The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-05-30
improvements IN and around the
National CRpLLOl.

improvements IN and around the
National Capitol.
(Ya.hlng,oa Cores. OF the Trbune)
1t has been decided by Mr. Clark, arch
itect of the Capitol, and others having the
requisite authority, to apply to F. Law
Olmstead of tho Central Park, asking his
acceptance Of employment under the
Government for the purpose OF laying
out and identifying the grounds OF the
Capitol, which are being materially in
creased by the addition OF two squares
east Of the Capitol and the large vacant
space which for years has been 30 ofen'
sivo TO visitors 70 the north Of the Capt.
tol. The grounds to the south are being
also extended, and thousands Of loads Of
gravel are being hauled for the purpose
Of nlllng in aud making Uniform grade.
Trees and shrubs are TO be planted,
walks are to be laid out, fountains erected,
terraces are to be extended north and
south, and, in fact, the general improve
menls about the Capitol will be OF IN OK
tensive and liberal character, and 1t Is eX.
pected they will ell be completed during
the summer.
The old pneumatic tube between the
Capitol and the Government Printing
Office, o contract for laying which was
authorized by Congress, Is being removed,
it having been found OF insufficient
strength TO sustain the weight OF earth
upon tin some places amounting TO
seventeen feet. A smaller tube Of strong.
er material will be laid, the trench being
already under way. Mr., Clark, who was
at first rather skepticsl as 10 the success
Of the undertaking, now, alter careful
examination and trial, expresses his en-.
tire confidence In its feasibility, With d
small engine and eXhauster, Mr.. Clark
SAYS the sphere was propelled backward
and forward In the tube, even over grade
of sixteen feet TO the hundred with less
expenditure of force than was expected.
He regards the TACT as settled, that pa
pers and documents can be placed within
the sphere and propelled by pneumatic
power between the Government Printing
Office aud the Capitol by means Of the
tube with facility. The Importance OF the
success Of this tube, regardless OF the great
principle involved, is greater now than
heretofore, inssmuCh as Tic Congressional!
G,0J6 i5 hereafter to be printed at the
Government office, aud the necessity
which exists OF having quick cOmmuut.
cation between the two points Ia much
enhanced.
Extensive Improvements sud additions
in tho Capital itseiI arc alsO in progress,
including the immense coal cellars,
which are being extended under the road.
way 10 the east ON both wings. The Gle
vator, costing $4,000. which was pro-
vided for out OF the contingent fund oi.the
Senate at the last session, is rapidly adj
vanCing The work Of removing the
heavy masonry, arches and flooring, in
order to make room for il, Is found ~ re-
Quire unusual force and patience Tho
elevator when finished will be subject TO
the occupancy, first, OF Senators and mem.
beTs and officers OF the two Houses, and,
second, OF those TO whom the privileges Of
the floors and the private corridors are
granted. 1t will not be subject TO the use
Of the general public. a bunker will be
attacked to the elevator for the purpose
Of conveying books and documents, and
luel TO the several stories, whiChswill do
away with the intolGrable nuisance Of an
army Of negroes, who are kept during the
entire day carrying coal, wood, and other
materials along the public passages and
stairways, to the inconvenience and an
noyauCe OF every body having business at
tho Capital during the sitlings OF Con-
gress. AS the same necessity exists for
an elevator on the House side, there Is no
doubt that one will be provided for by the
next session.
The decorations" OF the Senate wing
OF the Capitol by Brumidi go on steadily
year by year. lie is still engaged on the
ladies reception room, where there are al
ready nearly four score nude babies, some
with wings and some without. How this
artist Is paid for this work will doubtless
ever remain mystery. There are no up.
preparations for the class Of work he Is en-.
gagged on, and his name in the appropria-
ton bill may be sought In vain. 1t Is
said, on the best authority, that Mr.. Bru-
midi has been paid nearly 100000 by the
government for his work during the past
ten years.
ScafOlding has been placed about the
"lhirty.iOot picture Of "Perry's Victory
on Lake Erie" and the artist, Mr.. Powell,
~ Justly az hUIA ulldlllB I've SullA ~
leaves his hands it Is hardly q subject OF
legitimate criticism, yet II Is proper to say
that thus far it is regarded with dissatis-
faction by most OF those who are entitled
70 claim experience in naval affairs and
judgment In Grt. 1t is expected that the
picture will be finished and framed before
the close Of the Summer.
The two fine portraits Of Washington
and Lafayette, by Yanderlyn and AIRY
shaFer respectively, which have so long
occupied places on the right and left Of
the Speakers chair in the House, and
which were fast falling TO decay, have
been restored by an experienced hand
without tho aid Of brush or paint, and
again pnt in position.
The immense pictures in the panels Of
the rotunda, by Vauderlyn, Weir and
Trumbull, are also in a dangerous state Of
decay, the canvas having rotted TO such
an extent that there is danger OF the pic
lures falling to pieces Of their own weight.
Whatever may be said against Trum.
bulls pictures they arc certainly worth
preserving for their portraiiurc II for
nothing else; and a few dollars carefully
expended in cleaning, vanishing and
lining them would save them from the
destruction toward which they are fast
fastening.
THE experiment recently made in Ohio
Al. L. 81 Ill NN..n