National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-10-29
CAPITOL IMPROVEMENT
THE WORK on Tng Nsw GROUNDS

eating and Filips--Fxpaision or The
-rniiways-rhsir Present Routes
Clearing Away Old BsIIdinEs and
Rubsi-h- Design for Impreyemeut Of
the East Capitol Park.-New Coal
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Air-duct for tho
senate Chnmber-New Bath-roem-,
Chairs and Desks for tho llsuse-TAs
Cause OF N, FsiIurc Of the Pneumatic
Tpbc.
Those readers Of the REPUBLICAN, who
have not visited the Capitol since tho ad-
iourpment Of Congress last March will
scarcely know how TO approach II when the
next session couyoncs, and tho transforma-
ton In its surroundings Is so complete as TO
Impress the Oldest hnbiiue upon entering |
them, that he has been transported to new
country. The enlargement of the
CAPITOL GROUNDS,
by Including within Its limits four additional
squares Of ground, has had tho further effect
OF isoiating the magnificent structure from
human habi,atons. Thus, while tho pro- |
icct of Rcayis and his coadjutors for re-
lowing the Capitol Westward has been de-
ttcd, the rcycrsc Of their proposition has
,uvr effected IN some degree by tho cypul-
siou OF those inhabitants who formerly en-
joycd in,ncdiatc contiguity TO Its precincts
In all directions. Nearly oil tho old familiar
landmarks on squares 0S1 and CSS have dis
appeared. aud the rcst--tho ''Casparis" hotel
and Sandcrsun house-are about to follow
stut
The grading Of these new grounds has In
rovcd the excavation, removal and deposit
III over 10000 cart loads Of earth during the
present season, and Is now being rapidly
completed to make II conform to the level OF
the surrounding streets, north and south. as
determined by the District engineers. This
work, including the removal Of tho remain
Ing buildings, will he finished before the as
scmbllng Of Congress In December. The
earth will be allowed 10 settle until next sea-
son before rccci"inv Its dressing Of sod and
ornamcntation. When these arc added and
decorated with trees and flowers the whole
will present beautiful appearance.
II Is proposed to employ a hrst-class land
sclpo gardcuur to lay out aud cmbellish these
spacious additions to tho grounds. The de-
tails Of landscape gardening do not properly
arpcrtain TO the Office OF the architect, and
will be sufficient Ia themselves to engage the
tnlc and attention Of a man who Is thoroughly
educated to the business. The employment Of
such person, under the direction and super
vision Of Mr.. Edward Clark, the accomplished
designer aud executor Of all these improve
mtHts, 10 appropriately urnumcnt tucec tu'
lsrged grounds will no doubt add greatly to
their picturcsquencss.
As necessary to these improvements First
street northwest, from Pennsylvania avenue
To Maryland avenue, has been paved with
cypress wood, aud Maryland avenue to New
Jersey avenue with granite blocks. Tho old
iron fence around the western grounds has
bscn removed, and q heavy granite curblng
set around the cutiro circumference Of the
grounds Us enlarged. The foundation wal
In which the fence was set Is also being re
moved, and the material being used In relay
Ing tho new boundary wall.
THE EAST CAPITOL FARM.
The grade Of First street east Is about cigll
feet below the present level Of the East Capt.
tol park, aud 1t is proposed to reduce III
grade Of the grounds by gradually sloping
TO conform to that of the streets on the cast
north and south. , 1t Is the opinion Of expert
that this may be done without the loss Of sucl
ut the trees which are worth preserving
There arc however, q large number OF tn
cottonwood species which are nuisance an,
Will he entirely discarded. The others will b
lowered TO the level Of the new grade an
preserved. II is also proposed 10 open Eas
Capitol street through this park to the pla
tcau in front Of the Capitol, and by gradinl
the grounds, thinning out the trees, and lay
Ing of the whole square as lawn, to open
magnificent view of this principal front U
the Capitol In Its full extent and grandeur
which Is now screened by the superabundan
foliage of the too numerous trees In the pari
such trees as arc not wanted here can =
removed TO the north and south sides Of ID
grounds, where they will form no obstructio
to the views, and are required for shade an
to screen the rustic terraces. They will all
aid In asslmilating those quarters with Il
present beautiful wooded appearance OF Il
grounds Of the west front. II Is to be hope
that this design Of Mr.. Clark may be a
.WI .V.1 a.,Nl --tf tga
and appropriations made to carry 1t I'M
effect.
THE HORSE RAILWAYS.
The Avenue cars arc now to wind arour
the south side OF tho grounds, and will d
pOsit their Capitol passengers by means Of
siding or branch from South B street upt
the plateau ncar the cast front Of the Hou
wing.
The Metropolitan or + street line will ha,
similar branch diycrgng from the ma
track on the north side, and land its passci
gers on the north end Of the plateau, ne,
tho east front of the Senate wing. The Of
tracks in front of the main building will
removed, and the whole space left clear for
carriage drive. This plateau has never bee
paved. Tho present appropriation Is Insult
cicnt for the purpose. Temporary brio
walks have also been laid for the same rel
son. 1t Is proposed next year to pave Il
entire plateau and lay footwalks with fla
cling. The lowering of the grade Of South
street has opcncd the old sewer leading fro
the east front Uf the House wing, and |
vOlved tho construction Of new one, viii,
Is now being built, and will be shortly col
plctcd, when the branch railway track W
To laid over 1t. The capacity Of this ne
sewer will be sufficient to drain complete
the entire south wing Of the Capitol and Il
rounds adjoining.
OUTWARD ArrEARASCE or THE BUILDING
a.. a,..I n A. 4.
panying debris from tho new grounds has
most pleasing effect. The Capitol presents
far more grand and imposing appearance
the ego OF the approaching stranger thu
ever before, and much more betting d
character Of this independent nation,
which II Is the forum, whose browning figure
the Goddess of Liberty-is one Of the On
blcmatic characters.
INTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS.
The interior OF the Capitol building III
been greatly improved during the recess
various alterations aud repairs under Il
direction Of the interchangeable architect.
SEW COAL VAULTS.
Much Inconvenience and annoyance has lor
been experienced from the inadequate cap
Vity aud awkward situation Of the coal vaul
for housing tho fuel necessary for the wi
tcr's consumption. To get rid of the noise
handling and tho dust accommodating ther
rum HCN Nuullb lOI CltlltT WING, OF cap
rity Of one thousand tons each, have be,
constructed under tho tagging Of the ca
'front.' 50 that the coal can be taken In ut
irining expense and transferred to the poin
uf consumption without the noise or du
entering the main building at all. The wa
aud floors arc VI stone and laid In cement.
NENTILATISG AIR-Ducr.
There has always been difficulty about Il
ventilation Of tue Senate chamber, viii,
hitherto Inns seemed insurmountable. II
air which supplied tho channels leading
the vcntilatiug apparatus has been fr
Iuently found 10 be imprcgnated with co
gas, and which settled from the chimn,
Aues In tho winter, and was forced into Il
building with all Its Impurities. In SUNNI
the air was heated by the refraction Of Il
suns rays from the walls Of the building al
tue Tagging, and tended to increase the ter
pcrature of the Senate chamber that 1t W
designed to cool and purify. TO renee
these evils Mr.. Clark happily devised Il
plan Of constructing new and indepcndc
air-duct for the supply of the Senate chambe
80 far removed from the furnace chimney
10 preserve Its purity.
BY this means the air Is taken at the TO
Of the terrace, from the cool shade Of d
trees, and led through the capacious du
INTO the ian.room, from which II Is fore
iutu the Senate Chamber. A perforat