The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-08
CITY INTELLIGENCE.
A MARKED IMPROVEMENT.

I
that OF the new store of Messrs NJ w Gait Brother
ON the north side Of Pennsylvania avenue between Sixth
and seventh streets, adjoining Browns marble hotel
building The style of architecture is neat and tasteful
and entirely consonant with the plan and size OF the
edice, which is indeed ornament to that portion Of
the city The building has front the avenue of
thirty feet and extends back eighty feet to street.
and is five stories in height about seventy five feet
The front is built of the best machine brick made
TO order, with brown-stone window heads and facings
and finished with elaborate cornise which is beaut
fully embeIshcd and is TO be surmounted with con-
spicuous fancy sign bearing the Of the firm. The
front windows Of single English plate-glass each
eight feet by eleven The street front is also very
neat and is finished in similar style with the front on
the avenue, except that 1t is entirely Of brick without
the brown stone trimmings The lower story intended
for store ROOM and will be handsomely funishedthe
floor being laid with tile and the walls and ceiling fescoed
Over the doorway is TO be placed very beautiful clock
emblenac Of the business the firm whose establishment
is of the most extensive in the jcwelry line in this
city The dial is to be three feet in diameter and it is
to be illuminated that the hour may be ascertaned at
any time during the night The three upper stories con
tain fifteen elegant rooms furnished with water gas and
all the modern conveniences and have been leased to the
Mess. Brown, their increasing hotel business made
enlarged accommodations desirable. The second
story and basement in addition to the store are to be
occupied by the Messs Gait for manufacturing purposes
We understand the building will be ready for occupancy
in the early part Of next month and the cost including
the lot will be between forty and fifty thousand dollars
The entire work in this building has been done by
Washington mechanics, and it is proud monument to
the Of homie industry in tho federal metropolis
The master mechanics engaged in the erection Of this fine
structure Mr.. H. s. Davis carpenter and contractor
and Mr. Thomas Langley, briclayer The architect is
l ,lrfn 49, IA, a
Dreyer, and the tile laid by Ephraim French The
plumbing and gas-ftting was done by Thompson &
Brother, the plastering by Allen Jackson and the
painting by j. w. carp; while the stonecutting has
been under the direction Of Nicholas Acker The work
does much credit to all these gentlemen, well
the enterprise Of the worthy propretos of the establish
ment.
TnE ITALIAN OpERA--Thc lovers of music in our city
will be grated learn that the manager of the Wash
ngton Theatre has effected engagement, though
only for three nights with the Italian Opera Company Of
Max Maretzck, who have been singing in New York re-
Gently to crowded houses This company embraces sew
eral artstes Of eminence among whom may mention
Sonora Pepita Gassier prma DONNA and the popular
American vocalist, Miss Adelaide Phillips and there are
also Sgnors Luigi Stefan Asson Gasparoni, Garibald
CASTER Bernardo and Others in addition to full chorus
and efficient orchestra thus promising musical en-
tetainment such has seldom been offered to Wash
ington audience. The reputation and popularity of Max
Maretzek insures him reception, and will go far
towards guarantying the excellence of his troupe We
have not yet learned at what time this company will be
here but the conclusion of their engagement at the
Academy of Music New York. they advertised to
appear at the Holiday street Theatre in Baltimore for
four nights, commencing the 18th inst, and will
probably sing here afterwards they have made
arrangements to sail for Havana the 4th Of Novem
Der.
Madame Gassier made her debut before New York
audience in the role of Amina in La Somnambula and
the New York Times speaks Of her as follows:
Mme Gassier possesses the freshest voice we have had
in this country for many years 1t is of extensive compass
verging, we should suppose on three octayes well 6ee
equable throughout, and Of the pure soprano quality.
Her execution Is very greatin this opera equal to Nine
La Oranges, and purer, because Italian in method
than that ladys The role of 4a does not afford OPP
portunity to judge of her dramatic capabilities lyrcay
histroncalIy In musical defamation it to that
Nine Gasser may have to 80 through the ordeal Of
other debut Abandoning this reflection, have nothing
but praise to bestow the performance of last evening
delicious voice, admirably managed, and into
garands of fragrant melody, fairly intoxicated the audi
Long before the first act the house
in ecstasy Of delight and when the final scene
enthusiasm had usurped the place of Judgment rather
joined hands in fiaternal regard and admiration. We
have no recollection of more genuine success. :
She has also appeared in ..Rigoletto," "Troyatore
she achieved triumphs, and the papers unan-
| nous in assigning her rank among the most emf
nent vocalists Of modern times Sefan is tenor with
magnificent voice. and has already become avoritc
in New York This enterprise is attended with consid-
cradle expense and we doubt not but the management
of the theatre will be governed in their arrangement of
| the terms Of admission by judicous lberality. We
trust that appreciave public will promptly respond
to the movement and avail themselves opportuni
/ ty which is not often presented to them.
| FARE HACKNEY COACHES Although an act was
passed several years ago fixing the rates Of fare in hack
ney carriages cabs and other vehicles it is to great
extent dscgarded in practice, and believe many il
not most Of hackmen charge their passengers as
| much they think they will be willing to pay and
sometimes more than they will pay without grumbing
And then the question of baggage is in relation to
which there controversies innumeIable and in the
of passenger who has but few minutes spare
in order to reach the railroad depot in to take the
cars such argument always be protactcd by the
driver until he all that he demands. A bill is
pending before the Board of Aldermen which pro-
poses to place this whole matter beyond the reach of dis
puto, and the rates fixed, baggage included How
this would operate In the Of lady who has three
trunks two three bandboxe besides several bundles
parasol lapdog, and cage Of Canary Birds to say
nothing of an amplitude of crnolne, can only inn
agine. No hackman could carry than one such
passenger at time, baggage included - and we be-
lieve they bound to obey MI summons unless pre-