Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-01-13
Description of tho New Senate Chamber.


propriate addresses, procecde ina body to the
new hall, of which is thus described ::
The general aspect of the new hall is light
and graceful In shape and dimensions it is
similar to the new hall Of Representatives, but
to the eye appears more finely proportioned. =
The stye and character of decoration is nearly
the same in both houses, except that in the
Senate the tone of color is much more Subdued
The area of the floor is so feet 10y 46 feet and
of the roof II hy 80 feet the difference being
occupied by continuous gallery around the
the four sides of the apartment, and capable
of seating 200 persons. The inner roof or
ceiling, of iron, is fiat, with deep panels Il OF
which are filed with ground glass having in
the centre of each pane a colOred medallion
representing the printing press, stenm-engine
cornucopia and other symbols OF progress and
plenty. The light is supplied wholly through
the window in the roof, and the effect is good,
food Of light falling ON the reverend siegnors
ON the floor while the galleries remain in half
shadow.
The gas apparatus is placed above the cell
Ing, so that the light streaming through the
pahcs may seem like softened effect of sun
light The ceiling is 35 feet from the floor,
but presents an appearance OF greater altitude
1t is encrusted with floral and other embllish-
meuts in the high relief, and all of iron. The
floor of the chamber is covered with | 100 yards
OF tapestry carpeting, having large pattern
of flowers on purple ground. Its effect is
not unpleasing. Had time permitted a carpet
would have been manufactured Of color and
design 70 harmonise-is for instance, of red
stars on buff ground. The Vice Presidents
desk is q modest table of mahogany, as unlike
as possible to the marble bar on which the
Speaker pounds The places of Senators are
arranged in three sem-circular rows around the
the scat of the Vice President.
The spectators galleries are upholstered in
drab damaSk rather too blue in tone for good
effect Ample accommodation is supplied, even
to the extent of ladies' robing room. Access
to the galleries is obtained through doors of
maple, inlaid with bronze. The gallery set
apart for the press is filled with desks for about
twenty persons, and it is understood that no
one will be permitted within it unless specially
accredited by the Vice President
When the dust Of a few sessions shall have
taken the gloss of it, and the genus kocl had
time to settle himself, there can be little doubt
this new chamber will DO found in every way
more fitting than the old.
The wings of the Capitol being Of the Roman
Corinthian order of architecture, the interior
fittings and decorations are, of course, in har-
mony Herewith The hall itself is approached
by two grand stairways-the east Of Tennessee
marble the vest entirely of white marble of
extreme purity. Neither is yet completed but
enough is shown by the broad marble steps
the massive balustrades of the same material
and the superb columns, with their capitals
heightened with bronze, to indicate the mag
niticence of the design Both stairways are
lighted from the roof, with special adaptation
to The walls being covered with historical paint
ings This situation is considered the most
favorable in the buildings for the execution of
some works of art recording the deeds of his
tory.
The Senators retiring room and antc-cham
ber are the most highly flushed rooms in the
Capitol They are in totally different styles
The retirng-room is entirely of marble, the
roof supported by columns of rare beauty. 1t
is impossible to desire any effect more chastc
than this apartment presents, with the cold
glitter of its walls and roof, unadorned the
most" Three mirrors, inserted as panels in the
wall, are, each, of the dimensions of one hun
dred and twenty inches in height by sixty
inches wide. The aute-room is excessive in
ernamentation and is yet unfinished. The walls
are divided by giIded work in reliero, into
spaces for fresco paintings. The domed cell
ing of the room is panelled, each panel being
filled with rosette of FURNISHED gold The
four spandrilS and the centre of the dome have
allcgorical paintings executed in q superior
manner and forming a contrast to certain med
alons in another portion of the building, where
one represents q celestial being with disicated
o,I n oIJ Of al bol,,
dancing the bOlcrO.
The Presidents aud Vice Presidents apart
ments. and the committee rooms, enter from
the level of the Senate floor. All are decora
ted Some few are finished but the greater
number are Incomplete in consequence of the
action of Congress in withholding supplies. The
corridors and passages are likewise in progress
Of establishment. All are paved with encaustic
tiles. The arched roofs are generally finished
In geometric designs, enclosing landscape aud
heraldic devices The walls are covered with
trclliswork of flowers and foliage, on which
cupidS and Native American birds, beasts, and
creeping things are ascending and decending,
With more or less resemblance to nature
Some of the flower and fruit p 'eceS are gems.
They might be cut from the wall and framed
as originals of Lance.
The heating and Ventllatng arrangements
are said to be the largest in the world those
of the English House of Parliament not except
ed. Every portion of the CapitoI-that noun
tsinous mass of marbles at once ventilated
and warmed by one apparatus. Eight boilers
convey steam to coils set in different places of
the cellarage, supplying any required degree of
heat, and at the same time, motive power to
two fans in either wing. One of those fans
seuds continual breezes of medicated Dir thro
the smaller apartments, while the other performs
the same service for the Senate chamber The
dir is graduated according to the atmospheric
temperature without and the political excite
mont within-during o sectional debate never