The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-02-02
The New L. S. Senate. Chamber.

r. . j b -
The general aspect of the new hall Is
light and graceful. In shape and dimeni
sions it is similar, to the new hall Of req:
resentatives, but to the eye appears more
finely proportional. The style and char:
acter of decoration is; nearly the same id
both houses. except that in, the Senate
the tone Of the color is mnch mora sub
dued, The area of the floor is eighty
feet by forty7eight, and of the roof one
hundred and twelve by eighty feet, the
difference being occupied by Continuous
gallery around, the four sides of the apart
ment, and capable ofseating one Thousand
two hundred persons. The inner roof
or ceiling, Of iron, is Fat, with deep pan.
els, twenty-one Of which are v6lls6 with
ground glass; having in the. centre Of
each pane o colored medallion rspressn-
ting the printing press steam engine, cor
nucopis; and other symbols Of progress
and plenty. .ys.ql4 lra6 70 s9gnab
The light is supplied wholly through
the window in the roof, and the effect is
good; a food of light is falling o1 the
reverend seigniors on the floor, while the
galleries remain in half shadow The
gas apparatus is placed above the, ceiling,
so that the light, streaming through the
panes may seem like q softened effect Of
sunlight The ceiling is twenty -four feet
from the floor, andis encrusted With floral
and other Embellishments, in high relief.
andsnlldof iron.i The floor Of the cham-'
ber is covered with ono Thousand seven
hundred yards ofitapsstry ca.peting, hav-
ling a large pattern Of, flowers on, q pHuple
ground. Its effects is not unpleasiae.-
The Vice Presidents desk Is : modest
table Of mahogany, as,, pnliksEssYepsibIs
the marble bar on which. the, Speaker,
pounds. s,.,-.,t,
The places Of Senators are arranged In
three semi-circular rows around thS Seat
Of the Vice President . The spectator
gallery is upholstered in drab, damssk.-
The reporters gallery contains desks fbr
twenty persons. The Senators' retiripg-
room, and ante-chamber are the most
highly finished rooms In the cspitpl-
the fermer being entirely ,of. marble aAd
| SuppOIIcu Wy COiumuo Vi EuEo soo8uty.sT
There are mirrors inserted iE the panels,
each ten feet high and Eve feet wide: TIE
domed ceiling is panelled and ~
centre filed with ,allegoricall lpaiptiags sA-
ecuted in q superior manner. The Pres
ident's rooms are on level with the
chamber, and all are decorated. =. !,
Every portion of the capitol, = noun.
famous mass, of 3 merble--iso heated
and ventilated by an apparatus saidlta
be the largest in the, world, The, Britisl
parliament house not excepted. Eight
boilers convey steam to coils setin dilsr-
ent parts of cellerage. supplyi9g Any sres
quired degree of heat, and; ct the sams
time, revolving power to two fans 10 either
wing Thirty thousand cubic feet '6f 'Ait
are circulated through the chamber psi
minute, which quantity may be incrsdsed
to eighty thousand. The appsretpseiz
completely under control, and rSepetolg
can at all times protect themselves ffop,
the. indiscretion of operators.l The ex-
terror of the building is still numbered up
with an immense mass Of material which
workman are busily engaged in removing.