Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-05-28
JoTTINGs by THE wAYsIDE.
Rambler Takes q View OF Washing
tOn-What he Discovered While
There-Ylvld Description Ofthe Cap
itOl.
WARRINGTON, D. c., NAV 10, 1875.

visiting the Capitol Of this great nation
this city of modern times, with its broad
streets, costly ediices, &C., / take the liber
~ (by your psrmission) to present a few
items to the readers Of the JOURNAL, in
series of letters, which hope may be inter
esting to those who have not the opportu
nifty Of a personal observation.
The plan Of the city was prepared II
1871, by Peter Chas. L. Enfant French
engineer of great genius, who had served
in the Continental Army and won the con
tidence Of General Washington. Assisted
by Thomas Jefferson, in the execution o.
this plan, the site Of the Capitol was frs
located, as the initial or starting point. A
meridian or north and south line was ther
drawn through the area intended for tho
Capitol and crossed by another line Al
right angles, running east and west. Thes,
lines were to be the center of streets or ay.
enues, with other streets between them di-
verging from the same point. All of these
main avenues were to be 100 feet wide. in.
cluding walks and carriage ways The
other streets, leading to public buildinR,
and markets, were to be from 80 to 10 and
l3O feet wide, being the widest streets OF
any city in the world. Originally there
were thirteen avenues named after the tbir-
teen colonies, eight more having since been
added. Cost of paving them in round
numbers, over 81 ,000, ,0OO
The great edifices of the Old World are
accumulations OF centuries and ages, but
the Capitol Of the United States is the stu
pendous work of less than century. and
as now completed is undoubtedly the larg.
est and finest building of the kind on the
face of the globe and does great credit to
the architects of the nation. The appro-
! priations for the last three-fourths of a CEN
tury for erectiofE repair &C. of the Capt.
tol, amount to $l3,000,0O0. The elevated
site formed by nature, on which this colos-
sal building is erected, is S94 feet above
low-tIde in the Potomac, one mile distant.
The length of tins colossal structure il ISL
feet, and greatest width Of wings 324 feet.
including porticos and steps, and covers 81
acres OF ground. 1t consists of main
building, 252 feet in length, and two exter-
sionS with connecting corridors each 1891
feet. The material for the central build
ing is free-stone, from the government quar-
ries at Aqua Creek, forty miles below the
city and painted to correspond with the
wings-built of white marble from Massa.
ehusctts. The columns of extensions are
from the marble quarries at Cockeysville.
Md, twenty miles north of Baltimore.
From the center Of the main building rises
the great dome, designed by Walter, which
is 3o74 feet in height, from base line to
crest OF statute and l35 feet in diameter. It
rests on an octagonal base % feet above the
basement floor, constructed of iron. There
arc SO fluted columns27 feet high, weighing
six tons each, above which is the balus-
trade and the domical covering. The
apex is surmounted by lantern Is
ieet in diameter and so feet high. in
which is rsfecting lamp lighted by
electricity and used only when one or both
houses of Congress hold night sessions and
visible from all parts Of the city. The
Statute of Freedom, which surmoupts tb.
lantern OF the dome, represents the figure
OF female with her right hand resting on the
nit OF asheathed sword, the left on shield
grasping wreath. The crest of the he'll
met consists of an eagles beak embellished
with plumes OF feathers with head-band
enclrcled with stars. The attitude of the
statue exhibits in striking degree, the
beauty OF feminine grace, with dicision.
1t is made OF bronze, l99 feet high and
weighs l4,9S5 pounds. 1t was cast at
Clark Mills foundry, Bladensburr. FIVE
miles northeast of Washington. and cost
S23,I ,I96. This figure stands on bronze
coping representing globe, upon which
are the words E Pturibus Unum. The
whole weight Of iron in the dome is 9.OO9.-
200 pounds, resting on the foundations Of
outside walls and forty interier columns
which support heavy arches and upon
which rests the pavement OF the rotundH.
The great bronze door at the entrance
from portico to rotunda, designed and m cd
eled in Rome by Randolph Rodgers and
cast in Munich by F. V. Miller, is double
one, filling space OF feet wide and l9
feet high. 1t weighs 10000 pounds and
cost, including design and, d,model, over $780,
OOO. The designs are beautiful and vivid
ly portray the varied scenes of Columbus
and his assistants in his voyages of discov-
cry from the commencement of his under
taking to the close of his life, includ-
ing his appearance at the various courts.
his departure from Palos, landing on the
Island, encounter with the natives. being
IN chains and death-bed scene.
The Senate bronze door, designed by
Crawford, who died before his work was
completed, and finished by Rhinshart, of
Maryland, cast by James T. Ames at Chico
pee, Mass, is OF feet wide, I4I feet high
and weighs $4,000 pounds; costing $50
495. The figures represented on this, are
marybattle scenes OF the Revolution; inauR-
uration OF Washington and portraits of dis
tinguished persons who took active parts in
the early history of the nation and strue-
gle for independence. The mechanical eG-
ecution is said to be fully equal to the great
door and establishes the skill of Americans
in competition with those of Europe.
Passing from the central portico through
the great bronze door, the visitor enters the
m magnificent rotnnda, which is l8O feet high
and 90 in diameter. The walls are finish.
ed to represent pannels, the upper portion OF
which are embellished with beautifully
traced flowers. scrolls and wreaths. Below
these ornaments are the busts of Columbus,
Cabot, Raleigh and La Sale. Still lower
are finely executed paintings Of the Land
ing OF the Pilgrims; Pocahontas savingthe
life OF Capt. Smith; VIM. Penn in confer
ence with the Indians; Daniel Boone's con-
hict with the Indians; Declaration Of Inde-
pendence; surrender of Burgoyne to Gener-
al Gates, Cornwallis' to Washington and
others; costing from $S, 900 to $4,000. The
canopy measures 90 feet in diameter and |
Il perpendicular, slaborately frescoed with |
various figures. The freseoes cover an area |
OF 1000 square feet and cost $4,000.
The House OF Representatives, with the |
committee rooms pertaining thereto, is To-
Gated on the south extension and the Sen
Hte Chamber in the north extension both