Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-12-19
OUR CORRESPONDENCE.
The Capitol.

Mr. EDITOR While in this city have
visited several places of note which, gcncr-
ally. attract the stranger. The Capitol
was the first, to which went several times.
In this letter | can only notice n few Of
the many objects of interest and attraction
to be seen in this extraordinary work of art,
every part of which presents something
beautiful or curious
1t is building in which the highest or
der of architecture is consummatcd and up
on which labor, skill, and wealth, have law
ished all their contributions. Its massive
and towering proportions, crowned by ite
huge and yet lofticr Dome, all in serene
whitencss is an object of imposing splcndor,
blending all the destinations of the beauti-
full and the sublime, appropriating it to the
dignity of its purpose, and mcriting the
fame which foreign and native travellers
have conceded as being the most beautiful
clifice in the world The level uroun l.
ing country permits il to be seen for miles
away Along the Washington and Alexan-
snowy form can he seen looming, Ike Il
city in itself, above the northeastern hori-
ION, incomparably grand when every other
object in the city has disappeared from
view. 1t stands on n plateau ninety
feet above the level of the Potonac riv r
fronting eastward On this side the grounds
are being repaired and lcvclcd. The only
thing inviting attention is colossal statue
of Washington executed by Greer lgh.-
The upper portion of the body being nude,
after the manner of the anCient;, who made
their statues naked above and clothed below
rs being visible to the gods bu. invisible to
men, The familiar features of Washington
are much disguised in this garb.
On the west side is a park of fifty acres
beautifully ornamcnted with fountains,
flower beds, gravel walks, shade trees, &c.
&c. Here during the summer months the
L. S. Marine Band, by order of Congress,
give open air concerts every "Wednesday
afternoon. In pool near the entrance
next the Capitol are fish of almost every
hue, some deep red, others pure white,
which swim in schools near the surface of
the water and quickly take food thrown
to them.
The entire length of the Capitol is 75l
feet; its greatest depth 32t feet. From the
basement floor to tn bronze statue of Lib
erty, 300. The area covered is 1913, 1l2
! I,,t
| flights of steps which conduct to the main
entrances; the one in the centre leads to
the Rotunda the one on the right to the
| Senate Chamber the one on the left to the
Hall Of Representatives.
The present Senate Chamber and Hall of
| Representatives known as the north and
south wings are extensions" their corner
stones having been laid July 4th. 1851, by
Pres. Fillmore, and finished November, 1867
| The material used in them are white marble
| from the quarries of Lee, Mass. except the
columns, which were quarried i'll solil
| blocks at Cockeysville, Maryland. The
central portion is built of sandstone from
Aqua Creek, Virginia, and is painted white.
The cornerstone was laid September 18th,
1898, by President Washington. After be-
ing partially destroyed by fire by the Brit
ish in 1914, was finally completed in 1927,
The central pediment of this portion Of the
building contains group of three figures
in bas-relief, representing the Genius OF
America, Hope and Justice, with appropri-
ate emblems, said to have been designed
by John Quincy Adams. The pedmcnt Of
the north wing contains group by Thorn
as Crawford, representing the Progress of
| Civilization in the United States. The
southern pediment has not been flied AS
cending the central flight of steps on the
right check-block is a group by Horatio
Grecnough, which represents the early
struggles of the pioneers. A settler is
struggling with an Indian in defence of
| his family. The other figures are woman,
child and dog. All are beautifully sculptur-
ed in marble The block on the left con-
tam, group of two figures by Persico,
representing Columbus discovering Amer
! lea. Under the portico on the right and
left of the entrance are Persico's statues of
Mars and Ceres, symbolizing War and
Peace. On the toor is Campellanos bas-
relief of Fame and Peace browning n bust
of Washington with wreathes of laurel
Those statues we have described along the
entrance are colossal.
We now pass the door into the Rotunda,
which is really the interior of the great
Dome from the top to the tioor. we are on.
1t is SO feet in diameter at its base and con-
tracts to diameter of Is feet at the top
The height from the floor to the base Of
the lnrtorn Above is 9O3 feet. large h,Stor.