The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-02-21
Washington Letter.

The highest pitch of excitement was
reached at the Capitol yesterday at q
little past noon. The House held an
animated discussion Of two hours length
voting against the decision Of the cleo
toral commission in the Florida case,
and sent the report to the Senate with
the announcement that the House was
in readiness to receive that body;
whereupon the two Houses met in joint
convention for the second time this ses-
sion. Considerable disappointment
pleasurable and otherwise-was felt
when the vote of Illinois was read and
no objections were made. Nothing
further of note occurred till Louisiana
was reached when, as was anticipated
all over the country, objections were
made by both Republicans and Demo-
Gratis, which put an end to the pro-
ceedings of that day.
Much complaint is made because so
little legislative business has been ac-
complished this winter; but the records
will show pretty fair amount Of i'm
portant matters to have been disposed
gilmore than would generally be ex-
pected considering the necessary atten-
ton and time that have been given to
the Presidential question. Prof. Hen
ry, of the Smithsonian Institute in this
city, petitioned Congress week or two
ago for an appropriation to be devoted
to the erection of new building for
national museum purposes, stating that
the present institute will not hold q
quarter of the Centennial presents, do
mated to our Government, which we
now stored in the old Armory and in
Philadelphia. These presents are an
extensive addition to the National mu-
scum and it is but fitting that Congress
should at once provide for the erection
of a building suitable for its accommo-
dation. The Centennial collection COM
prises almost the entire Centennial ex-
hibits of the governments of the Argen-
tine Republic, Austria, Belgium, Brazil,
Chill, China, Egypt, France, Germany,
Hawaii, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Neither
lands, Norway, Orange Tree State,
Peru, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden.
Siam, Switzerland, Turkey, Tunis,
Great Britain and the Colonies, and
Venezuela. The donation from China
is the largest and is full exposition Of
the races, habits and resources of that
country. This, by itself, would fill any
one of the large halls of the Smithsonian
and the collection from Siam is nearly
as large. From fair France we have q
beautiful pair of Centennial vases, val
ued at $4,000, and large panel oil
tiles. From Great Britain there is an
allegorical representation of America
composed Of several colossal figures, val.
ued at $4,000. The rest are mainly
stuffed birds and animals, preserved
fishes, and the natural products and
manufactures of the above mentioned
counties.
Another matter that has been neelec.
ted too long was considered by Con.
gress lately; that Of the unfinished
Washington Monument. This monu.
ment was begun many years ago and
was designed to be the tallest in the
World. 1t has already cost $3.50, ZOO
and is but 10 feet high-600 feet is ia
be it's height when finished. And now
it is found that the foundation is not
strong enough to bear the completed
monument and there is no way Of rene.
dying this defect as its comparative
nearness to the Potomac gives the
ground sandy, uncertain 6rmness
which is quite insecure. It has at last
been decided to tear it down and erect
it on higher land, using the same ma
terial and making some changes in the
style of building. 1t was originally in
tended to ornament the interior walls
by the insertion Of numerous specimens
prices OF stone sent to all parts of the
world in memory of Washington.
Among those already received are some
from Mount Vesuvius, China, Zremin,
Swiss Republic, the Temple of Garth
age, Greece, Japan, and twelve bricks
from the birth place of Washington.
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