Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-10-24
OUR NATIONAL CAPITAL.
From our Regular Correspondent.

our uldI OOIItbpOuQenL.
This is one Of the warmest fall seasons
the capital city has experienced for years.
Nevertheless it is very pleasant. The
scOrching suns Of July and August had put
the parks into premature sere and yellow
leaf, but the milder weather Of September,
accompanied as it has been by plenty of
moisture, has rejuTenated the face of ma
ture, and now the parks, squares and lawns
are smiling with the beauty Of June. 1t is
Just the time to see the city in its best,
and fresh faces meet us in all the places Of
public interest. Besides these we encoun-
ter many familiar faces which belong TO
the returning summer absentees aud re-
mind rs how rapidly the session of Con-
greSs approaches. The visitors who come
to US now it is safe to say, are not pOlitI-
clans, they are people who come here to
see what manner Of city Washington is
when the laWgivers are away. The first
place they make for is the Capitol itself.
Here they find the legislative chambers
and the various other public rooms in
rare state Of disorder. There are always
certain repairs and alterations to be made
not to mention the necessary changing at
the close of the session and this year the
work was delayed by the extra meeting of
Congress which lasted until July.
The elabOrately ornamented grounds
about the Capitol are very lovely now, con-
trssting strongly with the disorder in
and around the building. New walks
are being finished and old ones re
laid; an immense new safe has been put
in for the House of Representatives; some
new statnaIy has been introduced, and
many changes made in the rooms. The
Fentilsting Of the Representatives, Cham
Der is being greatly improved. A lobby
has been made by tearing out the parti-
tiOns bet Reen the reporters, the Sergeant
at-Arms and the Speakers rooms, with
windows opening to the outdoor world;
the Speakers room has been transferred to
what was the folding room. AnOpen fire
place has been built back of the Speakers
desk, and variOns other decided improve
ments naugurated. A new electric light
ing apparatus for the dome has been COM
pleted and tested. 1t is a dynamo-electric
machine, with an Illuminating power equal
to 70, 900 candles, and is similar to smaller
ones with the intensity of 10000 candles
recently purchased for lighting the halls
and chambers of the Capitol. The latter
cost 5000 each, and we're purchased out of
an appropriation Of 50, 400 for the purpose
and the remainder will it is thought, pay
for the larger one. The apparatus will oc-
cupy the west part of the dome, and will
command Pennsylvania avenue for a long
distance. 1t is expected that, with cleo
tricity instead of gas, the dome, the rotun-
da and the halls will be better lighted than
ever before, and that the cost of the same
will be lessened. Speaking Of the dome of
the Capitol, the old Italian artist Signor
Brumidi, who painted the allegorical fig
ures in the apex, aud who has been at work
here for the last twenty-six years, is still
engaged on the figures in the rotunda.
His work is done on platform suspended
sixty feet from the floor, He is old and
feeble, and sits in chair while at work.
Some time since he had very narrow es-
cape from a sudden and terrible DEATH
His platform consisted Of two stages, the
communication between them being by
ladder. On this occasion he was seated in
his chair on the upper stage, and, in lean
ing over to give the finishing touch to
figure almost 9ut of his reach, his chair
Slipped and turned over, and he only saved
himself from dropping down below by
catching on a round of the ladder, to which
he clung till help came. He is quite old
and feeble, and lately told gentleman
who called Oh him that he did not expect
he has been so long engaged.
Military and government circles sre
good deal agitated over the Indian diffieul-
ties which have just broken out afresh.
This times it is the Utes Of Colorado and
the White River country. The murder of
Major Thornburg, agent Meeker and all the
whites at the agency is another of those
cnld-blooded atrocities likely to occur al
any time, so long as our Indian policy and
system of management remains what it
now is. The Utes have heretofore been
regarded as friendly, and the principal
chiefs are still so. Seven of the chiefs
were here in Washington less than,a year
ago remaining two weeks at the fremont
House, where ] met and cOnversed with
them. They were feted and feasted, and
given receptions without number. They
also attended church and made speeches to
the Sunday school children, and before
leaving for home the Interior Department
gave them each trunk, an overcoat and
800 in silver. One of this same party,
Colorado Chief, is now the leader of the
wsrlike band ON White river. The others,
among whom are chiefs "Sam" and "Billy"
remain friendly. Both Of the last named
outrank Colorado in the Ute councils.
The principal chief '0uray" is not he
rerltary chieftain, but holds that position
by reason of his great ability. Pc super
ceded Colorado few years ago, and the
latter has since been sullen, reckless and
violently opposed to the civilization of his
tribe. saw great many Of these Indians
while in Colorado, and learned much Of
their habits and condition. They occupy
a reservation comprising several millions
of the best lands in colorado, but sre gen.
orally opposed to cultivsting the soil and
very jealous of the enroachments of white
prospectors and settlers. DOM PEDRO.
Washington, Dot, IA, 1879.