Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-12-07
WAsH1NGroN. D. G.. DEC. l. 1893

i
Mr.. Editor 1t is quite common in the
country, and also in other cities to decry
Washington as not only the most immoral
place in the world, but also the ugliest,
most unsightly. Now all this is wrong.
Washington is not more immoral than 9TH
er cities of its population, and there are
few, if any, where the religious element is
more active; where churches are doing
more, or accomplishing more. And as for
ugliness, its beauty Is not excelled by any
city in America. Let one stand on the
dome of the capitol and look over the
whole city as he can, and his mind will be
changed if he has entertained the idea that
it is destitute of beauty 1t is surrounded
by range of hills which completely envi-
ron it, and these are surmounted by some
of the most elegant buildings in Washing
ton, or in the country. Arlington heights,
Georgetown and Columbia Colleges, How
ard University, and the Soldiers Home all
add to its beauty. And then the capitol
itself, probably the best building inthe 1oorId,
the Patent Office, the Post Office and best
among them all, after the capitol, the treas
ury building. As this is one of the noble
monuments of our land | thought par
tial description might be interesting to
some of your readers, as it is surely the
goal of ambition of many who would serve
their country. Some time since there were
$4,000 applications on file for places in it.
The Treasury building of the United
States is of the Grecian Ionic order of arch
itecture, and is 466 feet long by 266 feet
wide, and is five stories high-the new, or
north portion is stories. There are two
corridors running the length of the build
ing from north to south, and three from
east to west, with rooms on each side
There are two inside courts 120 feetsquare,
rooms on all sides of them, and lighted by
them. The courts contain trees, flower
beds, brick walks, and plots of grass. On
each floor there are about 11S rooms, when
all completed there will be about 120
rooms, or doors, as some Of the rooms are
large but the doors are about equidistant.
The north part has been recently complet-
| ed, or is now in process of completion, oc-
! cupving the site of the old State depart
ment. 1t contains the Treasury of the u
! S. and the bureau of Internal Revenue
The cash room is the most beautiful room
belonging to the government, excelling
! the celebrated marble room of the capitol.
| In it there is marble from various cOun-
tries, extending from Vermont to Italy.
Ithas two chandeliers costing $4,000. Over
this department presides the remarkable
man whose homely face is seen on the frac-
tional currency, and whose signature puz-
zles so many - Gen. Spinner. On the
north and south front the porticos here
two corner buttresses capped each with a
slab of granite IS feet inches square, two
feet thick, and weighing about 60 tons. In
front of the north portico there is beauti-
full fountain, in the center of which is what
they call tassa or cup, u feet in diane
ter, and five feet high, weighing 80 tons.
Rising through this is tube, so arranged
that it shoots out circular sheet of water
6 or feet in diameter. From the cup the
water flows over into the basin below. On
the east front there is a long straight por-
tico supported by 81 pillars of granite, and
two smaller porticos having each two pill
lars. On the west central portico, con
tanning 16 pillars, and two small porticos
at the ends of the building having two pill
lars each. On the south and north are
central porticos supported by II pillars
each. These pillars are of uniform size
sc feet in height and feet in diameter
weighing about 40 tons-with the excep-
ton of those on the east front composed Of
, a single shaft, and were all raised by hand
power. On the northwest and south fronts
, there are beautiful flower gardens arranged
| with the most scientific skill and cultivated
taste. The five stories of this building are
: of the following height from floor to floor
c The lower story or cellar II feet, basemen
: IA feet, first floor Is feet, I'd and Sd storie