Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-11-14
PREPARING FORCONGRESS
IMPROVEMENTS At THE CAPITOL.
Relic Hunters About.
Banks and Batter.

BANKS ana ssuttef.
The third session Of the FOrty-seconi Con
gTess begins two weeks from Monday next, and
busy preparations are in progress at the Cap.-
tol TO have the building in order for the session,
viii h will be but a short one. woTkmsn have
made many needed Improvements throughout
the building during the recess, and the interior
now looks in apple-pie order.
ON THE HOUSE SIDE
especially, these improvements are noticeable
and were not made before they were needed
The walls of the corridors have all been painted
a French gray color, the doors and window
frames white, and several of the committee
rooms plainly freScoed. That used by the ap-
Preparations committee has been tastefuily fin
ished in imitation Of Grecian arebeslue, and il
now one OF the most comfortable rooms in the
building In the room of the committee on
military affairs, General Eastman's paintings of
Fort Sumter before and after the lombard
ment; Forts Tompkins and Wads1orth, New
York; Fort kittery, Maine; Fort Delaware:
Fort Trumbull, Connecticut; Fort LAFAYETTE
New York; Fort Smelling, Minnesota, and West
Point, New York, have been placed upon the
walls. In the Speakers room the furniture has
been newly upholstered, revarpshel, e.. In
the hall OF the House the carpet has been puf
down, the desks put in place, and all things
therein are ready for the session. Many OF the
desks have been newly covered and all of them
vanished.
THE HEATING
and ventilating department has also received
some attention, and the building is now proba-
bly, as well ventilated any of its class in the
world. The new exhaust fans put up last wear
full description of which appeared in The
STAR at that time, are working well, having
the capacity to exhaust $1,000 cubic feet of air
per minute. These fans, il will be remembered
work at the bottom of lues II feet square which
have their outlet in the space between the cell
ing and the root Of the building, immediately
over the hall. When the fans are in motion a
il N shlff- nr HFra- a,,ls q
impure atmosphere is thus drawn down and
expelled through another flue out of the top OF
the building The heating arrangements are
now extended in
THE CENTER BUILDING,
and there is no further use for the furnaces
heretofore used in that structure. To perfect
these arrangements an additional amount
machinery was required, and il has all been put
in place. new boiler of equal capacity with
the other four is now being put up, and large
force pump of the Knowles patent put I'D in
place of the Worthington pump heretofore used.
In the old ball of the House OF Representatives,
where the statuary is located, the cOrnice
is being reprinted, adding much TO the appear
ance OF that hail. These improvements have
been made under the superintendent OF Mr..
Iiafk, the architect, aided by Mr.. Clinton
Lloyd, Chief clerk OF the House. The carpen-
tering and cabinet work has been done under
the direction of John Il. Hunt, and the uphol-
steItng by jos; Reese, both OF whom have been
giving great satisfaction.
VANDALISM.
constant watch is requisite to prevent visi-
tors from cutting the covers from the desks OF
prominent members, and especially that OF
Speaker Blaine. The covers of the screens be-
fore the doors or any thing which can be car
RED on h ave to be watched closely. KEYS of
the desks are carried OFF whenever left Ii erein
and at the beginning of every session il is always
necessary to make one or two hundred keys.
Some visitors have a mania for sitting in the
chairs occupied by leading members aud es-
pecially those of General Butler and Genera
Banks Since the latter espoused the liberia
democratic cause his seat has been inc u;red for
more than ever before,
on THE SENATE SIDE.
Quite a number of changes have been made
which add to the comfort and appearance of
that portion of the Capitol. The old Carpet
which was put on the floor of the Senate cham
Der about two years ago will be put down again
for this session, being almost good now as
when it was first made, but in several OF the
committee rooms new carpets will be laid down.
The ventilation Oh this side of the building has
also been improved TO great extent. The tenn
perature of the Senate chamber will also be
equaliZed by the Improvements by means OF
registers which have been placed in the gal
leries. Heretofore there has been an accr tnu-
ton of foul atmosphere in the lobb- mack Of
the Senate chamber where il was Necessary ia
keep the gas constantly burning to furnish
light, and this heated atmosphere would arise
TO the gallery above and ottentimes become of
fensive. Perforated plates have now been nut
III the ceiling of the LOBBY over the chandeliers
and air ducts constructed from these TO the
hues Leading out OF the building. Another fus
leads from the heating department below to the
space under the gallery seats and
HOT OR COLD AIR
is fcrced up to that space, AMI then into the
chamber. Heretofore the temperature in tn.
galleries has beer or degrees hieh her than on
the floor, but by the improvements it will he
equalzed IN all parts of the chamber. New
REGISTERS mia H.
gallery, over She Vice Presidents chair and the
Pilasters around the chamber have been re-
gllded. Ire old stationery room 10 the right of
the eastern entrance to the Senate wing has
been lifted up for the eficial reporters and the
stationery room Is ioc atei ON the first fioor
IN the room formerly occupied by the committee
on political disabilities The room formerly
occupied by the o.heial reporters will be as
signed to one OF tie minor committees of the
Senate.
IN TEE RECEPTION ROOM
hr. brumidi Is new at work upon a picture rep
resenting Washington, jefferson and Hamilton
in consultation. This picture is being painted
on one OF the psnels on the southern wall OF the
room. lie Will not be able to complete it, how
ever, before the meeting of Congress and WORK
upon IL VIII therefore be suspended next week
washington and Jefferson are represented
seated, the former in the attitude OF speaking
anu Hamilton is standing to the left of Jeffef
VIII next year be adorned with portraits of
VICE PRESIDENTS
who have figured conspicuously in the history OF
the country.
In the rooms of the committee on foreign
relations four medalions Limitation of bronze
nave been painted by Brumidi. representing tn,
four prominent charmen of that COMMITTEE
henry Clay, - Allen, Charles Summer AMI
Simon Cameron. "
Moran's snowy picture of the Yellowstone
Osmon has peen framed and suspended from the
wall over the eastern stairway to the Senate
gallery.
The entire exterior of the dome has been re.
placed in the library. WV
"A HALF MILLION BANK RoBBgRY.-One Of
t t snaI IRON sales OF the Waterford Bank wa>
found in WesterlO street, near the DOCK. in
albany, New York, yesterday. Its contents
wnen IN the bank, lsome S34 $50 in bonds, J were
twenty gold and seal rings IL has heen &C.,