Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-11-04

AMOUNT OF WORK DONE DURING THE YEAR-
NUMBER OF NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS
NADK-INPoRTANT RECOMMENDATIONS.
Mr.. Edward Clark, the architect of the CAPT.
tol, has submitted his annual report to the Sec
rotary Of the Interior. IL gives a sketch of the
operations of his Office during the year, and
embraces various important recommendations
relative 10 future improvements
IMPROVEMENTS AT THE CAPITOL.
Since his annual report for 1852. large coal
vaults, each capable OF containing one thousand
tons OF coal, have been constructed in both
wings of the capitol. also, an UNDERGROUND air.
duct 10 carry off the coal gas, and to give the
building proper ventilation. The steam boilers
have been repaired; many rooms have been re-
painted and rehtted; the reporters gallery OF
the Senate has been enlarged, and the galleries
OF the House OF Representatives so rearranged
that the diplomatic and the members galleries
Will he on the east, the ladies' gallery on the
west, and the mems on the north side. New
desks and chairs have been placed in the same
hail, so disposed as to dispense with the outer
platform.
The center building has been kept in repair.
The architect recommends that the whole roof
of this building be made hrepr0of by a new COW
eTing OF copper. He also calls attention 10 the
unfinished condition of the rotunda and inner
portion of the dome, and recommends that its
walls he incrusted with ornamental marbles;
the pilssters and first corDice taken away, and
the floor laid with encaustc tile. By emitting
the first cornice. and letting the story termi-
nate at the line Of the second cOrniCe-which
cOTnice should be enlarged-the wall OF the ro-
tunda will have greater apparent height, and
the anomaly of three cOTniCes-similar mem
bers-sO near each other, will be abolished.
Lofty dOOrways, with sculptIred enrich ment,
should be made, and the vault of the rotunda
these changes will entail a large expenditure,
Mr.. Clark considers them necessary to make a
complete and harmonious finish to this, the
principal feature Of the building
EXTENSION OF THE CAPITOL GROUNDS.
After speaking of the purchase by the Gov
ernment of squares 6S1 and 6SS and the sale of
the buildings upon them, MIR. Clark says il is
expected That the two buildings yet remaining
on that square may be taken down, and the
materials cleared away before the meeting OF
Congress. After speaking of the street i'm
proyements around the Capitol grounds he
says: "NOt having any practice or pretentions
TO skill as landscape gardener, / earnestly rec
ommend that a frst-class artist in this line may
be employed TO plan, plant, and lay out these
grounds He further hopes that authority will
be given to grade the eastern grounds to suit the
requirements OF the streets surrounding them,
which have been cut down TO the Government
grades. In the event Of cutting down the East
ern Park, he feels confident that most of the
trees necessary to preserve can be lowered into
place without great risk of loss. He further
believes that these grounds should be treated as
a lawn, and none but the best trees retained.
The great number of trees in them, when in
foliage, effectually screen the eastern (princi-
pail front of the building from view from Cap
itOl Hill. There are no yistas through which IL
can be seen entirely, nor Is there any point of
view from which this front can be seen to ad-
vantage on account of the disposition of the
trees In this park. In his judgment the gran
deur and extent of the main front will be re-
yealed by taking out a large number of trees in
the eastern grounds. MIR. Clark suggests that
the plateau at the eastern front be paved and
the sidewalks around the grounds tagged next
season. The funds on hand not being Sutfi cient
TO pay the expense OF proper hag.payement
around these grounds, narrow f00t-walk OF
bricks has been laid for the season.
Tue PNEUMATIC TUBE.
Referring to the failure of Mr.. Brisbane to
lay his pneumatic tube from the Capitol to the
Congressional Printing office on account of the
difficulty in getting the tube under the track of
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, Mr. Clark
SAYS Mr.. Brisbane is now anxious to renew
this work at his own expense, but as he will
have the same difficulties to overcome Mr.
Clark has doubts of his success, unless the tube
Is made much smaller than stipulated for in his
contract. Mr.. Clark is 70 convinced OF the
practicabiity of this mode of transportation.
however, Il at he recommends, for the sake of
that the tube be made Of iron.
THE REFORM SCHOOL AND THE CITY HALL.
The reform school buildings are near compile
ton, and IL Is expected the main building will
be entirely finished and ready for occupancy by
the meeting Of Congress. Various improves
ments have Oeen made in the Botanical Gar
dens at the request of the joint committee on
room in the CITY Hall has been improved by
the introduction Of another furnace for heating,
and the ceiling OF the same room has been
pierced 10 obtain ventilation. The exterior has
paired. Several ceilings in the upper story
which were damaged by the leaks in the roof
have been plastered. Both court-rooms, the
iud ges', and the jury rooms have been put into
good condition. As this building is now wholly
the property of the government, and as addi-
iional room is required for the courts and record
Dg he extended to suit the wants of the public
business.
THE IMPROVEMENT OF COLUMBIA HosrITAL
FOR WOMEN
M nTlZ Inv hal haar aAr lafa
Nlr. Clark suggests that to give this building
espectable appearance the ground should be
graded in some places, and the street front ter
aced and fenced
COST OF THE VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS.
Mr.. Clark gives his expenditures for work on
he capitol building from June so, 1872, to June
70, 1873, as $50, 26053, the largest item being
AS E.s6, the amount being paid on rolls OF
laborers, salaries, sc. This left an
balance of S67 1891. The total ex-
lenditures for grading and paving streets around
he capitol, and for improving the capitol
troEnds amounted to SCI ,59S 65. The amount
appropriated was sl60, 900. leaving balance on
he LIST of July 1873, of s9e, 40l3 80. The expend-
tuIes on =, account 1t Of THE the senate elevator
ated by Congress for this work was $4,000,
leaving an unexpended balance of S1.747.79.
The sum of S6S was expended in altering and
improving the hall OF the House. The amount
by Congress March 3, 1873, was
SIC 900, consequently an unexpended balance of
$50, $3.50 remains. The amount appropriated
On account Oh Ine pneumatic tuoe was Slo,OO,
Of which sum ST., 900 has been paid Mr.. Bris-
bane.
COOP SANARITANs IN CoURT.-Messrs. j. n.
Oliver and 5. C.. Mills have, for the Supreme
Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of
Good SamaTitans and Daughters of Samaria,
entered a suit against VIM. Tenney and X. G.
Powell for an Injunction. The petitioners state
that they are an Incorporated body, and under
the initials l. o. q. S. and d. S. have acquired
and enjoyed the confidence and respect of the
a benevolent organization; that
to raise funds they have frequently held fairs
festivals, and other entertainments. They COM
plain that the defendants and others, by adyer-
tisement for fair to be held on the 4th instant
themselves as Rose Leaf Lodge. /.
-. q. s. and ID. s., have usurped the principles
and franchises OF the Grand Lodge, thereby
falsely and fraudulently intending TO deceive
the community and people into the belief that
said Rose Leaf Lodge is a subordinate lodge of
the Independent Order of Good Samaritans.
They AK an ininnctinn To nrexent said fair