The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-01-07

funpowd r, at the Relay House, and al
Annapolis Junction, we found encamp-
ments of regiments. On the north side Of
Baltimore we saw a long esrthwork,
mounted with wicked looking Columbiads
one Of a series of works erected as a war
ming to the rebelious city. We also got
a distant view of Fort McIienry, with It's
guns not only commanding the harbor,
but pointing inward at the City of Balti
more, enforcing good behavior,
The travel to and from Washington is
immense. Six passenger trains are run
each way daily, and each train is com
posed of from eight to ten coaches, filled
to repletion. The hotels are not only ELL
ed, but running over, and it is estimated
that while the permanent population OF
the city is some 10000, the floating pop,
ulation fully equals that number. After
waiting a day, we managed to get room
at Wizards, the clerk, thinking that we
were not likely to get very far heaven
ward of ourselves, sent us perhaps less
then a mile in that direction, and charged
US correspondingly for the privilege. But
having read AErEMus WARD, we were
prepared TO pay big for all long breaths
drawn, and all questions asked, in the
vicinity of tie Washington "taverns."
Washington, apart from the public
grounds and buildings and business, is
abou;as dirty, and as dull, and as unin
teresting city as the country affords.
1t bears too evidently the marks Of South
ern thrlillessness-the impress of that
prctenlious snobocracy which puts up
with primitive and unwieldy and unprof-
table forms, rather than charge them
selves with the labor Of procuring others.
The public buildings, however, are mag
nitcenl in every regard, worthy OF the
country, and Of our people. The capitol,
alone, is worth weeks journey 10 see
1t covers, we believe, about ten acres OF
surface, and is surrounded by spacious
grounds, au.lfully adorned Howev-
er Ii may appear TO cultivated eye and
critical taste, 10 our unarlislic perception
the building has much Of symmetry and
grace, and beauty of design. The new
wings, and the immense yet graceful
dome, arc still incomplete. The miles
of passages, perfectly labrinthine to the
stranger, arc richly ornamented with
stuccoing, painting, gliding. frescoing
and mosaic. Its grand slaircases, of
pure white Italian, and Tennessee varie
gated, marble, polished almost to the
brightness of a mirror, are certainly as
magnificent as taste and labor can make
them. The committee rooms are richly
adorned, the ceilings and walls painted
with designs typical Of the interests with
which the respective committees are en-.
trusted. The rotunda, with It's histor
cal paintings and portraits-the library
room. with its hundreds of thousands OF
volumes, many of them rare and valua
BILE old lomes-lhe Presidents room, gor-
geous in its decorations, aud with its
curious arrangement Of mirrors, that null
tiply objects indefinitely, and with mosl
pleasing effect-the Vice Presidents
room. built entirely Of marble, of vari
Gus colors, and highly polished-lht
splendid halls Of the Senate and House
of Represcntatives-all challenge our
senses to admiration and enthusiasm.
But we have neither space or ability for
description. The Treasury building,
built of granile-lhe Patent Office aud
the Post Office, of white marble-are
also massive and beautiful structures
The Navy and War Departments, how
ever, are located in OLD, brown, dirty look
ing structures, west Of the White House
The Presidents House is pure white
marble structure, overlooking the Poto-
mac, and surrounded by beautiful
grounds. The noted East room, in which
the receptions are given, is about 100
feet long by 40 wide. Adjoining it is
the Blue Room, where the President ard
his lady receive their guests Both have
been recently richly, tastefully and mag
nificently relurnished.
Our first move on Friday, after break
fasting, WAS 10 call on our old friend and
townsman, Mr.. LATHrop, who has desk
in the Navy Department. We hardly
think Washington atmosphere agrees
with him as well as the freer air of the
Iowa praries and, Ike all the Iowaiaas
whom we saw, who have positions in tie
several departments, he seems to have &C
quired no special affection for 81, 20O
clerical position at Washington. We
called too, TO see our clever, able and
spicy friend, Z" LINK" OF the late Iowa