Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-11-06
WASHINGTON, ID. G.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER s, 1855.
Extenelon 81 tAe Capitol.

Extension Of the Capitol.
As tits probable that there Is no citizen Of
the United States who does not feel deep in
terest In the legislation of the country, our
readers will permit us to make few passing
remarks about the locality in which our laws
are enacted.
When, in the infancy Of our government,
the design of the present Capitol wss adopted,
all supposed that its dimensions would suffice
for centuries. Under the smiles Of a benignant
Proyidence, however, our progress has been SO
rapid, and We have already expanded to such
gigantic proportions, as to require our National
Capitol to be greatly enlarged and it Is Of
that extension we would say word.
Under the appropriation to commence this
enlargement, authority was given to the Presi-
dent* to select the particular kind Of structure,
which in his judgment would respond to the
talent Of the country was held in requisition
TO produce designs for this purpose Many
were soon submitted to the President who,
cherishing profound reverence for the mem
DRY Of Washington, (who had approved the
plan Of the present building,) determined that
the extension should accord in its exterior
architectural order and arrangement with the
old building, and under these auspices the
| work commenced
Soon after the underground masonry was
completed, 1t was determined to somewhat
modify the interior plan Of the building. 1t
was complained that the old chambers were
not sufficiently lighted or ventilated; that
sound was imperfectly transmitted, &C., and to
remedy these defects was problem OF no easy
solution. The superintendent chose his plan,
boldly hazarded well-earned professional
reputation, has adhered to it with an abiding
confidence, deserving, and will, we are very
confident, obtsin entire success As the work
progresses, and the plan becomes developed, so
that Judgment of it may be formed, we think
it probable that the chambers will be the best
adapted for the purposes for which they are
designed, of any Of their magnitude in the
world.
In making these changes the work WIS ar
rested for a brief space, and it has a,.so been
greatly retarded several times sine, by not re-
ceiving the marble in season. These DELAYS
WILL however, no doubt be Of ultimate bene-
lit, in allowing the ponderous mass time to
settle before the remaining weight of material
is put on it. It is now progressing rapidly,
the marble being nearly set to the square in
both wings; and, most probably, the roofs will
close them in, certainly one Of them, before
winter
Several Of the rooms are plastered, and, as
the plaster is mixed ~ the cellar, we presume
that this work can be continued throughout
the winter, as can much of the other work
and, from present appearances, we should sup
pose that both the chambers will be tenantable
by the second session Of the coming Congress.
The Interior arrangement win be convenient,
ar1 the architectural decorations will be beau
tiful. The marble, of which the interior will
be finished, (and Of which specimens are to be
found in the Office of the superintendent is
from different parts Of the United States, and
we are told that everything emblematic will be
purely American. We see an artist is now at
work frcsco painting one Of the rooms we pre-
sumo by the permission Of the Superintendent,
as specimen of the high finish Of which the
rooms are susceptible, if Congress should so
order it. We also saw some material, before
unknown TO us, which we were informed was
designed for the floors, and which, if we are
not mistaken, viii prove superior to marble
or tile.
Though the enlargement is supposed TO be,
and is what is called f.re-proof, yet we were
surprised to find tho immense amount Of car
penters' and joi.iers' work necessary for II,
whic. is in 81 eat forwardness We learn, also,
teiat nearly all the elaborate marble carving is
near completion, so that no one part of the in
teriog work viii be delayed by another.
In a word, we think 1t is progressing as rap
idly as is udicious for the soldity Of the struc-
turc itself To furnish some idea Of the mag
nitude of the extension, II would be only ne
cessary to mention that we understand about
200, 600 days work win be done on It this sea-
son, and we presume that, altogether, at least
ID, 600, 900 days work win have been on il
when finished.
We observe, also, the economy introduced
into every department Of this work by the Su-
pcrintendent, whereby II is probable the cost
Of Il viii be greatly diminished. The extensive
use Of steam has greatly abridged the labor
otherwise necessary, and for the application Of
steam he has erected temporary buildings,
where all the iron work, and the principal por-
ton OF the carpenters work, is done, as well
as saving marble for the interior. Every piece
Of iron in the roof is tested by an immense
hydraulic power, which assures us Of the per
feet security in its use.
As the work draws towards completion, we
arc satisfied, from close observation, that an