The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-11-19

TaE BUILDING AND GROUNDS OF THE DE.
rARTMEsT OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS from
Pennsylvania avenue across the Twelfth street
bridge, the observer y asrseably surprised BY
the Department Of Agriculture, and located
between the Smithsonian Institute and the
Washington Monument, within less than II
adorned with few diispidsted shsnties, Into
what promises to be one OF the most delight
full localities. The grounds are laid out as far
with reference to landscape gardenioe, and
where all the hardy trees and shrubs OF this
climate, more than 1000 species In all will find
anew We ss Wa view 70 ssys spss
effect. .,
Entering through the north. gate, facing
~ ;sso wI esd' to step.
terre Of flowers, adorned with.yases and nu-
merous gracefully winding tai roads, which
recommend themselves BY their clean, neat,
ciude the possSlli}y Of weed growing aiS IN them
and AFFORD an efficient drainage. This parterre
forms the foreground, and leads over broad,
exterior OF which has been favorably COM
mented upon before. The building improves
on closer scquaintanec, and its style has proven
Walking over q flight OF swelied granite
steps, thanked by elaborate bronze oandelabfas,
we enter through the Hastily ornamented main
~ g and an Os
feet In the clear, the floor Of which IL laid with
rosettcs, borders, and diamonds Of encaustio
tiles the sides are paneiled In encaustic paint
designed fresco-work, from the skilled hands
Of MI. Z. Usrstens, who did the frsscoing OF the
whole building Around e centre represent.
lean eagles with spread wings, arabesque orna.
ments are sprung with four medallions repre-
senting Landscape, light effect, and human ig.
noon and youth, autumn, evening, and ma.
ture age, winter, night. and old age.
Around a wide corridor, finished In same
PTnep sas P Poo% siYi SfSsRed ss
decorated. The chief clerks room surprises
moulded, and panelied wainscot in curly wal,
nut, mahogany, and rich maple for the whole
height of sidewalks, the effect OF which is
and eoiIins ecntrsstinE eSssrfuil ye IN lively
colors. This waiuscot, however, 10 nothing
else but the lrst specimen in our city Of that
ingenious new Pstens.the American wood.
the piastered walls. The wood is prepared in
strips Of different lengths, of about the same
thickness s,s n,. Of paper, and e placed upon the
ease, In patterns that will, crafty the most
The sdioinins ONCE of the commissioner Is
done in the same material, but in niger style
OF the art, the panels OF rich birds-eye maple,
being bordered by friezes of mahogany and
blistered walnut, alternating with fancy PAN
all parted by curly maple and setoF by gid
edges OF various sizes. This series of rooms
Is completed by the private Office OF the COM
style, with friezes Of birch, borders Of black
walnut and panels OF mountain ash. A same
ness OF ne rooms for clerical purposes was, to
prepared In high style OF art.
But In following up the beautiful the useful
has not been overlooked, as 10 shown by q
glance at asuite OF rooms on the eastern ter.
minus OF this floor devoted to laboratory pur.
poses.
The minute and delicnte operations, Incl
leisurelyi all cumbersome apparatus Is done
nishes the modern heating power.
oop IL sSrsr or o ne IN,
cious room OF 90 By % feet furnished with ma.
x double flight Of ornamental arc.proof
stairs OF wrought and cast iron, In centre of
building and opposite the yestibule, leads
through the elegant staircase lit by a colossal
window, glazed with stained glass, set in
metal frame to the second story, the main
or central part OF which is appropriated to the
museum Of agriculture, 4 grand hall 100 feet
IN length, 90 feet In width, and 81 feet In
Three grand entrance doors by IL feet are
conceived In the highest style Of art and de-
sign. Tho size and style OF the 10 windows,
prey character 81 the lat, ee eShiGiIiOn
palaces OF London and Paris. The room is
crowned BY prominent and bold coved-stuceo
SsS ss Ss Ehy thc
sculpture OF which striking Indian busts form
prominent features. The grand cove itself is
groups Of bowers and fruits with medallion
shields into which the esoutcheons OF the
United States, surrounded by those Of the 81
States OF the Union in chronological success
The ceiling is divided into afteeu heavily
moulded and enriched panels, the centres Of
which are occupied by elaborated resets, con-
but each having distinct details. The fJezes
between the panels are ornamented with vine
leaves The oolors q the hall are in neutral
heraldlc colors OF tho numerous escutoheons.
The furniture OF this room consists Of very
elegant exhibitions of glass cases, most OF
and eleven feet In extreme height, with rich,
coiumniated, solid, dust proof walnut frames,
suImounted By stylish GrShitrayes, friezes
| termediate vases and busts. But the most
| remarkable piece of furniture 10 the cedar
table, the plate Of which, X! feet BY u feet,
osrs s 's from ' Gslfor TRS Espsr.aes
therefore, very appropriately adopted design
legs made OF cedarwood OF the Atlantic, the
| irieze OF which bears, In carved work, gar
lands and fruits.
At the western termi aus OF tho museum are
| located the working rooms OF the etymolo-
glst, and at the eastern terminus tho rooms OF
the statist!cian, all well and comfortably
The whole building Is heated very success
fully by q steam heating appsratus-two boil
ers OF 10 feet length and Is Inches diameter for
Proof spsrtmsat or the iI Easement, together
with the necessary steam traps, Gondensing
tank, steam pump, and so on. Most OF the