Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1853-07-20
The Patent Office.

The Eatent OMCe'
A visit through the building fur
nishes one of the proudest evidences
of American genius. There is moth
ing peculiarly worthy of note con-
corning the building itself, though
the elegant hall into which the curl
osities will be removed to give more
space is admirably adapted to the
purpose. The lower rooms of the
patent office building contain all the
articles patented. In the second
story are the rooms Of the National
Institute. Here you will see the orr
ginal copy of the Declaration OF In
dependence; the dress worn by
Washington when he resigned his
commission in 1888; the sword worn
by him throughout the whole of the
Revolutionary war; the staff of Frank
lin; a great part of the camp equip
age used by Washington and his
camp chest. 1t is curious to look
at the old pewter plates, and rusty
knives which belonged to that illus
trious person in those perilous times.
In this department you will also OBJ
serve the great Persian carpet pre-
sented by the lmaum of Muscat, to
President Van Buren,, and which cost
about $1,000. You will also see the
treaties between us and different for
eign powers, with the signatures OF
the then reigning monarchs, among
which are those of Napoleon, and
George ILL., acknowledging our In
dependence. This is the case from
which the jewels were stolen, which
are now a shapeless mass as they
were recovered, are at present lock
ed up in the State Department. AT
the east end of this roomyou will see
the identical old printing press on
which DR.. Franklin worked when a
journeyman printer in London.
Down stairs, in the basement, you
will see the old sarcophagus which
Commodore Elliot brought from
Greece and rendered to General Jack
son, but which he declined to receive.
refer " oil IiiC Suii p,
ments of war and other things you
see in the national museum in the
patent office would fill our sheet
But we have said enough to induce
those who go to Washington to pay
the patent office visit,
THE GENERAL fosr OFFICE, STATE TREAS
URy, WAR AND NAVY DEnARTMFNTs.
One of the finest buildings in
Washington is the General Post
Office. 1t is built of white marble
and splendidly and beautifully de.
Hsigned. 1t is three stories high, and
Dcontains about ninety rooms. But
the splendor Of the building is about
all that gives interest toe visit to it
If you have business with the Depart,
ment, you will find no difficulty tc
be directed to the proper bureau
The Treasury Department occu
pies very prominent position in the
city. 1t is near Pennsylvania Ave
nue. on 9Th street. Its general ap
pearance is pleasing ~ the eye, anc
will be about 500 feet long wher
completed. In this building there i:
more business done than in any 9th
er department of the government
In front is an immense colorado
forming a screen of columns stretch
ing the entire length Of the building
This department literally swarm
with clerks. 1t is said that Washing
ton could furnish several regiment
of clerks, to act as soldiers in cas-
of necessity.
North OF the Treasury a few step
YOU come to the State Department
This is an old fashioned building, M
in character with the wealth an
power of the nation, nor the taller
of those who have occupied it.
has been the home of Jefferson, A,
ans, Clay and Webster, and the
have given historical interest to it.
1t has a handsome library, well keE
and the visitor will be gratifed {
looking through the valuable boo
in it. There are about 10000 VIC
umes in it.
The War Department will
reached by crossing the northwe
corner of the President Square. The
is nothing particularly interestil
about the building though the oilic
are extremely obliging.
The Navy Department is a lit
south of the War Department, al
the latter possess no more intere
than the former!
THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
This is a new branch Of the go
eminent, and the building intend
for it is not completed. The patel
census, land, Indian and pension {
fee, and the National Institute, "A
all connected with this departmcl