The New York herald., 1863-12-10

reusrs thlss ruaas 80 s-,.svslsrs srasnsflsa
rr~ os. ss.uss - e. ,a..~s.s. - IN. s.r
Aai dlns "a tea s.sa - nssn r.rased ~ah sress
' 20 -sss' a. s 80 -. ,sss -. = 90, -,
rnliis admitted asa ths isrS~rr -ssss q shs sssaas
To- resrss uf 90 rr---s-na - a. usss.spn %, Ne
rod wtth gtrF@t tekrysses exrn~st es~srr fw
aflelsfior - aalse.as isndis tss srisns ~
ed,ass ga ss-soaasre - .s~t-a us aass p~s.sa~s,
sua ces-nei,ess wsesisair ses~ 90 ete~s p~~-sary
a.ss - ss-s psfT-.~ ssssl-,.ai sTprag-,-ssoe.
s~sas,ias g. a,st 90 80 a ee ins n,~rsss -
~iil rFosfsy @FTsy ssr ssn-rS~ ss. a. rsof..~-f
erisregrsofs sFe smnfrfiy rfss- ed shsaa ~ nlae
fore my Stan have aavunssa ! p~lcs s<A.r~ps
apTr~pf TED hut a o. e1sy aepFno' 90 -ssks pso
ne pslres e osssmsm ass 80 eAaarss Z V-s
sens N fhs m-rsTy ssa tsva ssrxse, -he as
, .,.e., ~. = ,ss :, 'ssss.ss m. .'" .'s,
y. y sr.. ~ a ~. . 80 ss'ss. ss p,ss-ss
psrseaans 90 ,ss buidlss euup.~a ave sntrsy us~..
frr tss p.r,s- wAsrh hog appts~a ssa shou
ssseved. So thsH rAees salsed ~ sas.ts"stA bras
p.e u orecasns tAsseoa propss ~orsshssss
.ss,ainea tros sas prupaaed isr
the wili o. Csssress w.hi be ths sshees si s~ra
essy rcconms~a east prevss's BE- psas. sos ss me
ans sais acoamrsls 20 AZ s1s oa,'srsa a shs nss1s
~La eu,slsa % samlsslon sts tss instsaaiaA. n
appropriation of lsor that parpcss
csrfful ssrrNaex
Satisfactory freNrss has been us~s ths ~ovs ~ the
csis,ss exiensiaa sae sssns. uo4~ahstsbdng tbe
dihouiie- encountered n ohanns the mtreie ior TIE
for the peculiar char~clr o the sort o. e done
latter.
eastern pFco q the north wiae has ssn constructed
and much wnk dne that N 'he -oaih wing. Tba por
tcos Of the ccrnecing ccvsors and sne vrante plat
forms AMI bet tkc old cousri gcfuus Of
the building sDd the we'll the anproass
70 both wings the seni. have aso been
north wing ~'ii also be finishes psesens
The group Of st-iuary which executed here ~
for the pod Of the pors.co norh ng
designed TO reprasent the progress of ciysson" " aud
also designed by Crawford and execsed htly have
been put 10 their respective places aud attract much
tention aud merited adm ration.
The expensive and eaborstoly wrought bronge door
designed by Randolph Rogers and as the hsRarian
foundry In Munich, and the marble sstues VI Franklin
and Jefferson, executed In Italy. by Hiram Po~ers ader
contract made by your immediate predecessor uodor
the authority OF an act OF Congress. have also been
ceved and placed IN appropriate Positions IA the building
All those works OF art, aud lew others DOT yet
pieed, were exempted from the restrictions which
imposed upon the establishment of the Capitol with
statuary and painting by the recent legislation " Con-
colossal figure OF Freedom designed by Crawford
and executed by Clark Mills the "a instant
cesefuly raised 10 its elevated place the dome.
and forms grend and appropwaie GROWING 10 the
With view to economy. during the present year.
soVnsnea S,n ,he oase ol a1cnect o. 'he rA,en, ocs
the architect OF the Capitol extension Preparations have
been made for finishing tho saloon Of the north rcut and
for furnishing the same with suitable Tor the
ception and exhibition o. models.
The work will DO completed during the approaching
sion OF Congress for purpose The architect strongly
the proprety and necessity Of comp citing the exe
rior Of the north front and appropriation for that pur
pose has been submitted in the annual estimates.
