The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-04-02
Now Stale DepartInenf,

The new state department. Is one vi tuICc
uniform buildings united by connecting
wings so as TO form one magnificent SUPER
structure, as large as the United States
Treasury Department, finer In its proper
tons, and more beautiful In its designs ana
executions, than any structure, puOlIc or pfi-
yate, on the American continent. Its Amcrl'
can admirers claim for 1t superiority over
any building in the world. 1t occupies The
square bounded on the north by Pennsy IVA
MIA avenue, on the west by seventeenth
street. and on the south and east by EXc"u-
tive avenue. The space covered by the en-
tire structure is the same as that OF the
Treasury Department. The entire length Of
the building from north to south, when com.
pttel, including pavilon-projcction and
steps, will be jGI feet, and from east to west
3l2 feet. The building proper, exclusive of
projections, will be AL feet north and south,
and 253 feet east and west
The greatest height from the terrace.lerel
over all is 12S feet. The entire structure
will present externally four fac tdcs s-north,
south. east, and west. The north and the
south fronts are counterparts of each other,
and form two separate and independent
buildings or pavionS. The south pavilion,
which is new nearly completed, Will be occu-
pied by the State Department, and the
north by the Navy Department. The east ana
west lac ldcs will present the appearance OF
a centre and two lateral wings. The cast
aud west fronts of the centre pavilion are
also countcrpartS Of each other, aud this pa
viIion will be occupied by the War Depart
mcnt. The centre is connected by two
wings with the North and south pivilion>,
thus, as before stated, uniting the whole into
one grand building.
These three paviIions aud their connecting
wings enclose two hollow squares, thereby
giving TO each separate building and to every
room in each building ample light and air.
Into each Of these two inner courts are two
private entrances or carriaSe.ways, four III
all, through the east and west elevations.
The iolIr facldes are Of equal Importance
and are appropriately and harmoniously
broken up hy the pavilions and by project
ing porlicocs.
There are four grand entrances by the
north, south. east, aud west centres Of the
parilons; also, four more, only Il little less
grand. TO the east aud west Of the north ana
south pavilions. All these, forming in all
eight entrances, are by massive flights of
steps through the projecting pUrticocs or CO.
lOnadcS.
The basement of the whole structure is
| uniformly two stories high, or basement
aud sun.bascneEt. Above this, III the pa
viliOns OF the north and south fronts, are
| four stories and one in the rooi; over the
clst and wcs. ccntrC-pavilionS, tive stories
and one in the rool
The order of architecture used III this de-
| sign is from the ancient Roman Doric, care
fully and originally treated. All details have
| been most carefully and studiUu>ly adhered
] of hn,,a
been avoided, and the effects gained have
been by elegant and original proportions and
| fac workmanship.
| The whole structure is crowned with q
| mausard root. or roofs, magnificent in pro-
portions and most graceful and elegant in de.
| tail. 1t is difficult to comprehend the whole
magnitude and beauty OF this building from
! the small portion now finished.
| In the construction OF The building the
| basement, suh-basemcnt, and the approaches
are from the quarrics Of the Bodwcli Granite
| Compluv, OF itocklInd, Maine. The super
structure Is from the qtarries otthe NCsthanl
| Granite Company, OF Richmond, Va. The
| large blocks for the platforms to the pOrtlcoes
weigh upwards Of 10000 pounds. All Is
| dressed in the respective quarrlcs ready lC
| be set according 10 specifications.
| The whole construction is absolutely tire
| proof and ndcStructible. The floors are o
! iron and brick; the Mansard roof is Of iron
| tiled in with cement and covered with slate
and the interior finish is OF IRON. Even where
| there is Iathing, that, too, is of corrugated
| iron. There is no wood whatever used IN
| the construction except for doors, and win
dows, and portion Of the flooring. The
south pavilion of the State Department is
almost ready for occupancy, and its interior
arrangement and finish is fully in keeping
| with the EXTERIOR Washington Republican,