Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-11-18
The Grounds to be Beauti6ed and the
RuiIding ENLARGED.

Washington special The work of con-
structing new approaches to the capitol,
which has been proceeding for some time
past, in accordance with the design ap-
proved by Congress in 1874, under the
joint direction of Mr.. Edward Clark, the
architect Of the capitol, and Mr.. Freder-
lex Law Olmsted, the landscape architect
OF the capitol grounds, is so far advanced
as to make it possible to judge of the ar
chitectural effects which the change is in
tended to produce. At present the base
ment story of the capitol is surrounded on
three sides-the northern, southern and
western-with an emban xment of earth
overlaid with turf. This embankment is
carried on the three sides to a level with
the high ground of the east front of the
building, and has very steep slope to the
grounds on the west front. An ordinary
stairway of two flights of stone steps,
with shabby wooden hand-rail,
| traverses the distance between the
park and the top of the embankment,
and is the only approach to what was
originally intended to be the rear, but has
become the principal entrance to the
| building. The design for the new APP
proaches contemplates the substitution OF
| of a marble terrace for the present en-
| bankment around the basement of the
| building, and of stairway OF graceful de-
sign and imposing dimensions, leading by
easy stages to the esplanade OF the new
terrace for the present staircase. The
marble walls of the new terrace will vary
in hight at different points, in order to
conform to the slope of the grounds, the
| esplanade of the terrace being carried
| around all three sides at an equal hight.
| The esplanade or deck of the terrace will
| be divided into two parts, the division
running midway between the outer walls
of the present building and the outer
walls of the proposed new work. The in
ner of these two parts is to be level with
the loot of the several short flights OF
steps now opening from the porticos; the
outer one four feet lower The two levels
are to be connected by flights of steps op-
posite those from the porticos. In line
with the lower flights, and running par
allel with the division between the two
levels. there is to be a channel eight
feet wide, to be filed with soil and
planted. In looking toward the capitol
from the ground this division OF the ter
race into two decks will not be apparent,
but the eye will range over it and the
marble of the front of the terrace be thus
massed with the marble of the main
building just above the granite base-course
of the latter. Openings will be made
through the outer wall of the terrace
garden for lighting and ventilating the
corridor below. 1t is believed that this
marble terrace will give the appearance OF
greater solidity to the foundations of the
building and thus add to its grandeur
1t is also thought that it will tend to re-
move the appearance OF disproportion be-
tween the dome and the building proper
The general plan OF the capitol grounds
has been altered so as to bring it into har-
mony with the contemplated improve.
ment in the building. The addition oi
the terrace will increase the basement
room of the capitol, this in itself being an
important consideration. 1t will add
eighty rooms, which can be used for com.
mittees, for the storage of documents, etc
1t will also afford an opportunity to en-.
large the present boiler rooms.