National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-01-20
THE CAPITOL GROUNDS.

In the committeeman Of the Senate Commit
tee on Public Buildings and Grounds are some
fine drawings, executed in the office OF Mr.. Olm-
stead, Of New York, showing the proposed I'M
provements upon the Capitol building and the
surrounding park. The improvements upon the
building itself are only in the conception Of the
architect. Many plans have been devised, but
this seems to be more comprehensive and more
practical than any that has preceded it. 1t con-
templates throwing out the central east front be.
yond the north and south wings, the style OF
to- The west front is TO be also thrown out some
forty or fifty feet beyond its present line and BE-
yond the line Of the two wings; this latter 70
Library, instead Of erecting an independent
building for the library, as has been eontem.
persons not biased in the matter, as for all pur-
poses the library should be contained In the Gap
itol rather than removed to any other building,
especially as no distinct and separate edlhoe
can be erected upon the Capitol grounds, or upon
any other public reservation within reasonable
distance Of the Capitol.
THE EAST FRONT
rooms for various purposes, in which the building
Is now sadly deficient. But aside from considers
tions Of utility the principal object which dc
HANGED architectural beauty and grandeur which
such additions will give to the edlhoo itself
Now, the appearance Of the building as 1t first
meets
THE EYE OF THE STRANGER,
whether the eye be educated to criticism in art
and architecture, or whether It DO the eye OF o
novice, presents painful inconEruitIes.
First Of all, the immense dome-probably the
most majestic In It's proportions Of any in the
worlds seen towering into the very sky, and
art. As the eye folioWs down this dome TIL IL
meets the base, II rests, disappointed and unSat.
iShed. II seeks for that LOFTY pile Q support OF
The cid centre is small and feeble in its appear
hnce, and too weak TO bear up 50 massive struc'
The eye invoIuntarlly strays of to the wings TO
seek relief; these being 80 far removed, with the
additional effect Of the architecture, disconnect
themselves from the dome and thus give the re-
lief sought. This
APPARENT INHARMoNY
arises from two causes: Firstly, the want of
breadth Of the centre or old part OF the building
especially the east 'front.' and secondIy-and this
is most apparent to skilled architects-the incon.
gruity in the style Of architecture. The building
Itself Is In strict conformity TO the Greclan order
permitted TO enter. All laid out by the square,
the level and the plummet. 1t was reserved for
the more modern Roman order, with its curves
and arches, to give grace and beauty; where its
the Grecian all wac massive strength in its right
angles and perpendiculRrs.
Now, as before described, when the eye having
fallen upon the dome with its curves and arches
and circular cOlonnades, moves downward aud
MEETS THE STRAIGHT, FLAT SURFACES
OF the Grecian roof It receives the sudden check,
and hence the painful contrast which seeks relief
extensions OF the centre will relieve the apparent
inharmOny. Other and more radical changes
might be made with a view to harmony. The
design also proposes building a terrace wall
along the west front and the north and south
wings, some nifty feet from the building itself,
using fifteen er twenty feet OF massive masonry,
which will add the appearance of an enlarged
base and increased altitude, which will be still
further enhanced by removing the present ter
races, leaving gentle slope down from the ter
race wall. Any person looking at the drawings
above spoken Of cannot fail to commend the
grand conceptions Of the architect who framed
these designs.
THE PLAN FOR THE EAST PARK
is perfected and is being carried out by provisions
ard appropriations Of Congress, aud the work
will be completed early in the coming season.
This park is laid of in most beautiful landscape
design. Along the whole east front of the Cap
itOl is open carriage court which is to be paved
A centre avenue, fifty feet in width, extends from
the centre Of the court to meet East Capitol
street. Where this avenue opens into the court,
on either side, is to be a rectangular area sur
rounded with bluestone curbing, then an orna-
mental pavement Of artificial stone, then a grass
plat, graceful in its design, and within all an
exquisite spray fountain unlike anything low in
the city. On the north and south sides of the
centre avenue are peculiarly -shapedOYal or clip
tic mounds, raised iTregularly above the drives
and walks, and Ornamented with trees and shrubs.
