Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-01-28
THE UNITED STATES ARCHITECTS REPORT


We have received copy of the report of Dr. THOMAS
u WALTER the architect of the United States Capitol
Extension and the New Dome, accompanying the annual
report of the Secretary of the Interior for the year 1863
1t gives succnct and lucid account of the progress made
during year upon the works under the architects
charge and Of their condition at the date Of the report
November l. 1863
The amount expended account Of the Capitol E1ten.
sion during the year from October 81 1862 to October
81 1863 1878 296 and the entire expenditures under
this head from the commencement of the work down to
the astnamed date set down at S. 909 leaving
unexpended balance of appropriations of $33TI2 In
order to continue the work without interruption Dr. Wal
ter estimates that appropriation of $500O0 will be
required early in the present session Of Congress for the
remainder of the present fiscal year. and appropriation
Of 900 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1865
The work upon the new dome, whose grand and beau
hful proportions will stand perennial monument to
the genius and sk of the distinguished architect has not
advanced rapidly during the last year expected
in consequence of the difficulty of obtaining suitable work
DR.. Walter hopes to finish the construction Of
both the exterior and interior of the dome By the middle
of the present year The progress Of the work upon the
Patent Office building and the completion OF the improve
ments made in the City Hall also duly chroncled by
the architect in the report before
1t already known to readers that the bronze door
Of Rogers has been put up between the old Hall Of the
House of Representatives and the corridor leading to the
south wing Of the Capitol This position not well adapted
to exhibition of the artistic beauties Of the work and
in hs last annual report DR. Walter had recommended to
place it at the central entrance to The Capitol He now
syes the for t present location and susgess that
it may eventually receive ts appropriate position when
the eastern potco of the old building s brought into
architectural harmony with the wings and the dome To
this effect he says:
find, after having seep the door that it not at all
suitable for the exterior entrance Of sush building il
has too much fine detail for outside exposure in climate
like this and it placed in the centre of the eastern
'front.' proposed ts surroundings would not be 10 har
raony with magnificent and elaborate work of art The
eastern port Of the old building will certainly be taken
down at very dstan DAY. and the front be extended
eastward at least to the front line Of the WINGS 90 az 10
complete the architectural group, and at the same time
afford additional sccopmodatons to the legislative depart
ment of the Government When this improvement shall
have been put in progress the vestibue may be made
leading feature n the building and it may be designed
to be in harmony with this door, which oan then be
removed and made to the purposes of an inner or
vestbne door, where will be protected from the weather
and where the architecture in with IL will be
consistent with its form and in harmony with its design"