The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-02-22
The NATIONAL eapitol Esu.raing.

rally makes it a point 70 examine the
National Capitol Building. This imposing
structure does not fail to impress the be-
holder with surprise and wonder, and
after perambulating is numerous halls
and corridors for hours, he often goes away
with but an imperfect knowledge Of its
vastness, grandeur and magnifcence.-
He visits the Senate Chamber, and from
the spacious galleries takes a view of the
distinguished men there assembled, notes
the gravity and becoming dignity which
characterize the American Senate, hears
peradyenture, some honorable Senator's
speech, and goes away, if he be an Ameri-
can citizen, with the satisfactory conclu-
sion, that here at least, is an august body
which truly represents American ideas,
and the grave and patriotic purposes Of
the American people. Leaving the Sen
ale Chamber, he strolls through the ad
Joining rooms, substantially, though not
gaudiIy furnished, where the Senate clerks
and attaches of the Senate congregate to
perform the duties assigned them, takes
look at the Presidents room, the Vice
Presidents room, the Reception room, the
Postoffice, and then moves on towards the
Rotunda. On his way he will be likely
to pause and probably step into the old
Senate Chamber, near the gathering place
of the q. S. Supreme Court, where he
will behold number of grave and dign:-
fed gentlemen in gowns, known as JUS
tices of the Supreme Court of the United
States. Here the great questions of Con-
stitutional and public law are discussed
aud decided. Moving on from the Court
room, the visitor will pass through what
is called the Pit, (not a very Interesting
spot,) to the Rotunda, a spacious gallery Of
paintings, crowned above by a series of
historical groupings in fresco, alof which
in a future number (if .ime will permit
we will try and describe The Rotunda
is feature in itself, and the following
description of its vastness may not be un-
interesting to the readers OF The AHe9fta-
nion The height of the dome from the
base line of the east front is 287 feet and
5 ZIG inches; height of the dome from
the top of the balustrade, 2l7 feet and
IL ZIG inches; height Of the figure,
Goddess Of Liberty, crowning the dome,
10 feet 4 inches. The weight of this
figure is 1880 pounds Greatest dlmen-
sion of the base of this dome, I35 feet
5 inches; greatest dimension of the dame
proper, 124 feet % inches dimension
of the Rotupda, 50 feet 81 inches;
height from the floor of the Rotubda 10
the top of tie canopy, $50 feet inches
This is but poor account of it upon pa
per; to be fully appreciated, i must be
seen. - e
After the visitor has taken view OF
the pictures in the Rotunda, and aseended
the winding staircase to the top of the
dome and taken look at Washington
and the surroundings, in all their magnif-
cence, he will naturally move on to the
old hall of the House Of Representatives,
and notice by the way the statues there
gathered, and possibly, caIi to mind some
of the distinguished men who enact laws
dor the government of the country. The
4ext place of Interest which will &c likely
to attract the attention Vi the visitor will
be the House of Representatives; ana
In come future number we will attempt
some description Of this splendid dail'
and also note some Of the leading meuf-
hers of the Thirty-pinth Congress 1t
remains now that we describe the extent
Of the Capitol as it stands. Whole extent
Of building, ISL feet 4 iucbea; length
of the old Capitol, $50 feet 4 inches;
width of the wings, l42 feet 8 inches;
depth of wings, 324 feet; area Of grounds
actually covered, 153,ll2 square feet, or
more than three and a half acres. Height
of the base line of the entire building
above tide water, 81 feet 6 inches The
building complete will challenge the ad-
mirat;on of the world, aud travellers from
Europe who visit it, say, that there is no
public building of the kind IN the Old
- Ill, - oou,,arahle 10 il