Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-11-18


of Captain Montgomery G. Meigs, u. s. Engi-
neer and Superintendent Of the Capitol and
Post Office Extensions and of the Washington
Aqusduct, We have deemed it of interest to
give such description of il as shall be ade-
quate to convey to the distant reader an idea
OF the appearance, style, size, &C., it will pre-
sent when finished.
1t occupies an entire square of ground, lying
between Seventh and Eighth, and E and F
streets, which is 300 feet wide from east to
west, and 22O feet deep from south to north
The building itself is 27S feet 10 inches, by 2O4
feet 81 inches, and forms hollow parsllelo-
gram, leaving in the centre Of the lot q court
yard OF about $50 feet long by 100 feet wide.
The width Of the north and south sides of the
building being, probably, so feet, from the
front to the rear walls; and Of the east and
west sides about so feet. The south, or
street, front was erected several years ago, and
although its walls, facing the streets, are COM
posed Of light-colored marble, the quality seems
to have been inferior, as it already has time
worn and somewhat dingy appearance, which
Is made more conspicuous by comparison with
tne new portion. The walls are ornamented
with antae, or partially imbedded pilasters,
with columns near the entrance and at other
regular intervals. These antae and columns
are ornamented with handsome capitals, al d
the arehitrave, entablature, and cornice, are
all OF neat design. The main entrance to the
General Post Office Department is in the centre
OF this front, up short fight of steps and
through an arched doorway, appropriately dec.
Grated. There is a slight projection of the
front wall in this portion of the edi6ce, and
the entablature and cornice surmounting it
constitute central pediment. The building
Is three stories high, but the upper story may
properly be termed an attic, inasmuch as it is
low, and the windows only half size. 1t is but
lair to Capt. N. to add, that he had nothing to
do with the erection of this portion. 1t was
built IN 1926, and Il by seven feet, at least,
lower than it should have been; a fault that
has become more palpable, now that the exten-
sions are partially made.
The north, or street, front has the disad-
vantage of being still lower than that above
mentioned, because of its occupying higher
ground, and because the several floors and the
root are necessarily confined to the same level
with those in the old building. The floor of the
lower story Of this portion is therefore, slight
iy below the grade Of the street The walls
are similar to those of the old building in style
and decoration, but being composed of supe-
rior material and finished with far greater care
and skill, they present much finer appear
ance. They are also composed of q light col.
ored marble. The antae, columns, and capitaIs
OF this front as well as of all the new portions
are especially superior in finish to those of the
old structure, and the capitals will compare
fayorably with any models of antiquity The
columns have slight entasis, and their shafts,
which arc monolyths, are composed OF italian
marble, quarried and imported from Carrara.
expressly for this purpose, by Mr.. Chas. Hub
ner, because suitable blocks could not be OBJ
tanned from American quarries. About sixty
fcst Of the central portion of the lower story of
this front consists Of an arcade, forming a yes-
tbule to the letter delivery Of the City Post
ohce This Is surmounted by a recessed por-
ueo, in the second story, in which there are
eight columns coupled, which are fanked by
coupled Piiasters Of similar dimensions and
ernamen;atOn. The ceiling of both arcade
and pOrtico are marble, and richly ornamented
with appropriate designs. TIE roof over the
portico will form pediment for the centre of
this front; and the walls towards the ends
stand slightly in the rear of the line of the
front Of the arcade.
The west, or Eighth street, front ID formed
Of combination of the end of tho old structure
and that Of the north front, the intermediate
space being filed by building of correspond
Ing style, except that there is no projection of
the walls in the centre, and that the ends of
the north and south fronts form end pediments
TO this front This is the least ornamental Sec
tion Of the building-the only entrance it af-
fords being through an archway under it about
midway, which Is intended to give ingress
and egress to the mail wagons, to and from the
courtyard. This archway is decorated with
well executed sculpture in the spandrils Of the
arch. On one side is a representation OF the
agency Of steam, and on the other that of elec-
tricity, in conveying intelligence. The front
Of the keystone is carved to represent a mask,
significant Of fidelity.
The east, or Seventh street, front will be
constructed Of the same material, white mar
Bile, and built in q similar style with the other
fronts, except that it will be more elaborateIy
decorated. It will be partially composed of
an open vestibuls, decorated with Doric COL
umns and antae, with inches, ceiling, and
walls, all Of polished italian marble. The
ceiling viii be ornamented with deep lacunals,
and deliberately carved mouldings The GEN.
trail portion Of this front will project somewhat
beyond those portions Of the wall towards the
ends, and the roof over it will form a centre
pediment while the ends Of the north and
south fronts, with which it combines, will form
end pediments. 1t will present a much richer
appearance than any Of the other fronts, and
the vestibule, forming part Of Ii, will be the
gem Of the whole building.
We have thus given tolerably definite
description Of the outside Of this edihce from
the four points OF view it will present, and we
will now view 1t from the courtyard. The
rear walls, facing the courtyard, are all COM
posed Of granite, from the quarry of sumwalt
Green, Of Baltimore county, Nd. Those of
the new portions are very solid and substan-
tial, but those Of the old strustura like La