Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-07-28
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

nan, chief Of the Bureau Of Construction attached
so the Treasury Department. recently increased
eee force employed in the erection of the Treasury
Extension buildings, the present is a fitting
time for us TO note the progress already made in
this gigantic work, and to endeavor 10 convey to
our readers an idea Of what the edifice will be
when finished. But, in order to make ourselves
generally understood, IL is essential that we
should first briefly describe the old building, as
u Will be embraced in the completed structure.
The location of this, IL is well known, Is on the
west side OF Fifteenth street, directly east of the
RESIDENTS Mansion. 1t is built in the form OF
paraiIelogTom, with front on Fifteenth street of
about 3i5 feet and depth Of 81 feet, and in its
rear, midway between the ends, is another struc-
ture OF corresponding height, which extends
back alb Iut Is feet. with width of some GO feet
ne w Ais OF the entire structure, together with
ne outside steps, columns, architrave, frie1r
anu cornlce, are OF firm gneissoitdescripti on of
~ Jne; which gives II massive and substantial
appearance. On the T ifteenth-st front there Is a
plain base wall carried up to all average height
OF about ~ feet from the level of the pavement,
and varying according TO the grade of the street
This wall is pierced with doors and windows
for the lower story. and the ascent to it's summit
Is oy means OF two opposite sets OF steps run
ming up sideways in its middle-their outer ends
pfo1ectinS about . feet from the wall, and pro-
tected by wall similar to that of the base, and
OF the same height, the top Of which is surmount-
cu oy handsome iron railing.
Even with the top OF the base wall Is a plateau
extending the whole length of the building with
breadth OF about sixteen feet. This contains
row OF thirty massive tiuted columns, which are
some thirtysix feet hig ncludi the pedals and
capitaiS-the latter being eIaboi ateIy wrought
FROM the rear Of this plateau or colonnade Dor
tlco, the main wall of the building rises to
helght corresponding with that of the columns
'hd Is pierced with large windows for the three
stories and with the main entrance door imme-
=, oack OF the summit of the steps leading
a. me coiohnade. The ceiling of the colonnade
"anuSo,hely orDamented with stucco work,
I ,ne columns are suTmounted by a massive
80. fave, from which a paneled ffieze rises TO
height of about three feet, when IL is sue
creded by heavy but highly ornamented cor
nice, which terminates in a massive stone balus-
trade, divided into sections by insulated pilas-
teIs, which latter are crowned with handsome
Cap>toncs. The rear walls Of this building are
also OF stone, but plainly constructed.
Thts building, IL will be perceived. was of
user an immense and magnificent structure,
covering an area Of some - 900 square feet with
htlght of about 80 feet. and presenting an appear
dnce which would compare favorably with most
"iher great buildings anywhere else in America,
except In his city OF great buildings; but when
there is no other building, even in this CITY We
believe, except the Capitol, that will surpass it,
The plan Is to erect, at a distance of 1870 feet
IN the rear of the old sdtce, and parallel there
with, another building of similar shane and di-
menslcns, though differing considerably in style
Ihls viii front TO the West, on Il street. running
pa'ahoA Win i0th street, 10 be cut through from
mat Pait oi Pennsylvania avenue running along
the north side of the Presidents mansion be-
tween the grounds of the mansion and those of
the State Department, and interseGting the other
portion OF Pennsylvania avenue, which is 10 be
.ehtended along the south side of the TREASURY
Department building This addition will also
nave building extending 90 feet from its rear
edS'wardly, and connecting with similar extern
sion IN the rear of the old building, which we
nave "lreddy mentioned. The area covered by
VIII be the sam ds that occupied by the old
edI1ce-about - 900 square feet
The front of this will be composed of a plain
base wall carried up to the level Of that OF the
old building, and pierced like that with doors
and windows for the lower, or basement story.
But OF this. about 100 feet in the middle will
project Is feet further froRt than the remaining
portions, ard the latter portions will be- carried
up TO the architrave with piIasters set into the
wall, the windows being In the inter>tices b.
tween them. This wall will also be continued
In the angles formed by the projections and ter
mirst2 IN font In massive plaster. Six col
niiihs similar in size and foGm TO those on the
Coionnade of the old building, but differing in
that they will be monolyths, will occupy posi-
lions on the front OF this projection-two being
near each end and two near the middle Be-
tween these end and central groups the wall will
project so as To range with the fronts of the col
uInns, and this portion, well as that behind
the columns, will be- a continuation of the front
wall at either end of the projection.
In the middle of this projection there will be
an open portlco. or colOnnade, 80 feet In extent
and projecting II feet further from the line of
the Dulldlng. cn TINS there will be row of
eight columns similar 10 those already de scribed,
and II Will be accessible by lower iIad ranpuIar
flight Of steps terminating on d platform from
which another flight II feet wide, with bastions
at the sides Killing the remaining space Of The pro-
lection, leads to the top whence the entrance
will he between the middle columns on the line
OF the first described projection. The architrave
fleZe, and cOInce this front will be he those
of the Old building, except over the porticO
where the coInioe Will be plain, and extend up
tflangularly, forming handsome central pedi-
msnt.
These two buildings will be further connected
by buildings at their ends. These latter will
respectively have u north and south front of Nd
feet, with the same depth as the side buildings
Their fronts Will he flushed i'll Stvle similar TO
tEat of the west building. except that the porti-
Goes Will project directly from the main wall
instead OF being secondary projections. They
VIII also each have front row OF eu ht columns
ard the upper portion vii! be finished as centre
ptdiments. The north entrance will he by a
slmliar flight of steps, with the upper fig hi; on
tue west front, (alreddy described. } but on tn.
south front there will be two such flights and
also two side flights 10 the lower platform lead
IN. between the bas;IOns at the ends of the upper
and lower main or front flights From both of
thee porticOes iheT, will also extend into the
building passage about - feet wide in each
"i which will 6e six columns ranging in double
The ends of these latter buildings will eY
tend slightly beyond the fronts of the north and
south buildings, and be finished with projecting
PlldsteTed corners, between which vii be mount
UPPER portions OF these ends will be finished MS
rsclnents, and will form PARTS of the east and
west fronts, tn: whole length OF which will then
be four bundled and sixty-hve feet The east
front Will thus comprise an extensive colonnad-
with pediments of a cores pondiny style at ,ach
end. The west front will be composed of a
PilasteTcd wall, with large colonnade portico
In the middle, and with pedlments at each end
and the centre. Any OF the front, will present a
magnificent view, Though that on the west will
be the most elaborate, and generally, no doubt
regarded al the most beautiful. But il yet re-
mains with us To say what has been done towar :
the erection OF these additional build nos and for
cur present purpose, We need only use general
terms To begin, then, the wall, OF the south
end are raised TO their full height quite all
around. On the east end and south sid. In.
sTchitrave IS laid The two monoIvth;c Columns
on The east end are set in their places and the
lnte'lor oil The lower, or basement story is nearly
finished, and the succeeding, or main story is IL,
rapid progress The foundations Of the west
building, and Of the extension in Il. rear con-
Meeting with The rear extension of the old buiId
ing, ale laid, and the arches of the vaults or ell
las, are PARTIALLY finished. \ portion Of wall