The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-03-02

front and about quarter OF mile distant
from the presidents house.
The base is to be a circular temple, 25O feet
in diameter, and 100 feet high, upon winch
thsre is to be a shaft Of 70 feet base and Duo
feet high, the total elevation of the monument
being 600 feet. The temple is to CONTAIN sta
tues of revolutionary heroes, and reilcs OF
Washington II is to be surrounded by
colorado of 30 dorio pillars, with suitable
entablature and balustrade. Eaeh state con-
tributes a block of native stone or other ma
terial. which is to be placed in the interior |
walls. The work on the monument was stop |
ned or 6 years ago, and there Is nothing to |
be seen az yet but plain shaft about lou
feet high.
About mile and half due west from the
Capitol is the
PRESIDENTS MANSION,
or White House, as it is familiarly called,
where dwells at present that man at the
other end of the avenue" as Thsd Stevens
spitefully SAYS, who is dstined to bring or.
der out of chaos, union out Of distraction.
national love and unity out of intestinal strife
and discord and hand down a name to poster
ity, second to none that have proceeded him,
for courage, patriotism and obedience to the
constitution qualities to be priced In these
DAYS of demonaical faction and disunion pro-
clivities.
This edifce was erected in 1892. burned
down by the British in 1914 and rebuilt
shortly afterwards. 1t is built OF treestone
and painted white. The lawns around. con-
tanning some twenty acres, drop gradually
towards the Potomac river.
| This elegant but not imposing editice is two
stories high ITO long and Sc feet deep. On
| the north 'front.' upon Pennsylvania Avenue,
| the building has portico, with four Ionic col
umns, under which carriages pass. clrcu-
! lsr colorado of six Doric pillars adorns the
| Potomac front.
| In the centre of the lawn, across the Az
enue. on the north, is Clark Mllis's bronze
equestrian status of Gen. Jackson, erected IN
January 1853. The artist has the honor OF
being the first to succeed in erecting statue
representing stesd poised upon It's hlno rect
| with no other support. 1t is cast of cannon
taken from the British. by Jackson. and cost
0,000 Near the presidents mansion, on the
one side. are the very plain buildings of the
navy and of the war departments on the
other side are those of the state and the
| treasury departments, The treasury build
ing is 457 feet in length and built of granite.
| The front has a colonadc..300 feet long with
~ Ionic columns, and is really an imposing
| structure.
! Now let US descend and explore the Capitol
itself.
The Capitol, in Its magnitude and in Its
magnifcence of marble and domes, and upon
! its bold terrace height. will have attracted
the visitors curious wonder, miles distant:
whichever way he may have approached
The corner stone of this imposing structure
was laid by Washington himself with great
masonic array, Sept Is, 1898.
| In 1914 it was burned by the British, to-
gethe- with the library of congress, the pres
idsnt's house, and other public works. 1t is
built of freestone, and painted white. In
1918 it was entirely repaired. and in 1851
| (July 4th) President Fillmore laid the corner
stone of the new wings, on which occasion
Daniel Webster delivered brilliant grafton
It's whole length is ISL feet and the area Gov
ers is Al acres.
The surrounding grounds, which are beau
tifully cultivated, and embellished by foun
tains and ststuary, embrace thirty acres.-
The senate chamber and the hall of the house
of representatives, Of the congress of the
United States, are in the wings of the Capitol
on either side of the centre building.
The next grand feature of the Capitol is thu
Rotunda it's diameter is 90 feet and hight 22o
On the first floor, it is divided into eight panels
in each paintings representing respectively
Standardization of the Pilgrims for America" by
Wier; Landing of Columbus" by Vanderlyn
"The Baptism of Pocahontas," by Chapman
Discovery of the Mississippi River by De Soto,
by Powell; Declaration OF Independence,
Surrender Of General Burgoyne," Surrender o
CORVALLIS and the British army at Yorktown,
by Col. John Trumbuil.
Between the panels, in basso relieve, are fou
historical subjects, representing 1.-The preserva
tion of Capt. John Smith, by Pocahontas,
Landing of the Pilgrims on Plymouth Rock :
"Penn's Treaty with the Indians" "Conttiot be-
tween Daniel Boone and the Indians" There ar.
also specimens of sculpture in the heads OF Col
gmbus La Sale, Sir Walter Raleigh, and Cabot
I On the outside of the east door are also statue
of Columbus, ''the Indian woman, andtEo o.
colossal size representing 'Peace" and War -
There is also, a group called Civilization
In the park is Greenough's colossal marbi
statue of Washington, his right hand poitl''i
towards heaven, and in the left holding Roman
sword. =,
The newsdome, now completed, resembles tn
moderp rather than the antique structures @
this character. 1t is go feet from moor
ceiling, and from the western grounds, Is aoou
400 feet high. A ralsstaircase winds around De
tween the interior and exterior, from the moor /
the summit, and at various nights are colonades
from which the visitor will have magnihcen
views.
The dome is decorated with pilasters, rich col
nices, and entablatures, springing up towards To
sky, and GROWING the pinnacle OF this beautIlt
and grand piece of art Is a bronze statue c
sFreedom,' 90 feet high, commenced by Craw
ford. and, since his death completed by Ciar
| Mills.
Space compels me to omit notice of the gran
picture of Westward the star of empire take
, its way "The storming of Chepultepec," "Ger
!. | Scott" and the categorical design at the top c
= the rotunda, about which SO much has been salt
! and yet so little is known. An artist might lii
u ger days about each, aud discover new beautie
each day; and the bronze doors, too, must G
: with the rest-they ere marveis of genius, beaut
and skill would that every intelligent Roc
9 Islander were here to drink in their soul-inspi
9 ing discns lofty conventions and nure teacl