Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-03-10
For the Vermont Waterman.
The National Capltol--.No. o.


Nptur ktoNilk iof titIIliy
For the Vermont Waterman.
The National Capltol--.No. o.
ny HLizApErH.
Mr.. Edtor:-Passing out of the old hall
of representatives through the south door,
we enter the house extension of the capitol. |
The new hall Of representatives is in the |
center Of that extension. The chamber is
1870 feet long, 93 feet wide and 80 feet high. |
Il has q gallery on its four sides capable OF
containing 1000 persons. The ceiling is Of
iron, gilded and bronzed, and is supported
by trusses from the roof. It's center is a
sky-light paneled with glass; in each panel
is painted the arms OF state. A full
length portrait of Washington, by Wander
lyn, is on one side of the speakers chair, on
the other side is a likeness of Lafayette by
AIRY Cheffer. Corridors, paved with encaus.
tic tiles, surround the hall. Stairoases of
Tennessee marble on the east and west sides
of the hall lead to the galleries. On the
wall above the western staircase is Leutzes
picture of "Western Emigration !" cost,
$4,000. At the foot of this staircase is
bust in bronze of the Indian chief, " Buffalo"
An equestrian picture on canvas Of General
Scott occupies the same position above the
eastern staircase. At the foot stands
statue of Thomas Jefferson, by Powers,
which cost $4,000. Near Is Carpenters
painting, "The Signing of the Emancipa-
ton Proclamation representing President
Lincoln and his cabinet, presented by Eliza
beth Thompson cost, $4,000.
The ground floor is occupied by commit
tee rooms, closets, folding rooms, house res
taurant, etc. OF the committee rooms the
most beautiful in wall characterization is that
of the committee on agriculture. The
frescos illustrate subjects connected with
,griculture-artist, Brumdi. The central
hall OF the floor of this extension is lined
with scalioni aud adorned with monolith
marble columns of great beauty. Beneath
The rotunda is the crypt 80 called from its
resemblance to the chamber of that name In
cathedrals There is here huge marble
figure, "rhe Dying Tecumseh." The library
of congress occupies the western projection
Of the original capitol, and access is obtained
to it from the rOtunda. These beautiful halls
were designed by Thomas Walter. They
are of iron, including shelves. The floors
are laid with encaustic tiles, consequently
Ill is fre-proof The central hall is 81 feet
long, 81 feet wide and 80 feet high. The
side sid halls are o5 feet long, PSI feet wide ide
The library of congress originated in 1900,
Of volumes comprised about 5000. 1t was
destroyed by the British in that year, when
hey set fire to the capitol. Mr.. Jefferson's
library, then considered one of the finest in
the country, was purchased by congress for
| S23, $50 in 1915, and became the nucleus OF
| a new collection. December 25th Of that
year, fire originating from timbers ex.
posed TO flues consumed $4,000 volumes, be-
| sides works of art, coins, etc. The number
| Of volumes in the library in 1874 was ga
| l51 and 10000 pamphlets. January !, 1876,
he number of volumes reported was 293, 507
and 10000 pamphlets. Although designed
| especially for the use of congress, any visitor
| over sixteen years of age can obtain books
| 10 read, only in the library, by filling one of
| he blanks to be found on the tables and
presenting it at the librarians desk. On
the ground floor underneath the supreme
court room, is the law branch Of the library.
| The vestibule to this apartment is famous
Tor its ornamentation of cornstalk columns
with capitals of opening ears OF corn.
| The supreme court room is situated in
What was the north wing of the original
| iapitol. 1t is semi-circular, 90 feet long and
| 10 feet high, and its greatest width is 40
| teet. 1t is ornameDted with columns OF
Potomac marble, aud has dome ceiling.
Around the semi-circular wall are brackets,
On which are placed the busts of deceased
chief justices. The room is beautifully
;arpeted. The rooms in its vicinity are APP
propriated to the officers and judges of the
,upreme court. In the robing room hangs a
portrait of Chief Justice Marshall, by Rem
brandt Peale.
Leaving the supreme court room, you pass
into the senate extension in the center OF
Il. Al a., -. al
appearance and arrangement, this chamber
resembles the hall of representatives though
smaller. 1t is ll2 feet long and 50 feet
vide. The desks of the senators are OF
highly polished mahogany. In the skylight
IRE painted symbols of progress, the Union
the army, navy aud mechanical arts. I'm
nediately north of the senate chamber are
hree rooms of great beauty the most
westerly is the presidents room. Dimen
sions 80 feet and two inches by 81 feet and
light iuches, with a canopied ceiling. The
whole room is deliberately decorated in frescc
aud distemper. On the walls are the portraits
Of President Washington and his cabinet
rhe ceiling is covered with allegorical illus
ratons of religion, liberty, executive power
and legislative authority. The floor is tiled
)ut in winter is covered with rich carpet
The walls of the marble room are of pol
shed Tennessee marble and plate glass
Four Corinthian columns of Italian marbl,
Import the ceiling. Its length is 3S fee
'eyen inches, height l9t feet, and widtl
II feet and eight inches The vice-presi
tents room is of the same size as the presi
ient's, but the walls are unadorned. 1t il
beautifully furnished, aud here is huns
l'eales celebrated likeness of Washington
yce-president Wilson died in this room
October, 1875. Ladies' reception room il
elaborate in ornamentation, and its purpose
is TO provide place where ladies may oh
tain interviews with senators. The senat
post-ofiice is admirably furnished for use
The ceiling was painted by Brumidi at cos
$4,000 On it is represented, history, geog
raphy, physics and telegraph.
Entering the hall leading to the east ex
tension portico. you arrive at The Crawfor'
Bronze Door" This illustrates revolution
ary and federal history, and cost, for models
10000; for casting, $50, 495ll. One valv
is War and the other Peace. At the top o
the war valve is the Battle of Bunker Hi
and Death of Warren, l775." The mex
panel is the Battle of Monmouth and RI
buke of General Charles Lee, the traitor
l77S." Below is Yorktown, the gallantr
If Hamilton, ISL" and at the bottom Q
the door is Hessian soldier in a deaf
struggle with an American. At the foot O
the peace valve is au allegorical represents
ton of the blessings of peace. Then aboy
is the "Ovaton to Washington at Trenton
1885," next above that, The First lnaugu
alton of President Washington, 1885," an
in the top panel is pictured, The Layin
Of the Cornerstone of the United State
Capitol, September B. 1903" The door wa
cast at Chicopee, Massachusetts,, by Jane
T. Ames. Above the door is group, /
marble, of "History and Justice" Th
senate extension portico, of which this
the door, has over its center, in detache
figures, an illustration of the progress c
American Civilization and the Decadenc
OF the Indian Races" These figures wer
modelled by Crawford. He was paid fc
them, including those of History and Ju
tice," $4,000. The additional cost for Gu
ling amounted to s29,l50. AT the foot 0
the east staircase OF the senate is.a statue {
Franklin" by Hiram Powers cost, $40, 00'
On the wall hangs Powell's picture of tn
Battle OF Lake Erie, September 10, 1872
cost, $4,000.
Ascending the stairs we find magnifcer