Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1859-01-14
THE NEW sENATH oHAmnBR.

The general aspect Of the new Hall is
light aud graceful. In shape and dimen-
sions it Is similar to the new Hall of Repre-
s0ntatiycs, but TO the eye, appears more
finely proportioned. The style and charac-
tor Of decoration are nearly tho samo in
both houses, except that in tho Senate tho |
tone Of color is much more subdued. The
area Of tho floor is 80 10y As feet, and of tho
roof ll2 by 80 feet---thc difference BEING
occupied by continuous gallery around the
four sides of the apartment and capable Of
seating l,200 persons. The inner roof. or
ceiling, of iron, is fiat with deep panels 81
Of which are filled with ground glass hav-
ing in the center Of each pane a colored
medallion representing the printing press,
steam engine, cornucopia, and other SYM
bols of progress and picty. The light is
supplied wholly through this window in the
ceiling, and tho effect is good--a food of
light falling on the reverend seignors on the
floor, while the galleries remain in halfshad-
Ow. The gas apparatus j; placed above the
ceiling, 50 that the light streaming through
the paues may seem like softencd effect
of sunlight.
The ceiling is 35 feet from the floor, but
! presents an appearance Of greatar altitude.
1t Is encrusted with floral and other embel-
ishments in high relief and all of IRON
The floor of the Chamber is covered with
LOO yards Of tapestry carpeting, having
large pattern Of flowers on purple ground /;
its effect is not unpleasing. Had time per-
mittcd carpet would have been manufac-
. tured Of color and design to harmonize-as
for instance,red stars on buff ground. The
Vice Presidents desk is a modest table Of
mahogany, as unlike as possible to the mar
bic bar on which the Hon. Speaker pounds.
The places Of Senators arc arranged in three
semicircular rows. The Spectators Gal.
leries are upholstered in drab damask rath-
or too blue in tone for good effect Ample
accommodation is supplied, even to tho OK
tent of ladies' robng-room. Access to
the galleries is obtained through doors Of
maple, inlaid with bronze. The gallery sot
r apart for the press is fitted with desks for
about 20 persons, and it is understood that
no ono will bo permitted within it, unless
, specially accredited by the Vice President.
4 When the dust of a few sessions shall
a have taken the gloss off it, and the qeniu,
: loci had time TO settle himself, there can bo
] little doubt this new Chamber will be found
in every way more fitting than the old.
S The wings of the Capitol being Of the
Roman Corinthan order of architecture, tho
interior fittings and decorations are, of cours,
in harmony herewith. The Hall itself il
: approached by two grand stairways-thc
y east of Tennessee marble, the west entirely
: Of white marble Of extreme purity. Meth
er is yet completed; but enough is showr
n by the broad marble steps, the massive bal
y ustrados of the same material, and the su
! perb columns, with their capitals heightened
o with bronze, to vindicate the magnifcenc,
If of the design. Both stairways are lightoc
Y from the roof, with special adaptation tC
Il the walls being covered with historical paint
:. ings this situation is considered the mos
>. favorable in tho building for the executi OIL
y of some work of art recording the deeds 0
history.
The Senators retiring room, and ante
chamber are the most highly finish0l room
in the Capitol. They are in totally differ
b ent styles. The retiring room . entirel
: of marble; the roof is supported by col
IN umns Of rare beauty. 1t is impossible I
Al desire any effect moro chaste than thi
IA apartment presents, with the &C ylitter {
is OF its walls and roof "unadornod adorue
q. the most" Three mirrors inserted as pal
Y els in the wall, are each of the dimension
Or of 100 inches in hight by 80 wido. Th
,e ante-room is excessive in ornament, and
yet unfinished. The walls are divided
gilded work in relieve into spaces for fresc
ce paintings. The dome ceiling of the ROOF
n is panelled, each panel being filled with
s. rosette Of FURNISHED gold. The four spal
'p drels in the center of the dome have allegt
N rical paintings executed in a superior mar
u ner, and forming contrast to certain MI
a dallions in another portion of the buildin,
e. where one represents a celestial being wit
m dislocated hip, and another, the goodies
US of melancholy dancing the boIero.
The Presidents and Vice President
~ apartments and the Committee Rooms OF
at ter from the level of the Senate floor. A
vo are decorated. Some few are finished, b.
b. the greater number arc incomplete, in col
no sequence of the action of Congress in wit
holding supplies. The corridors and pa
sages arc likewise in progress of embsllis
les ment All are laid with encaustic tiles
; The arehed roofs, are, generally speakin
'I' finished in goometric designs, iuclosil
o. o landscape aud heraldic devices. The wa
no are covered with trellis-work Of flowers a
"A foliage, on which Cupids and native Am,
"g ican birds, beasts and creeping things 9
ascending and descending, with moro
he less resemblance to nature. Some Of {
my flowers and fruit pieces are gems.
ks The heating and vsntilating arrane
ne ments are said to be the largest in d
world, those Of the English House Of Pi
in Lament not excepted. Every portion
tor the Capitol-that mountainous mass
,se marble-is at once ventilated and warm
by one apparatus. Eight boilers conv
. steam to coils set in different parts Of t
~ cellarage supplying any required degree
81 heat, and at the same time motive power
W. W. two fans in either wing. One of these "a
" sends continual breezes of medicated
iu' through the smaller apartments, while /
lie, other performs the same service for the S,
-hs ate Chamber. Tho air is graduated aoco
aid ing to the atmospheric temperature witho
aid and the political excitement within-dnri
a sectional debate mover to exceed 90o, q
on Ordinarv occasscts 20 .arc.o kot,.,os.., y