AT THE NORTHEAST AND SOUTHEAST
corners Of the park, where Pennsylvania and
Maryland avenues and First and B streets north
and south respectively intersect, are driYe-Ways
twenty-five feet wide, diYerging and running on
ellDeT SlQe OF the oval MOUNDS: the one terminal
ing in centre avenue, the other into the carriage
court north and south where New Jersey and
Delaware avenues respectively diverge from the
Capitol. Alongside Of these semiciTCular drives
are also semLcircular walks, instead of the old
walks from street north and south, still fur
her subdividing the park into triangular and
iTescent-shsped flats, extremely picturesque and
Chaste in design and execution. Around about
me third Of these oval mounds, looking toward
the centre Of the Capitol, are to be bluestone
curbs, set in the form Of seats against q raised
walk paved with ornamental artificial stone and
on the inner circle line Of highly Ornamented
lamp posts. These connected walks, together
with the two fountains already described, will
present picturesque appearance Of rare beauty.
THE MOUNDS AND SMALLER FLATS
formed by the drives and walks, while regular In
contour, are irregular In altitude and irregularly
set with trees and shrubs, so TO present natu-
raj rather than an artificial aspect. The whole
design, when completed, will reflect additional
credit upon the peculiar genius Of Mr.. Olmstead,
rs landscape artist and will satisfy all critics
Rs to the Improvement in grading and ornament
ing tho East Capitol Park.
In the centre Of tho oval mound, on the north
side Of the centre avenue, rs described, stands o
tlngularly beautiful tree, which In oil tho grad.
ing ard renovation, cutting down and removing,
has been left undsturbod. Curiosity inquiries,
why is this tree alone unmolested7" The au.
gwor ls:
1T ~ "suMNER's BEACH"
Shortly before his death, Charles sumner, with
come friends, were walking through the park and
discussing tho proposed improvements, aud when
near this tree they saw some lab0rers cutting
down some docayed trees. sumner, addressing
himself 20 workman, repeated
"WOOdmaR, spare that tree!"
This remark, with the knowledge OF tho fact
that MIR. Sumner always admired that particular
tree above all Others has induced the architect 10
"spRTe" 1t. And 1t will hereafter always DO
known as Summers tree"
ITS HISTORY HAS SOMEWHAT OF ROMANCE
connected with Il. Even after the close OF our
last war with Great Britain, Commander Balm
bridge sent by the Government to England
10 bring home our prisoners Of war. While in
Great Britain, and when visiting EdinbOrO', Scot
land, he saw a class Of beautiful trees grown for
ornamentatiOn, especially in cemeteries. He had
one dug up and brought 10 Washington. HRy-
ing landed II here safely he extended invitations
among the men Of note in Washington to be
present and participate in the ceremony Of plant
Ing this tree which he had imported. The cers-
mony, which partOOk more Of convlviality than
solemnity, was participated in by Gems. Brown,
then general-in-chief Of the army; Scott, Jessup
and Townsend; CommOdOres BainbIidge, Decl-
tur and Porter, and many distinguished states
men and citizens Of Washington. This, or some
leans for planting trees about the Capitol and this
CUSTOM WAS ENTERED INTO
by Clay, Calhoun, Crttenden, William r. King,
Wis Of Massachusetts, Bell OF New Hampshire,
and others. Calhoun planted q live oak, Dixon
H. Lewis the alanthus, "hOnest John Davis" the
sugar maple Of New England. Scarcely one of
these trees are now standing, save the 'Scotch
beech" Much speculation has been made in re-
gard TO this, but readers Of THE NATIONAL Re-
PUBLICAN may rely upon this account being es-
sentially correct, as narrated by Mr. Thomas
Scrvener, Of Capitol Hill, who was present at the
planting who watched its growth with continued
Sumner, as here given.