The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1870-02-16
Correspondence from ti'e East.
The Cauitol Of Maine.
ArarsrA. Me. Feb. 4,


a week in this pleasant town, the guest of the
Secretary Of State, and right royalty have I
been treated. Augusta is pretty town, even
in Winter, and in Summer it must be charm
ing. Its streets run up and down n number
of hills and that horrible abomination of uni
versal right angles is avoided once in a while.
The whole town is forest of noble elms.
The streets are very broad, and every house has
pleasant yard in front, set out with shrubbery
and rose bushes that must make the town u
great park in Summer. .....
THE STATE HOUSE
Is the noticeable building, and was n very fine
structure when it was built. 1t is built of fine
white granite, n stone that in my opinion is
vastly superior to the finest marble, especially
for large buildings. The building is still
handsome but is found too small for the re-
quirements of the public service. Various
plans are now being considered for its enlarge
ment, and no doubt some hundred thousand
dollars will be expended upon it the coming
season. The building stands upon n high ele-
vation that has been ornamented by being ter
raced and set out with shade trees. Near the
main entrance stands "a twenty -four FOUNDER
iron field piece with its Timber The gun was
taken from some of General Lees forces dur
ing the "late unpleasantness'' by the First
Cavalry of Maine, who presented it to the
State.
THE HALL AND IT'S CONTENTS.
Going in at the main entrance you find
yourself in n broad square hall, paved with
square marble slabs; the roof supported by
several fine granite pillars, with fiuted shafts,
Grecian bases and caps. All around this
hall the flags of the various Maine regiments,
often rent with shot and shell into tatters, and
inscribed with the names of the many battle
fields upon which they were so humorably
borne, are arranged. The swords of two of
Names sons who laid down their lives on
the field, stand in cases in prominent cor
ners. There is q very fine half-length por-
trait in oil, Of Sir William Peperell, who
commanded the British and colonial forces Mt
the siege of Lousburgh Sir William was
born at Kittery, Maine, on the 9th of June,
1896, and died there in 1854, and his remains
rest in the old cemetery at Kittery Point
There is portrait of General Knox one of
Washington's nght-hand men. Knox died
near ROckland, and his old house is still
ants. Upon this floor are the Secretary of
States office, the Treasurer, Superintendent
of Public Schools and Agricultural Offices
The basement is occupied 10y under clerks and
great vaults where the older records are slowed
away. The hall of the
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Is on the second floor and looks like an over
grown schoo.room. The ceiling is 80 feet from
the floor, hansomely moulded and frescoed,
presenting neat finish The one hundred and
fifty-one members, sit two together ut little
desks, with the floor sloping down towards
the Speakers chair. I stood to-day Mt the
rear of tn. desks when the House was in Sos
sion and looked ut the men who composed it,
There are more bald PatcS and nosos stra&dl,d
10y glasses than You would see in an ,puuI
number OF men sent up To make laws ON the
Pacific coast. Nearly all nre very fn!T speak
crS md men OF Intelligence. Most of them
mr." nIth OF large mems, and all are comfort
ably well oil. The Speaker is the hnntlsoIn,st
man now III the House, has u good loud voice
and plenty of chance to use it, as he reads all
the bills. There are but two clerks at the
desks. The sessions are short: most Of the
questions are decided i'll committee, the report
being almost final. Fair provisions are made
for the great outsido-world. FROM tho House
| went into
THE SENATE CHAMBER.
This il very handsome room, being in good
proportion, and handsomely ornnmented and
furnished. The thirty-one Senators sit in
large mahogany chairs at two seni-circular
tables, one within the other. The tables are
polished until You can see your face in them,
and the entire room has an mir Of neatness and
comfort seldom seen about such plnccs The
Senators are all men past tho middle of life
and would not be guilty of the least breach OF
decorum for their right hands. This cham
Der has no galleries. but sents back of those
in which Senatorial dignity reposes nro occu-
pied by the curious public. These men are
all noted in their counties. Out Of tho leg
islative halls these members are very polite
and tell and listen Ia good stories with the
greatest pleasure. Tho hotel where stop Is
the headquarters, and here they gather nightly
and enjoy themselves like humber mortals
THE PRESENT GOVERNOR,
Joshua i. Chnmberlin, is n gentleman of the
highest cultivation, having boon for several
years n Professor ut Bowdoin College AZ tho
breaking ont OF the war he resigned lis Pro
fessorship, took u Colonels commission and