1t became ndlspcnsably necessary, for the proper ~
iumbia and the officers connected tssrewih to make
certain changes and outs In the eastern portion
Of the City Hail. which have caused 70 DO made ~ the
expense OF the Judiciary fund.- upon which u has been
usual 70 draw for such purposes and the Court
enabled TO despatch the business coming before with
much greater convenience and sstssscton TO tho pnbc
The rep,rt Of the Commissioner OF Public Buildings
will indicate 10 Congress the alterations and repairs which
have been nde the flushed portions Of the Capitol
and what additional Improvements he deems sdvsabls
q have provided Tor BY further legislation. II also
wo IL :1S have
during tho past year, and recommends other improve
msnts q the streets sand and public grounds which recon
appropriate committeos OF Congress.
TIE duties properly appsr ming to ,hs once q Com
been greatly augmented within the past fev years.
and and sometimes . by the imposition upon him o.
him. therefore, well to the public ,he
commencement q the present tscal year rcl leyed him
tenden and srecia disbnsing agent for tho Capitol
tension the Patent Office buiding aud the washrgton
aquedIct. In making this Arrangement Saving % the
government eiectea, while l. at the same time.
cured tor these important works tue services Of profes
, WASHINGTON AoUhDUcT.
The work the Washington aqueduct has progressed,
to this department. with but slight exceptions and tie
water OF the Potomac river has been this day intro
duced into the ervairs. The walls and banks OF
the distributing reservoir were designed by the en-
ginee who projeoted the aqueduc, TO be protected with
broken stone, and contract was made and the
work conMenced on that plan; but IL appeared
TO me 10 be unsubsIantia and insufficient FOR the pur
na caused naSy 70 DC mnae as ossr 70 sns
and ionbd that with bnt few any eScep,ons the walls
were lined wi b solid stone masonry l,,d 10 The best Of
others, and by the advice OF eminent engineers. direct
ed thin dressing OF broken stone TO be accd the
interior walls for foundation. and the ~hole q lie aceo
with solid stone work OF about the same thckncss the
contemplated riprap broken stone wall According To
the original plan OF the aqueduct. the water from the
Potomac is conducted into receiving reservoir formed
by dam across stream called Powder Mill or Little
Falls branch about nine miles below the head ~ the
dut whence Is conveyed about mcs further down
isributpg reservoir divided into two equal cors
or basins by an embankment designed chiefly filter
ing purposes Il is thus always nterminged with The
water from Powder Mil branch. Tho latter sroam drains
a CONSIDER bic extent OF country and s subject to fe
auent and heavy freshets which render IL water unit
for immediate use. At times this sire IN rs clear while
the water Of the Potomac is rendered impure by reason
Of heavy rains It's IL is therefore import
that the aquednct should be SO constructed 10
afford an adequate supply Of water from whichever OF
these may for the time, be most Tree from i'm
purtes and TO exclude that which may be unfit for
For this purpose the engineer in charge proposes TO
meet the conduit above the receiving reservoir with that
below t so that the water from the Potomac may he
brought directly into the distributing reservoir without
pro oses to construct gate house IN the dividing wall Il
the distributing reservoir SO M 10 admit OF the Of
the either section. become desirable
BY means OF hese improvements the requisite ssppv o;
water may be drawn from whichever o. four distinct
sources may be the purcst and best-viz: Potomac
river Powder Mill branch or either section OF the dis
trbuting but without arrangement
can unfaing and abundant sdpply of g 'od apd whole
some cannot at all times be ohane Under these
ances, have deemed necessary 10 order these
changes n the original plan, and have made the
OF appropriations for the completion ur the
form thereto For Information IN oeta in reereuce TO
subject invite attention TO the full and able report
OF the chief engineer.
Certain parties having from time to time, made claim
20 heavy damages Tor the diversion Of the water
the Potomac river, my immediate predecessor With q
view TO settle and end this cam encfed into
ment o. arbitration with tho claimants In pursu 90
this agreement, the arbraofs me. from time to time
and finally submitted their award, BY which they al
Judged in favor of the claimants upon each and an the
plans and modes submitted To them, beng three mum
ber for the construction Of the dam The Potomac
and also Sl2 600 their fee arbitrators, aud
$76l 50 tpr tho expepces o arbrat'n The sums beng
large did not feel justified IN Applying the existing
appropriation for the completion lueducj ihe
payment thereof preerring 10 submit whole matter
iafa patus.i