The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-08-29
Improvements az the capitol.


The Washington correspondent of the
Portland Daily Press thus describes re-
cent improvements in the Capitol, at
Washington:
.iOn the 18th September, 1898, General
Washington laid the cornerstone OF the
Capitol. The sdiace has passed through
various mutations since then, having been
partially built, then sacked and burned, DO
far IS it was combustible, then rebuilt and
finished, and now in later years so enlarged
and remodelled as to change essentially its
architectural character, and almost obliter-
ate the original design. Only now at
length, when our political institutions seem
grounding themselves more fully than ever
before upon the everlasting and immova.
bic principles of justice and right, and 20
approximating assured stability and per-
manence, is the Capitol st last approach
ing completion.
THE DOME.
HTha dome, its gIandest feature, is now
finished externally, and stands in It's grace
full msissty against the sky, monument Of
modern architectural skill SosymmetricAl
and beautiful is it, that you hardly realize
| its magnitude; but when you climb its
eiddy height, and Chamber among the net
| work of iron bars cad beams between its
outer and inner shells, you are not sur
prised to learn that eight thousand tons Of
| iron and one million of dollars have been
used in its erection. The great fresco that
is to ornament the upper section Of its iu-
terror surface, forming the vaulted ceiling
| over the centre of the rotunda, one hundred
and eighty-six feet above the floor, is now
progressing in the hands of Mr.. Constan-
tino Brumidi
THE PoRTICoEs.
The eastern porticoes of both extensions
are now complete, except few blocks yet
TO be added to the one upon the southern
or representatives end of the building.
The tympsnum of This portico moreover
has not vet received any ststusry like
these groups which form so pleasing fea-
ture Of its fellows. Both are supported BY
double rows of Corinthian columns, and
present now that they are completed, .
front Of rare magnifcence. -Four more
porticoes, smaller than these, and to be
supported by single columns, yet remain
| 70 Be built, viz: one on the northern and
The ethar on the southern end or face Of the
Cspitol, and one on the western end OF
each extension. The amount Of marble
already used in these works is truly aston
ishing, and still the Capitol is musical with
the clink of hammer and chisel, while
huge blocks on every hand are slowly as
/, sumiug the forms of pedestal and base
shaft and capital frieze and cornice. The
, | time necessary to complete the exterior Ol
The Ospitol will, Of course, depend upor
the force employed. At past rates Of pro
0ress. two or even three years win be hard
. " more than sufficient.
7 nm
"a very extensive enlargement OF tn
: Congressional Library is now in progress
4 A number of small rooms adjacent TO th
Library, formerly used for the meetings c
the committees, and for other purposes, az
: being demolished, so as to form two sps
p cious halls, one on the north and the othe
! on the south Of the library rooms, and con
{ meet with it SO IS to form two LIS. Tb
! apartment at present occupied by the Il
a brary is ninety feet in length by thirty
!. three in width, and the new rooms are {
the same width, and nearly as long. Sine
n however, they will contain three gsllarie
a whereas the cd part has but two, they wi
d each be ABOUT equal to It in capacity. tn
Z nav rooms are to be finished in all respec
like the other, that is 10 say, in rich an
L tasteful style, and perfectly fire proof. n
= iron shelves and other casting, necessary
o At these spacious halls for their intende
purposes, are to be furnished BY the arch
e tectural iron works of New York. ~
n north room Is to be finished according
4 contract by the first Of January, and u
south by the frat of July, 1866. The co
q ofthe enlargementis is estimated at $50, 90
q. When com Pleted the Library will occul
le the entire central part of the western fro
q Of the Old Capitol, will contain 1900
N volumes, and WilI be worthy OF our capt
and nation. The snlargementis going 4
a. ward upon plans made by Mr.. 7. U. VI
S, tsrs, late Capitol architect"