The Evening critic., 1881-09-30
PUBLIC BUILDINGS,
Architect CInrk's Annual Report
Expenses of the Capitol and other
Public BuiIdiugyo

Expenses Of the Capitol and Other
| Public buildings,
Architect Clarke, of the Capitol has for
wardc,i his report to the Interior Depart
ment II includes the Capitol grounds
Court House, Public Printing Office, and
plans for schoolhouscs for the District OF
Columbia for thc fiscal year ending june
80 1891.
As 10 the Capitol.
Architect Clark informs the Secretary OF
the Interior that the new elevator in tho
south wing is nearly completed Its exact
location is Mt the south end of the eastern
corridor, this position was chosen because
it is more convenient of access to those
who approach the Capitol by street car,
llerdic or carriages it also connects with
the ladies retiring room In the gallery,
and the rooms in the basement where the
bathing rooms will be placed.
Architect Clarke suggests that the bath
rooms be removed from their present loca.
tion, which IL dark and gloomy, to the foot
of the elevator. BY making this change
the restaurant can be extended so rs TO give
n private room for members, as is done in
the Senate wing.
The gallery of the old Hall of Representa-
tivcs has been made frc-proof. The rooms
made iirc-proof have not MS yet been fitted
up for the House documentary library, and
the stationery and files will remain where
they now are until the next
speaker designates their location. The
rooms in the north of the left of the north
ern part Of the central building have been
firc-prooied to store books belonging to the
Senate documentary library. One of the
rooms of this library will be fitted up for q
committee room.
The senate Chamber
has been painted and regildcd, the corridors
and many rooms reprinted also. The iron
panels have been taken from the ceiling of
the Senate and glass substituted. BY the
addition of skylights the north gallery of
the Senate is now as light rs the south.
The ROtundR.
Mr.. Costaginni has painted in fresco on
the belt of the rotunda "The Settlement of
New England" "Oglethorpc and the In
dams" and Lexington" He has also com
finished by the late Mr.. Brumidi, and he is
now engaged in the "Readng of the
Declaration of Independence" at is proper
to say, says" Architect Clarke, that Mr..
Brumidi made the designs for these sections
only in small size and Mr.. Costaggini has
had to make the full sized cartoons"
Hot and Cold.
The report from the headng, ventilating
etc, department shows that at no time dur
ing the ordinary sessions of Congress has
the scale of temperature varied more than
one degree. The electric light is repor ted
as working well and its substitution for
galvanic batteries saves about $1,000 per
annum in zinc, acid, etc, and the galvanic
apparatus hitherto used can be put to some
purpose.
"The voltaic arc" though cheaper than
gas, is, however, decided by Mr.. Clark to
be, at the present time, impractcable for
halls.
New electro thermometers with larger
columns of mercury will be constructed to
determine the temperature of the Hall of
Representatives above, those in present
use not working well.
Four portable fire engines, at q
cost of 81 200, have been purchased for use
in the building.
Capitol Grounds.
1t is decided to overcome about fifty feet
of elevation to the Capitol building along
its grounds and a change in the terrace.
The intense cold of last winter injured
some of the shrubbcry and plants as well as
the roads Quite large amount of shrub
berry has been purchased during the year,
and it will be necessary this fall to purchase
about 1000 loads of manure to fertilize the
lawns. Engineer Cobb recommends that the
watchmen on the grounds be required to
wear uniforms while on duty, and to be
appointed special police of the Metropolitan
force.
During the past year $24,570.s1 has
been expended for labor of men. In
this is included $l,245.50 for horses and
carts.
The COurt-HOuse.
The following awards were made to the
lowest bidders, for the erection of the Court
house, Sandstone work to Richard Roth
well for Sl7,209; the bricks to Charles
II. Davis for 500 per 1000,
and the brickwork, including lime and
sand, to Charles w. King for $345 per 1000.
The work has been somewhat delayed by
strikes and by the difficulty to secure
iron beams, but is now pro.
crossing satisfactorily. On account of the
storm last June it was necessary to replace
and repair the roofs damsOed by it at once,
and the Architect looks q Congress to de-
fray the additional expense incurred. 1t
to 81, 5000.
Public Printing Onice.
The extension of the Public Printing
Office is now ready for roofing, and it will
be completed by time of the next regular
Plans for Public Schools.
Architect Clark has, in conformity with
the appropriation act, made plans for the
high school building, two District school
and two school buildings for. the
county. These have been approved by the
trustees.
Amounts Expended.
For the Capitol extension, from June 80,
1880, to June 30, 1881, $4,000 was ex-
pended. The amount appropriated was
$57, 900, but $1,000 of that amount was re-
turned to the Treasury, being unavailable for
the elevator. For the heating apparatus of
the Senate, $4,000; for that of the House,
$4,000. For lighting the Capitol and
grounds, $31 ,742.07. The appropriation was
$32, 000 the balance has been returned TO
the Treasury.
For the Capitol grounds, $6O,O00,000
minus S2lS.09 cash on handy was expend-
ed; $6,2i672 was expended for payment of
retained percentages. For the extension of
the City Hall, sos, 53461 was expended;
the amount appropriated was Sly 600 For
the extension of the Government Printing
Office, $32,69l.S2 has been expended
amount appropriated, $4,000.
the Sanitary Regulations.
A meeting of. the master plumbers of the
District was held last night at Concordia
Hall, James Reagan in the chair and Ed
ward Caverly secretary. The object of the
Nt.as. a..