, 1854-04-15
E,lrn,l0n Of lhr NnlInnnl rnni1nI.

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I The Washington Sentinel gives the fol-
lowing accouat of the improvements now in
progress in the extension of the Capitol;
1t is well known that changes have
been made in the plan originally projected,
so that not only will the new legislative
halls lie better adapted 10 their main pur-
purpose as rooms f6rdebate, but the archi-
icctural beauty and the convenience of the
huildmgs will be Increased by the modifca-
tions which have been made,
The IIallof the Representatives will be
one hundred and thirty-seven feet long,
uinety-two feet wide, and about thirty feet
nigh. Upon three sllesit will be surround
cd liy u wide gallery, capable Of seating
twelve hundred persons, Arranged in Il
Tsehii-circle upon the floor, three hundred
dcsks for the members, like those now in
ust m the Senate chamber The space be-
tween the front Of the gallery which will
he rectangular, and the sEmi-circlc railing
outside Of the members Seats, will afford
room for sofas, for the use Of persons other
than members admitted TO the floor Of the
House, and likewise further provision Of
desks for members, should the House ever
he Increased The space under tlie ghllcr-
les will be enclosed, and occupied by coat,
cloak, and hat rooms including umbrellas,
It is reasonable to suppose.
The ceiling will be Of iron, suspended
from the iron roof truss, with proper open
mgS for ventilation, and with large spaces
filled with ground or stained glass, which
will dtiusl a Uniform light over the whole
floor. The iuleusily OF this light can b..
mortified by louvres under lie glazed por-
lions of the outer roof. .. ...
A night, the hall will be lighted by gas
lights placed above the glass OF the ceiling,
tbus excluding the glare, heat, and smrll OF
the gas. aud preventing contamination of the
atmosphere by the products OF combustion.
There will b. five doors lrading into The
hall from the surrounding corridor; Two
private staigcas,s leading from the hall itself
10 The basement story. Some OF these DIFF
Irrenl entrances will, in The most crowded
State of tue Capitol, always afford 10 the
members the means,of avoiding the annoy
ance, hustle and confusion which are sol
common in the Hobbies Of the old Capitol.
The retiring rooms and conference rooms
will be very convenient and very beautiful
The public galleries will be spacious
s.,,;r, sbont ,x,Iye bnndrcd nco,ln' They
Al II .,,..I -, . :,.,,,;o,id. I,s;,Ior -
~ ~ .ccorJ s,o,y' roacIeJhv Md a,ab,s
n M, H. s,,;rs Tbssc stairs will o the
mos, stately in the country. nnd wbcn ON.
I-E1,,J ,,,;,b o,,- Lcau,;fnl NATIVE narhIcI
IN con,,.,o c,vorabIv vim .rv abro,J
The rtnor,cIs, gallery will bo obovc the
Snsake,Is chair anil oc3hnv one side or The
mn. beLinJ n +, Lrn,d cnrr;dor IN bo 70.
ia for ,b. use oF The. rrDor,srs Min
aesLs at wbirb ,be;r po,rs can be vri,,en
on, aud tclerranI;c nnparoh,s bv Which a
speech may be in process Of transmission to
the remot,st constituent before its delivery
is concluded
The most striking parts Of this wing, af
ter the hall Of Representatives itself, viii be
the entrance lobby, decorated with coupled
.Corinthian columns and ceied with marble 4
the magnificent marble staircase, and the
wild, corridor which crosses the basement
fom north TO sonth. This will be twenty
fonr and'a half feet broad, and contain thir
ty Corinthian marble columns The en-
.richcd. arched and pannelled ceiling of the
corridors Of the principal story will likewise
aRord opportunities for architectural en-
bpllishmpni. r'a."l .oi 'u.t ..s II
The principal floor will contain, besides
the hall of representatives, the ycstibue
the corridors and grand staircascs fourteen
Well-liglrSd rooms. 'a. i..r $50
The hall Of the Senate is arranged upon
the same principles as are applied to the
Honse of Rqpresentatives Its smaller
size--I42 by SO feet-4-rtnders it less diff
cult to construct, and leaves room for larger
and more magnificent corridors and rein
ring rooms ~ .- .taH l ' I'm.