Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-16
Room for the Congressional Library.
VIEWS OF GEN. MEIGs ON THE PROPOSITION TO RAISE
THE CAPITOL DOME


THE CAPITOL DOME.
The Joint select committee Of conference on the
additional accommodations for the library re-
Gently addressed TO Gen. Meigs communication,
asking his opinion as to the project OF raising the
dome OF the Capitol SO feet, in order to make room
for the library underneath it. Gen. MeigS has
sent his reply to the committed After describing
the construction OF the dome, and the capacity of
the central portion Of the Capitol to bear wei ght,
Gen. Megs declares that he does not think it pru-
dent TO put the additional weight upon il in
volved in the project I'm which his opinion was
asked, which is to raise the roof OF the
center building so feet, and the iron roof OF the
dome the same height He says the walls under
the dome are just proportioned to bear the load
now upon them. He says the mortar used in the
construction of those walls was made of lime and
sand, cement was not used I'm those DAYS and
the soil upon which these walls rest Is OF moist
clay; that the Rey-stones in some OF the arches
have dropped, some. more than others,
and upon the whole, Gen. Meigs says
a dangerous and fatal enterprise. He says il is
possible to take the dome to pieces ana rebuild.
but that the proportions OF the Capitol forbid this
as well as any tempt to raise the dome. In con-
clusion he says: nowhere is to be found a great
building of such rich and graceful composition as
the present Capitol of the United States" And he
maintains substantially that any change would
not only be dangerous, but would destroy the
architectural beauty OF the Capitol
COUNTERFEITERs CONVENIENT ILINEss.-Chief
Brooks, Of the secret service. and Mr. George b.
Casilear, OF the Bureau of Engraving and Print
ing, returned last night from Chicago where they
went to appear at the trial OF the noted counter
feiter James b. DOYLE which WIS set for the 10th
instant Doyle. however. was Very conveniently
taken sick at his farm near Peoria On the Sth in
slant, and lnding the general belief that
he was Stlamming his case was continued until
the lst OF May.
NAVAL ORDERS.-Commodorc J. II. UpShur, to
command the New York navy yard, 1st OF April.
Lieut. f. NJ. Symonds, to the New Hampshire, 1st
OF April.
PRoMOTED-The Postmaster General has pro-
NOTED j. ii. Brown. postal clerk on the New York
and Chicago line, to be an Inspector OF the depart
ment. Mr. Brown is a nephew of the famous John
Brown, OF Harpers Ferry fame.
THE SOLDIERS HOME UNPLEAsANTNEss. Another
statement in reference to the ill-feelng existing
between the commissioners of the Soldiers Home
and General Sturgs is that the whole complca-
ton grew out OF an act OF General SturgS soon
after his appointment by President Garfield. Gem
eral Sturgts drew up reluiSitiOn for costly fur
nture &c, for the purpose OF renting his private
quarters at the home, which the commissioners re-
fused to allow, consequently the fight has been
kept up.
THE OMAHA STRIKERs-Senator Saunders, OF
Nebraska, this morning called upon the Secretary
War. He was asked by STAR reporter about the
condition OF the labor troubles at Omaha and said
that he had received no late dispatches. The fact
that he had hear0 nothlhg LED hln 10 Delleve that
every thing was quiet. He said, however. that the
governor OF Nebraska would retain the troops I'm
Omaha as long as the mayor OF the city thought
there would be any danger OF violence.
DEATH OF NAVAL OFFIcER.-The Secretary OF
the Navy informed OF the death or Civil Engineer
Norman Stratton, U. s. navy, retired, at his late
residence In Brooklyn, on the 11th instant
GEN. RUFUS INGALLS, this morning assumed
the duties OF quartermaster general. At 10 O'Clock
the male and female employees in the ONCE were
introduced personally to Gen. Ingalls, by Chief
Clerk George X. Finckel, and Were most cordially
received Gen. Ingalls, has familiarity with the
duties OF the department, gained by actual SER
vice therein OF over quarter OF century, and
has the aid OF familiarity with the Office of quar-
termaster general gained by years duty as such
during the absence OF Gen. Melgs In Europe some
six years since.
GUrTEAUs BILLS OF ExcEPrIoN--Mr. Scoville
arrived in the city last evening and was at the
district attorneys office for short time In refer
ence to the settlement of the bin OF exceptions fn
he case OF Guiteau An appointment WAS made
or two O'Clock this afternoon, &C which hour they
net before Judge Cox and proceeded 20 act on the
several btl1A