The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-02-19
(From our Regular Co-respondent)
VI .,,,,,sa.oD5 n q Feb 1ath 1e

for the accommodation of the vast piles OF
books and accumulations of printed mat
ter, and for the last four or FIVE congresses
there has been demand for new library
building. The bill providing additional
accommodation for the books was again
taken up this week and the debate which
followed was interesting and important in
its suggestion OF removal far more i'm
portant than that of the library. Senator
Voorhees, said that he thought the day was
not far distant when the capital would be
removed to more central position.
The capital was established in this
malarial sink when the population Of the
United States numbered from FIVE to seven
millions grouped in the states on the
Atlantic front. Gen. Washington select
cd this situation mainly, it is
supposed, because it was conven-
lent to his country residence at Mt.
Vernon, 16 miles distant. Since the
foundation of the capital the gravity of
population has changed its centre from
New England to Ohio, and is moving west
ward with accelerated velocity.
If the basis of apportionment remains
unchanged, sixty-six members, it is esti-
mated, will be added to the House Of Rep
resentatives, as the result OF the next
census. OF these, eleven are assigned to
the Eastern and Middle States, forty to
the Western States, and fifteen to the
Southern States. The largest proper
Tomato increase is found in the case of
Kansas, which jumps from representa-
ton Of three to one Of seven. California
increases from four TO seven, and Texas
sends ten instead of six. New York adds
FIVE to her plumber. Illinois, Iowa, Mich
igan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania and
Wisconsin send four additional members
ia each case, and the representations of
Indiana aud Minnesota are augmented by
two each On the supposition that the
apportioUment is correct, the electoral
vote in 1884 will be divided sectionally a
follows: Eastern and Middle States, 1874;
Western States, l73; Southern States, l3S.
Those who suppose that the West will
not avail itself of its preponderating
strength, underrate its enterprise and
mistake its temper. The argument that
the capital was founded by Wash
ington, and consecreted by Lin.
coin will have but little in-
tlueneo upon a people who are growing
every day more practical and less senti,
mental, and will be far out~weighed by
considerations of economy and health.
| believe congress would do much more
to improve the capitol if it were not for O
wanna y,rngaiNr, rs b1l;kry ID =,
feeling that Washington is but little more
than national caravansari, aud that tt
spend large sums for the improvement o.
camping place is poor economy.
But there must be found place, ever
though it be but temporary, for the books
Senator COnkling made an able speech il
favor Of extending the capitol for this pur
pose. Alter adVerting to the difficulty o
referring to n library where each book hal
TO be referred to separately, he called at
tention to a plan which he held in hi
hand, proposing to extend the capitol by
adding two wings east and west, which
would give ample room; this plan beinl
drawn after careful consideration aut
stuIy of the grandest piles in the world
including St. Peters at Rome. He said
The present building looks like dom,
with building under it, and not like
building with a dome surrounding it. Tn
dome is the building, as seen from Amos
all directions, and has a somewhat extin
gushing effect. 1t is extensive, it is colos
sal beyond the demand which strikes the
eye After describing the wings proposed
their height,general appearance and utilit,
as rOoms for hbrary,he added: Il am IN
cined to think, though, that / should no
be willing to devote those lofty and air,
rooms to library, but should rather pre-
fer allowing the two houses of congress t
occupy them. | would take those bodie
out Of these two iron boxes, of which thi
chamber is one; two iron boxes inside
building, in which hundreds and thousand
arc kept daily, like rats in an exhaustet
receiver. Mr.. President, there is notet
man in this country (Mullett) who still
lives, and has been charged with great of
lenses. If / had the prosecution of tina
man, one of the strongest indictment
would be that under his jurisdiction, in
spection and directions, two iron boxe
were made inside OF a building In whicl
men who have work to do, and serious
work to do, are cooped up in great mum
bers year after year, where they never cal
see the earth or sky, or catch glimpse O
anything fresh or natural 80 now. i
these wings could be constructed (and
don't know that they cannot bel | woulC
put the two houses of congress there, mex
the air, and where by pulling down OF
raising windows, we could get some circu
lation such as nature provides, in place o
bringing in an artificial air pumped from
among the cloisters and foundation,
Of the dome, browning q buildipe
on one side of which the sur
never shines, pumping up air, too
with all the gases in the meantime it brings
along with it to supply this hall through
holes in a perforated floor. am inclined
to think that the comfort aud convenience
and the expedition of business 10 the Ions
years yet to come. in the life of the consti
tuition; and, differing from the senator from
Indiana, | hope in the lite of the continu
ancc Of this capitol here, where it wa
founded in the heroic days and by tn,
heroic men Of the republic, that great ad
vantage would be derived from transfer
ring out of walls and from the unwhole
some and fevered atmosphere the tw,
houses OF congress, to rooms from which
they might look upon those natural thing
which are familiar to the habits aud pre
ierences of men, and which have G vas
deal to 90 with the we'll being and enjoy
ment OF man. G. A. S.