The Washington union., 1857-08-22
LOCAL NEWS.

Tg MAssAcnuslurs MaRsIE used in the construction u
the Capitol extensions is furnished the government by
Mesars. Rice Blird and Heebner, of Philadelphia The
contract spuates the part OF the United States that
all the blocks shall exceed eighteen inches bed and
the part OF the contractors that they shall not be required
to exceed hundred and twenty cubic feet net This
company also to furnish one hundred columns the
exterior portcoes of the extensions many monolithc
entire shafts as their quarry may prove capable of
yielding and the remainder TO consist Of two sections
each, of the sections being two-thirds the entire
length of the shaft The contractors deliver this marble
the grounds of the Capitol extensions IN the rough,
except the column shafts which to be scbbled round
to dimensons at the following rates One dollar and
nineteght cents per cubic foot net for the wall blocks
and fourteen hundred dollars each for the monolithic col
shafts and eleven hundred dollars each for those de-
vered in two pieces This marble is quarried at Lee,
Berkshire county, Massachusetts is conveyed ninety
miles by railroad Bridgeport Connecticut, and there
shipped in coastng- vessels for this city
THE RoruNpo OF THE CAPITOL 1t Is said of the Dis
trict of Columbia that it is national territory of the City
of Washington that it is the federal metropolis and of
the Capitol that is the peoples house where the cit
zens Of all parts of vast republic assemble, and
be al home common ground and under common roof.
But the rotundo OF the Capitol may be said to be a
centre within CENTRE the exact social focus of the Union
the drawing of the nation where the people of the
North and the South the East and the West meet in
social converse and national unity Therefore, when the
DOME the magnificent roof OF the rotundo shall be
completed let its interior decorations be strictly national
descriptive of national scenery illustrative Of national
history, and emblematical of national character.
MARBLE FOR TIE Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
barque Emily Taylor Capt Taylor of New Bedford Mas
sachusetts was lying at Gibson wharf Baltimore, yeser
day. having arrived few days since from Genoa She is
dischargng her cargo which consists of the finest mar
ble Among the cargo twenty columns, each twenty
feet long and and half feet in diameter, weighing
fifteen TONS designed for the Post Office Department
at Washington The remainder of the cargo consists of
blocks of from three to ten tons each.
TnE CENTRE BUILDING of the present Capitol
peted in 1925 under the superintendent of Architect
Buinch cost including the grounds and their i'm
proyements of about 000 The present Capitol
grounds contain thirty five The entire length Of
the Capitol is $50 feet being about fifty feet than
the longest projection of St Peters Church. and nearly
200 feet more that of ST. Paus The Capitol
an area Of over three and u half acres
SALE OF THE STEAMER GEORGE WASHINGTON.
Alexandria Sentinel states that the George WASH
ington which has been plying between this city and
Alexandria for several years past has been sold to
pany in New York for S14 000 and that the captain and
crew are now board of her, making preparations
depart at early day, for her destination the Hud
son river The Washington is very swift and pleasant
boat but learn that her hull and boiler much out
of order, and will require to be replaced with
before being put on her route
YESTERDAY the first of the long plasters of thc
story of the south wing of the Treasury extension
was successfully raised to its position 1t required
hoistng apparatus of great power The block Of granite
is thirty feet five inches in length and weighs about
twenty eight tons large number Of gentlemen
attracted to the Of and Fifteenth streets to wit
ness the operation.
The GgoRoE PAGE which has been taken off her route
for the purpose of undergoing thorough repairs, will
again commence making regular trips Monday next
The repairing which is being done to the Mount ver
non will be completed before the lst of September
This boat it is thought when placed in running order
will be equal to a
TIM AIMsHousR for the construction of the
new ashouse will be received until IL o'clock day,
as follows lst for the brick and stone work. pavements
and excavations 3D. for carpenters work 3d. for iron
work. 4th for plastering 5th for tin work and 9th,
for painting and glazing Bids for the whole will also be
received and considered.
Two SLooPs arrived yesterday morning from Blakis
tones island, bringing thousand lunches of trout
perch and rock fish, These fish purchased by Mr.
Skidmore for the Washington market.
| d ECENT DISCOVER IN GEOLOGY by Sir