Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-01-20
Iotal ann 4srsonaI.

The Addition to the Capitol.--It is well
know that changes have been made in the plan
originally projected so that not only will the new
legislative halls be better adapted 10 their main
purpose as rooms for debate, but that The archi-
tectural beauty and the convenience of the build
ngs will be increased by the notifications which
have been made.
The Hall of Representatives will be one hun
dred and thirty-seven feet long, ninety-two feet
wide, and about thirty feet high. Upon three
sides il will be surrounded by wide gallery, ca
pable of seating twelve hundred persons. Ar
ranged in semi-circle upon the floor, three hun
dred desks for the members, like those now
in the Senate chamber. The space between the
front of the gallery, which will be rectangular, and
the semi-circuar railing outside of the members
seats, will afford room for sofas, for the use Of
persons other than members admitted 10 the floor
OF the House, and likewise further provision Of
desks for members, should the House ever be
increased. The space under the galleries will be
enclosed, and occupied by coat, cloak, and hat
rooms--ncluding umbrellas, il is reasonable TO
suppose.
The ceiling will be of iron, suspended from the
iron roof truss, with proper openings for ventia-
ton, and with large spaces filed with ground or
stained glass, which win difluse uniform light
over the whole floor. The intensity Of this light
can be modified by louvres under the glazed por-
tons the outer roof
Al night, the hall will be lighted by gas-lights
placed above the glass ofthe ceiling thus excluding
the glare, heat and smell of the gas, and preventing
contamination Of the atmosphere by the products
of combustion. '
There will be five doors leading into the hall
from the surrounding corridor; two private stair
cases leading from the hall itselfto the basement
story. Some Of these different entrances WILL In
the most crowded state ofthe Capitol, always af-
ford to the members the means OF avoiding the an
noyance, bus.le, and confusion which are so com
mon in the lobies of the old Capitol.
The retiring rooms and conference rooms will
be very convenient and very beautiful.
The public galleries will be spacious--seating
about twelve hundred people They will be en-
tered from.a spacious corridor in the second story
reached by broad flights of marble stairs. These
stairs will be the stately the country, and
when embelished with our beautiful native mar
BILE will compare favorably with any abroad.
The reporters gallery will be above the Speak
er's chair, and occupy one side ofthe hall behind
il broad corridor, to be reserved for the use Of
the reporters, with desks at which their notes can
be written out, and telegraphic apparatus, by
which speech may be in process of transmission
10 the remotest constituent before its delivery is
concludeda
The most striking parts of this wing, after the
hall Of representatives ITSELF will be the entrance
lobby, decorated with coupled Corinthan columns
and ceiled with marble; the magnificent marble
staircase and the wide corridor which crosses the
basement from north TO south. This will be TWEEN
ty-four and half feet broad, and contain thirty
Corinthian marble columns. The enriched, arched,
and panelled ceilings Of the corridors of the prin-
cpal story will likewise afford opportunities for
architectural establishment.
The principal floor will contain, besides the hall
OF representatives. the vestibule the corridors, and
grand stair cases, fourteen welllighted rooms.
The hall Of the Senate is arranged upon the
same principles as are applied to the House Of Re-
representatives.. Its smaller size--112 by SO feet
renders it less difficult to construct, and leaves
room for larger and more magnificent corridors and
retiring rooms.
The suite Of apartments embracethe senators re-
firing room, the Vice Presidents room, conference
rooms, and their approaches, will be of 'unrivaled
beauty.
The same facility Of ingress by public and pri-
vate doors and private stairs will enable Senators,
well as Representatives, to escape the throng
Of the public rooms.
The Offices are conveniently arranged. The
grand starcases, Corridors &C.. are of cores
ponding splendor with those in the south wing;
and the plan offers many striking features Of
various architectural beauty, without monotonous
repetition.
The western and northern porticos are reserved
for the use Of Senators and the officers of the
Senate.
The changes in the plans rendered necessary
extensive alterations in the foundation walls
which were effected by cutting through the arches
OF the basement floor, and through the openings
thus made, removing earth excavated from foun-
dations
The above account embraces the main features
of The Capitol extension. II should be remarked
that much attention has been paid to acoustics and
ventilation.
The amount Of money required for the service
of the year ending June 80, 1855, is $750,O00, in
addition to that on hand.
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