
Is almost exclusively confined TO the ibrary The
moor being composed of bricks laid on the arches
OF the rooms below, and the surrounding walls
oclng OF great thickness, extending above the roof
IN the form OF parapets, the firemen were enabled
to keep the fire under control and prevent il from
communicating to other parts Of the building
Inc walls are, however, much injured as to
make u necessary to take down and rebuild the
upper portion OF them, including the entire para
them
Inc western front has sustained 80 much injury
around the windows as to make it necessary to
,ake out the stone work between the pilasers as
hgh az the bottom OF the upper panels. and sub
stitute 1t with new materially the panels and scup-
lure appear to be unnurcd; and, as far as can
now Judge, they may remain
Inc inner portions of the columns have suffered
very seriously; the injured parts may, however
DC cut out and replaced by new stone, without re-
moving them, as the repairing will be obscured by
repain.ing them.
would further suggest, in connection with these
improvements, the removal of the stairway leading
into the attic, in front of the main door of the library
ths stairway is of but little use both ends of the
building have other convenient approaches; there
lore propose Its removal, with all the columns and
archways connected whit The stairway by which
the rotundo approached will then be better light.
ed, the approach to the library will be free and
light and the library door will be in full view from
the rotundo This door may be richly embellished
with the columns and eutablature which now sup
port the stairs in question, and rich marble
oalustrade may be placed around the stairway
leading from below, which will form tasteful!
and convenient improvement. This coonnade
with the low arches leading to the library are the
most Objectionable features Of the building besides
interfering with the passage of light to the stair
way most used by the members, and also TO the
approach TO tho hbraryi can, therefore, see no
reason why they should not be removed.
have estimated the cost of carrying out that
portion OF the plan now proposed, embracing the
space heretofore occupied by the library, together
with all the aforementioned repairs and alterations
the whole OF which to be executed of incom-
bustiblc materials, hcrcinbefore stated and find
that II will amount TO ST., 800.
am, sir, very respectfully, your obedien ser
want,
THO. U. WALTER,
Architect United States Capitol.
WILLIAM EAsBY, ESQ,
Commissioner Of Public Buildings.