Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-05

United States Court Rooms, is situated al
the southwest corner Of Prince and St
Asaph Streets on the highest point in the
city, and not far from its centre. II il
back from the street some eight feet; is OF
brick, on base of Occoquan granite; and ID
succeed 10 imitation OF Nova Scotia sand.
! stone. The building fronts sixty-two feet on
Prince street, and forty-six on St. Asaph, and
is forty-six feet high, divided into three
! stories.
The granite of which its foundation is
composed rises some three feet above the sur
! face before the succeed brick work begins,
aud il lie 50 cut as to form neat base for the
supcrstructure. Granite steps extending
nearly the entire length OF the Prince street
front, aud rising by two flights to the ST.
, Asaph street dJUrs, reach nearly 10 the top
OF this BASE and approach five large doors,
three upon Prince and two upon s.. Asaph
street. The first story which is thirteen and
half feet high, is entered by five street
doors aud one in the rear Of the building,
! and Is lighted by two large widows in the
rear aud one between the s.. AsGph street
doors. II is surm0unted on the outside by a
beat cornce which, corresl ondiDg in style
with the blse below, makes finish for the
lower story and serves as q pedlment from
which rise DJric pilasters, double at the cor
ners Of tno building and single 10 It's centre,
which support a heavy entabiature that
crowns the whole. The whole form a tout
ensemble Of sohdity and beauty that does
much credit to The designers. The upper
st"rIes are lighted by three windows on each
e.dc, the mouiings surrounding which cor
respond with the base AID entabature. The
whole building is rooted in with iron plates
put together With durability that will defy
the ragages of time.
The interior Of the lower story is nearly
finished and affords the best evidence OF the
style III which the building will be fitted up.
THIS, as the other stories, Is divided by long
ilui!ual partitions into three sections. The
front section constitutes the vestibule of the
Post UEce; it Is hity-seyen feet long and
thirteen feet wide, extending the entire
Prince str ct front, and opening by one door
into st. Asaph street. Tee pavement of the
yestibue is tIled and it's walls handsomely
!rescoed. The ceiling is in frcsco, Of de-
spreads It's wings; the side panels present
specimens Of sreSGu painting, o! the style of
/ the committee rooms IN the United States
/ Capitol: the western panel exhibits a steamer
! upon tho ocean; he eastern q train OF cars
VITA d locomotive Just emerging from g tuu-
! Dcl. This decoration, which was not includ-
/ cd 10 the original plan cf tne building, the
! AlGxaudTiau, owe to MIR. MJrscl, whose de-
! sign was most faithfully transferred to the
s;uccU by Lewis Frame, Of Washington.
Tins ycsulu!e l. -epaT4ted from the main
room o the Post Oti.e by paEti,iou Of iron
aud glass, !rom which open the blue deiye-
| rcs," and in which are found the letter
/ boxes. Seven divisions make up tho part-
! ton, large COMPOSITE pllasterS supporting the
moulding that ,inS the ceiling, separate the
! side divisions, which are made up OF three
sinai! arches, the centre one rising above the
rest. Immediately III front Of the middle
| door Oh Prince street, the partition projects
IN the section ut an 0ctagon which forms
the general delivery" Each division has
a delivery window, and the general delivery
i. furnished with three. Sixty-Iour private
boxes furnished with keys, nearly six hun
bred numbered boxes, and five hundred
( boxes attached to the general delivery, fur
rish postal accommodations y hich will serve
/ the good people of Alexandria until their
/ city spreads itself tar beyond even the new
| limits marked out by its amended charter
! y enc OF the boxes are elevated more than
six feet above the floor a9d hence the neces-
,Ity vi climbing u look into them is avoided
/ The middle section of the building is intend
I ed tor tie main room OF the Post Oiice, and
is iity seven feet long. by breadth OF fiji
teen feet. This IS ~ present incomplete, but
viii be furnished with every convenience
! that cau facilitate taG arrangements Tor as
/ sorting and delivering the mails.
The rear section Is divided by couple Of
/ lateral partitions l0to three apartments; the
western apartment thirteen feet by sixteen
/ is intended as a room for the Postmaster, and
/ opens into the main room of the Post Office.
/ The centre apartment in the hall TO. the re-
ceptou OF the mails aad beside opening by
a large door into the mail yard, is, also,
connected by smaller doors with the Post
! masters room and the Custom House CO.
/ trance. The eastern apartment opens by a
| large door into 81. Asaph street, aud forms
! the main entrance to the Custom House Of
| ice IL The second story. From it an iron
stairway ascend-, and upon reaching the
second story we find t. large room intended
! tor general business relating 10 customs,
/ private room for the collector with library
! room attached, . room for the inspectors,
| and a ball from which the irun staircase
! continues It's course to the third story. This
story is thirteen feet in height
| The third story, which is intended for the
use of the United safes Courts, whenever
| any such may be established in Alexandra,
+ i, divided similarly to the second story; the
| Court Room is forty feet by twenty-eight,
and tho ceiling is elevated eighteen feet
/ This will be one Of the coolest ROOMS IN the
! city. This story, also, contains clerks Of
/ fc-, with room Tor tic preservation ct the
| records Of the court, and 4 private ROOM ior
the use Of tie Judge. The cellar, which be-
! ins on so hrgh point is he dryest IN the
| city, is grOuied ia cement and then paved
! Oae portion is devoted to the furnaces which
! heat the building and TO the storing OF coal,
| aud the other is reserved for the reception Cf
/ public stores.
The doors door frames, inside blinds, and
/ NANTES are all Of iron. Wristbands are
placed in all tue rooms where they would be
/ OF service, and water clCse.s are provided 10
/ the various stories.
I q. late the entire work upon the building
has been under charge of the United States
suuerintcndent, Mr.. ). 7. q. Murselt, and
,.rt,irty an his mart no energy or taste has