Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-12-14
Report Of the Architect OF the Capitol
tension

Edward Clark, Esq, Architect OF the Capi-
toll Extension, mas made bis report 10 Secre-
tary Browning, relative 10 The public works
under his supervision, and showing the ope-
ra'lons of his office since October 81, Io66, up TO
November !. 1867:
The marble work OF the southern and west
err portIcoes OF the south wing of the Capitol
has been set IN place. thus completing ali the
eastern front OF the north wing have also
been SET. II Is expected that all the marble
work OF The wings will be pat IN place
this season. Much is 10 be done IN
cleaning pointing, and trimming the marble
work. The chImneys are vet 70 De property
topped out, and the iron cutters, which are
difhcult 10 Keep water-tight. should be covered
oy copper cutters. Some changes should also
De made IN the skylIgnts over the halls, as
owing 70 the large size of the glass, the expau-
sion and contraction, from the change OF tenn
perature OF the season, causes man. OF them
10 crack and leak. Lights similar 70 me new
one recently placed over the Supreme Court.
room would be less liable 10 be affected by tne
difference Of the seasons. This change will
not only remedy the defect In the present light
but VIII be large annual saving in the item
OF repairs The ceiling of the post once room
OF the Senate has been painted the princinaI
picture frescoed- Some meas ures should ne
taken 20 finish the decoration OF the other
rooms and passages already begul,parti cularIy
TOE ceiling and spandrels of the walls Of the
Senate recepron-room. All the exterior would
Work should be repaInted. The granite steps
10 tbe arcades should all be reset Marble
pedestals have been ordered, 10 support the
statues in tAe inches, and bronze railing 70
protect the same. Many rooms, both in the
wings ana the old portion of the building,
needed Tor committees, are now used for pack.
ing and storing documents. As the walls and
floors or these rooms, and those OF the passages
are being injured by such use, and as the
rooms are required for different purposes
other accommodations should, in nv opinion
be found outside Of the Capitol for these ware.
the south and northwest OF The public grounds
will be cut of by the quadrant leading from
pennsylvania avenue TO Capitol Hill which
would be convenient sites for these buildings
Mr.. CLARK says he had the honor 70 propose
In his last report a plan for cooling, IN sum.
mer, the air OF the halls, by means of taxing
eastern grounds, and thence along subrerra-
mean ducts to the hall. If this Improvement is
70 De made, IL should be done next season.
before the terraces are finished. The Crawford
bronze doors, for the principal entrance 10 tbe
nor:h wing. which have been cast and are now
being finished al the factory OF James T. Amss,
ESQ., Chicopee, Massachusetts, are nearly
done, and will, in all probability, be put in
place next season. A large water main in now
being laid for the better supply Of water 10 the
Capiioi 81 again beg leave TO refer to the
necessity OF extending the central portico: the
necessity OF this Improvement has been set
forth In the former report from this Office"
An appropriation of SI25,OOO is CURED for
the next fiscal year, for the continuance OF the
CapItol extension.
BY the act approved March 30, 1867. the
repairs and improvements of the Capitol were
placed under the directions OF this ONCE and
IN conformity 70 provision III the item FOR
casual repairs, water closets have been pIaced
ID the reporters gallery OF the House Of Rep.
reSenlattVes. and also IN connection with the
House coInmttee-rooms OF the judiciary, c 1rn-
merce, foreign and military affairs. Tue old
and defective hst.air furnace under the room
OF the Court OF Claims has been taken away,
and steam radiators supplied; also six BAYS Of
RADIATORS placed IN the lower passages OF toe
old psrtion OF the building all of which were
are supplied by steam from the boilers of tue
Senate anc House wings As The passages and
siairways between the rotunda and he Senate
wing Will be kept comfortably warm by the
steam heating apparatus of the Supreme
Court, II Is recommended that the rotunda and
the old hall OF representatives NAV also De
hested In he ike manner. At present the
rOtunda and the passages of the central DOR
ton, are cold In winter, and often damp from
the conden satiCn of the moisture Of the atmos.
pnere on the cold walls. Persons often cross
rom one end OF the building 10 the other from
the heated halls or committee rooms witnou,
me precaution OF their overcoats or even
mats, much TO their discomfort and
with danger 10 their health. IL the rotupda
and old hall OF representatives were heated in
the manner proposed, there would be no great
difference OF temperature in any portion Of the
pudding III me documents were provided for
IN another building, as has been already pro.
posed, all the rooms under the old hall Of rem.
resentativss could BE- made available for com.
mlttee rooms, and could be heated by the an
paratus Tor heating the rotundo and old nan
OF representative. Sundry repairs have mean
made 70 the roof and other portions OF the
ne Walls OF several p8ssaGeS and
staIrways have been painted, and iron rain
spouts are being placed in the court-yards
Bits nave been presented 10 the amount of
>5,2SI75, 81 this once for WORK done under the
direction OF b Ii. French, Esq, as Commits
sioner of Public Buildings, during the last
nscal year. As 10 was de ctded that these hills
could MOI oe PAID out OF moneys appropriated
for the annuaI repairs o. the Capitol tor the
ensuing year, an appropriation for that amount
VIII De required 70 pay these deficiencies. An
appropriation OF sI3,OoO Is required for the ne.
N N m VA
trail portion Of the building.
The wings OF the Congressional Library
have been completed and the additional stair
ways supplied. New glass have been put in
the inner skylght, and other improvements
and repairs have been made TO the principaI
room This work has been more extensive
than was originally contemplated; the princi-
pal items being the enlargement OF the north
wing, and supplying additional shelving
There are ever i,000 lineaI fest more aheiy wing
man was a. first provided for. Some changes
nao 10 be made for the accommodation OF the
oooss OF the Smithsonian library. and 10 con-
seq nenee OF the expense attending these and
onJ enangee, the funds Appropriated nave