Evening star., 1864-12-24
LOCAL NEWS.

Report of Hon. Il. B. French, Commits.
sioner of Public Buildings.
The excellent annual report OF Hon. b. b.
French, Esq, Commissioner of Public Build
inse, embodies SO many valuable suggestions
Of interest to this community that, though
much crowded to day, we devote considerable
space to its leading points.
THE CAPITOL.
Commissioner French says that this build.
Ing Is, at the present time, in as good order and
repair as 1t can well be placed with the ordi.
nary appropriations at the command Of the
Commissioner. n the course OF the past sea.
son, some very prominent improvements have
teen made. Congress appropriated SIS 600 On
OF the appropriation for the Capitol Extensio
for constructing marble floor and making
other improvements in the old hall of the
House OF Representatives. This was yery
Limited sum fer doing the large amount of work
required even where the provision OF the act
making tHe appropriation that "such marb
as may be now on hand, and not other wise re-.
quired,' should he used in tiling, is taken into
consideration. The work was, however, COM
menced in the most economical manner posi-
b e, and he has gore on, and expects by the
lime Congress assemblies, TO have the passage
way from the rotunda to the bronze doors at
the south side of the hall finished and closed in
with proper railing 1t is hoped that, by EN-.
pioying men engaged on the Oapi-oi Exteu.
sion, and using the waste material, that the en-
tire Job may be completed for the sum appro-
priated, but tits very doubtful whether Il can
A special appropriation OF $4,000 was made
for cleaning and painting the crypt and pas
sages under the rotuuda The work has been
Well and 1althtuiiy done for Sl,i95, according
TO the contract
The sum Of S5,0 20 was also appropriated FOR
Ieconstructing five OF the Old burnt-out fur
DacPs under The old portion of thu Capitoi
This work was also done most satistactorily
by contract, tor s, ,S'.5.
When the cid water closets of the House Of
Represen tatives were removed from the base.
ment OF the old buildiDg, several years ago. the
naked brick wall was left, and presen ,ed q
most unsghtly and dilapidated appearance to
tba eyes as we'll as exposing the building it.
self to injury from the elements. Supposing
that Congress would readily make an appro-
pTiation for the wall, and having some old
stone on hand, a stone mason was employed,
In 1862, TO prepare the stone and face up the
wall. The work was admirably done, As NAV
be seen by inspection, at an expense Of sl,799 i6,
and an appropriation asked for 10 meet the ex.
pense. 1t was not, however, made, and the
Commissioner was compelled to pay for the
work out OF the current appropriation for the
repairs OF the Capitol.
The basement OF the north wing requires to
be repaired in the same manner, and the work
will cost. in consequences OF the rise in build.
ing material and labor, at least 80, 500 Ans an
preparation Of $4,000 is needed to reimburse the
sum already paid, and to- repair the north
basement in the same manner.
The sum OF 81 500 was appropriated at the
last session for painting the iron railing around
the Capitol grounds, and as the estimate on
which that appropriation was founded con-
templated that il should be done with q patent
varnisb, the Commissioner caused it to he done
in that way. The paint is said by good Judges
TO be the best that has ever been invented Tor
iron, and 1t certainly has the appearance of
being all that can be desired, fer the fence looks
better than ever before, and much OF it has
been erected long within his remembrance of
the public buildings and enclosures Of Wash.
ington.
That the eastern and western parts of the
Capitol grounds are admirably taken care OF
by the public gardener, Mr.. Jas. Nokes, must
be apparent 10 all, as they never appeared to
greater advantage than during the past sum-
mer. = tt -% @15A - ~ EA85tGlF,s
Workmen are now engaged in removing the
upsighify scaffolding In the center OF the ro-
tunda; the temporary roof will soon be taken
away, and the magnificent work Of the ianer
dome, now completed, will be In view from
the floor. No work that has ever been done In
iron can surpass 1t, ;andit will, no doubs, be
pronounced by all most creditable to the or.
chiteeti who plan ned IL. the iron. workers who
furnished it and put it mp, and all concerned
in any way In ite erection and finish. "a
THE PRESIDENTS HOUSE.
= The Presidents House, with the exception OF
the main floor, is in great want OF repair. The !
$1,000 appropriated at the last session for re-
pair of the basement, was, N ucn OF u, expend.
ed in anticipation Of the appropriation, IN order
TO render the basement tsnantabIe The large
furnace, supplying heat for che entire upper
portion Of the house, through the hot watsr