Evening star., 1865-01-06
Report of the Architect Of the Capitol Ex-
tension.

| perfOrmed d and all remaining 10 0o performed
yet on the extension of the Capitol, besides
much information regarding the extension of
| the Capitol grounds, &c, from which we make
| the following summary:
| The eastern portico Of the north wing of the
! Capitol Is entirely finished, and presents a
| specimen of exterior marble work which has
| probably never been excelled
The eastern portico OF the south wing has
| been very much retarded by the want of GER
tain blocks Of marble which were necessary to
| render available the work already prepared
| for the building. The most OF the material re-
| quired for this portico has been delivered and
wrought; and, had 1t not been tor the delay
| occasioned by the want Of the blocks alluded
| to, there would have been no difficulty in
completing this portion Of the work during the
present season.
| suggested for the extension of these grounds
| by the purchase Of additional land, and prop
state of suspense by want OF action on the
| part Of the Government. My own opinion Is
| that no additional property is required. The
| Government already owns to b street north
| and south, from west 1st street to Delaware
avenue on one side, and New Jersey avenue
on the other: if, therefore, A street is vacated,
| and the circle extended to street north and B
street south. ample space will be obtained for
all the purposes OF beauty and utility required
| ~ have, from time to time. made plans for
various members and committees of Congress
| for extending the grounds on the east, even
| down to the Potomac, on the west to Sd street,
| even as far as ID street I have never, how
| ever, sympathized with any of these schemes
| for q great enlargement of the space around the
Capitol. l am OF the opinion that the land
already owned by the Government, when in
| cluded within the Capitol inclosure. will be
qaite as extensive as will comport with the
! convenience OF building used for legislative
| purposes, and quite sufficient to give proper
| effect to its architecture. The area OF the
present incios and when enlarged, as here
| "In order to bring the subject Of the improve
| ment Of these grounds more directly before you,
| respectfully recommend:
| I" First. That the Washington and George
| town Railroad Company be auth horiZed, by law
| or otherwise, as the case may be, to remove
| the track from the Capitol grounds, and to run
| 1t along street north to east First street, and
| thence to Pennsylvania avenue, as shown on
| the accompanying map; and further, that the
| corners of Capitol SO mare be rounded, SO as to
| admit of a graceful and easy curve. by this
| arrangement the Capitol grounds will be pre-.
served intact, and the approach Of the cars to
| the north wing will be as near as 1t now is by
the track traversing the grounds.
"Second. That authority be obtained from
Congress for grading the streets on the north
| and south, and for vacating A street on either
side as soon as the new streets are prepared for
travel.
"ThIrd That the Washington and George
town and the Metropolitan Railroad Compa.
nies be directed to conform their tracks to the
new arrangement, ana to locate the same so as
to leave as much OF the roadway as possible
"Fourth. That a gradual process of filling up
be commenced, north and south, from the Cap
itol TO b street, with the view of continuing the
terraces, as indicated on the map.
Fifth. That measures be taken for paving
the entire space in front OF the Capitol to the
blocks, leaving an enclosed circle for foliage
and fountains opposite each connecting cor
ridor.
.Sixth That arran gements be made for en-.
closing the Capitol grounds with suitable rail-
ings, lodges and gates OF entrance.
I'm order to put these improvements in
Dd hopn oh
year. 1t it will require special appropriation OF
dome has been very much retarded by the
want OF suitable workmen. The construction
is complicated and difficult, requiring great
care and skill The masses OF iron to be ham
died are heavy, and the great height at which
the work is executed increases the difficulty Of
maintaining the proper gangs OF workmen.
and without accident and but few weeks
more will be required to bringit to final COM
"The exterior Is entirely finished, except a
small portion of tho base, which was omitted
In the CONSTRUCTION to give place 20 the steam.
engine and noisting apparatus; as soon as these
and the void will be filled, the materials for
this purpose being all fitted and made ready
for their places. All the exterior scafolding
Is removed, andthe outside painting is finished.
The interior ceiling is likewise completed, and
Its massy and elaborate finish cannot tail to
impress the spectator, at least with a concep.
tion Of the immense labor 1t has required to
produce it. The fact should not be lost sight
OF that this ceiling, as well as the entire struc-
ture, inside and outside, Is wholly composed
OF iron
1.-The remaining work to be done consists of
the construction OF the iron stairways leading
from the attic story OF the centre building to
the drum OF the perlstyie, and the stairs to
lead from the spring Of the ceiling to the
platform Of the tholus or lantern. The mate
rials FOR these stairWays are all prepared; 1t
will, therefore, require but short time to con-
struct them. The apparatus for lighting the
dome with gas, and the interior painting also
"The aggregate weight Of iron which has
been put In place since the date Of my last an.
wne6 bas saa me
dome from the beginning of the work to the
present date amounts to s,s7s,74a pounds: All
and delivered at the Capitol.
"1n order to make finish Of the Capitol it
will be necessary to remove the present wood
en- cupoias from the center building, and to
reconstruct the entire roof; also to remove the
immense stacks Of chImneys which now dis
figure the work. The finish which it was in 1
tended to give to the roof Of this part OF the
Capitol, at the time the design for the extern
sion was adopted, is shown by a wooden mod
ell of the entire structure, which was made
when the wings were commenced, and is now
in this office.
ssThe necessity for this improvement is two.
fold.frst, as matter Of taste; the present un-
slightly structures which disfigure the top of
the old building, are altogether inconsistent
with architectural propriety, and have been
added from time to time since the work came
out OF the hands OF Its original architects; and,
second, the whole OF this roof, with all the
constructions connected with it, are composed
OF wood, and are liable at any time to take fire
and deface other por tions of the work, as was
the case with the old Congressional Library.
"The whole Of the center building is vault
ed, so that il the wooden roofs were removed,
similar to those OF the wings OF the Capitol and
the Congressional Library, the entire building
would be wholly 6re-proof.
s.The old chimneys before referred to, are a
yery great defect, and altho ugh they may not
be vacated, the tops may be removed and so
formed as to finish on a level with the balus.
trade, like those OF the wings, without inter.
fefing with their dranght. A few feet, moro
or less. In the heighth Of these chimneys, stu.
sred AZ they are, at the base OF such struc-
ture as the dome, can have NO effect upon their
draught other means than mere elevation must
besresorted to In order to render them OF any