New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-30
WASHINGTON.
HISTORIC RELICS.

HiSIOhlC
SALE AT TIE CAPITOL OF CoNGRESsMRN's Dfsks--
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, CLEARED oV'
ECONOMY ON SMALL SCALE.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUEE.J
WASHINGTON, April 29.-The auction at u q
Capitol to-day which extensively Advertised
for the past two months, attended by crowd on
several hundred persons of about the character
may be at all auction sales in this city, The
aging woman was well represented by the heads Of
boarding houses, and there were not few Congressman
and me in high position present at the SALE The articles
of the catalogue consisted principally Of tables chairs,
desks and carpets. The most interesting part OK
the that which occurred hrst, being the eie'
eanty carved desks and chars which for over Is years
have occupied the hall Of Representatives These weru
OF OAK Of very superior, elaborate aud suD''anu"
workmanship. They were furnished by Gen. Meigs, the
present General when he had charge on
the Capitol extension and placed in position When
the House wing first occupied IN the WINTER Oh
1873 Tie $50 and the chairs so each 90
members Of the House and the Senate 10 tue num"i
OF about GO had selected the desks hey
desired to purchase some time beforehsnd aereem9
with Clerk OF the House take them at the average
rate OF sale. There present in person Senators
Boutwell,, Sargent, and Window, who had been IDen'
beers OF the House. and Messrs Hasey, Ward Parsons,
Randall, Lynch. Williams Qnd), Shanks, Mccormick,
Archer, Harris French. and Cragn, who members,
ex-members, or members elect OF the next Congress
The single desks considered the most
desirable. Strangely enough, the first desk put ny
was that occupied by Mr. Boutwell, IN the
XLth Congress. No. l04 on the outer row, which
Thad Stevens used call the African coast This
started at S. and struck of 10 costuner Tor sl
The next was occupied by Mr. Garfield OF OHIO,
struck of for sl3 The next Mr. Rainey's eoored'
eat bringing sil Gen. Banks's old desk bought
by Major Poore for So schencks brought 49, The
desks of Gen. Butler, Mr. Dawes, Judge Kelley and
reserved by these gentlemen or their iends
to be bought at the average rate.
There were the most anxious inquiries for the desk
cuped for so many years Thaddeus stevens, being
well understood by the bidders that the House had
coded 10 the old commoner previous to his
death, the which he had chosen and which re-
manned unchanged. The desk a double one, tho
numbers being 46 and a.. This not offered for sale
for some reason unknown. IL would undoubtedly have
brought at least sOO, SIS had been already
offered. one prominent gentleman present
said he wanted Cakes Ames's desk in order 10
learn TO put things where they would do the most good
The desk double brought only So Speaker Blanes
old desk also double and therefore not considered al
desirable brought sl2 The most interesting article sold
was the old of the Speaker, made In 1922 ana oc
cupied by Henry Clay John Tyler Robert c. winthrop.
John Bel. James X Polk Howell Cobo, James L. Orr,
Gen. Banks, and several other historical
characters In itself it worthless
affair being ungraceful, numbering, and rude IN
construction, made OF mahogany, and covered with
crimson silk plush, faded, moth eaten, and dngy This
chair was sold several years for 49, but the owner
getting tired Of his bargain 1t was returned to thd
Capitol where has stored for four or five years
1t was started at high figure $40, and reached the
sum of 500, at VIII ch it sold TO Mr. Wormey a
coored restaurant keeper. The rest OF the invoice
consisted OF carpets of all kinds, that which bas
the floor OF the house for the past two years
and magnificent but badly moth-eaten Turkish rug
costing $780, being the most conspicuous, chairs tables
DESKS bookcases, and general commttee-room furni'
ture The rates which most Of the furniture brought
were excessive many articles bringing than their
original cost several years The sale OF the desks
and chairs of the hail. which well preserved and
entirely suitable except in size rendered necessary
in consequence OF the increased membership under tho
last apportionment The number OF old desks 22,
while the new Congress will require 500. The desk
selected for the new arrangement will cost about ga IL
composed of oak gracefully fashioned but perfectly
plain and solid It's capacity will equal that OF the Old
one in consequence of avoiding the heavy carving and
ornamental work.