Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-10-08
TIE CAPITOL.

A visit 10 the Capitol shows that every
thing is being put in readiness there for the
assembling of Congress on the 18th instant.
The entire building has been uudergoiuE a
thorough renovation for some time pas. and
the rev changes in carpets and furniture Ia Al
were necessary have been ma e. GA the
Senate side the cleaning up is about finished
and
THE SENATE CHAMBER
pres an appearance as clean aud fresh
as If every thing were entirely new. The
spme brown carpet of last ses ion has been
down for several weeks, but the desks were
put In position on Saturday. There has
been no change in the seats W III one exceo-
ton, Senator Hereford, of West Virginia
will occupy the chair of the late Senator
Bogy. A new neat carpet has been laid in the
ladies gallery, and the room of the com NIT
tee on appropriations and one or two others
have been furnished with new carpets.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESsN FArIvES
handsome new Wilton carpet mas been
laid. The groundwork is dark green, in ser-
sperse ed with small yellow figures. The de-
sign is simple but handsome, and the i'm
pfovement ON the old blue carpet OF last ses.
SION rs very great: New carpets have also
In the Sergeant-at-Arms' room, in the room
OF the committees on appropr, ations and
ways and means, and in the little library
adjoining the House chamber. The desks
were placed in position on Saturday, with
no change In their arrangement. Workmen
are busily engaged in repainting the caste IN
ming 20 pervade the whole building, aud in a
few days the rush and hustle of a busy ses-
sion of Congress will be commenced.
THE PLANS FOR BEAUTIFTING THE
GROUNDS
about the Capitol are already being carried
into execution, but will uot be completed for
good while. When finished the Capitol
aud Us surroundings will present a much
g.andeT and more beautiful appearance than
AT present. The lawn extending from the first
Hight OF steps 10 Pennsylvania avenue j.
~. u =.
EFT of the removal of trees on either side o.
Tie walk. WOrkmen have been engaged for
acme time in building wall on both side.
nf the main western entrance to the grounds.
Large stone posts, handsomely carved.
guard the entrance, ana on these Will be
placed large b.OuZc lamps. The wall ex-
tends either side from these posts. This wall
Will be about three feet high, of complicated
but handsome design, and formed of gran
tie, sandstone and gneiss, used alternately
but the top or railing viii be OF sandstone.
This wall will extend north about fifty feet.
when 1t Will be Joined by the low coping
which Is already placed about the northern
portion of the grounds. II will extend south
as Tar as Mary land avenue. A very large au 4
handsome drinking fountain viii be erected
where now n small spring trickles forth
from the ground, opposite the Botanical
gardens The walk and steps leading up 10
the building will be entirely changed. The
walk has already been commenced at the
entrance, but not more than nfty feet will be
finished this year. Ii viii be much wider
lu<tu lIc pIeStht OIc, dLu Will De IOrfnt i oil
Cooks composition, and will be fanked on
both sides by q brick and stone wall about
three feet high. The walk will extend up TO
the FIRST small terrace, where, it will be re.
mem bered, are two or three stone steps.
Here will be made q large stone platform.
and few stone steps Will lead 10 another
similar platform. From the northern and
southern ends OF This second platform fights
OF stone steps will ascend, leaving a sv-G of
court between these steps on the level OF the
second platform. This court Will be laid
with mosaics, and will be adorned with
fountains, vases, statues, or other Ornam ants
OF that kind. The court will be bounded
on the Capitol side by an upright wall
forming a terrace, as high as the flights
of steps spoken of The steps will end on a
third stone platform, and from it two Fl ights
OF steps will be Continued 10 the entrance OF
the building. This last platform will also
be bOurded by wall, which will form q
parapet to the wall which will extend around
The entire building, and which viii take the
place OF The present upper terrace. Inside
This long wall will be n stone walk about
ferry f. ct wide, and at intervals stone steps
VIII ascend TO the present platform which
surrounds the building. To one looking al
the Capitol from the west, this outer wall
which takes the place o. the upper terrace.
will appear To add, from below, another sto,
~ to the building. This wall too, will be
Handsomely orDamented with statu IS, LAMPS
&c. The work OF Improvement is under the
capable direction OF Engineer Cobb.
Mr.. SAYLER AND THE SPEAKeRsHrP.-
In reference TO critici SINS that have been
made touching Mr.. Sayler's absence from
Washington at the present time, the Ciucin-
v,n1f I<,..