Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-08-09
CITY AND DISTRICT.
TEE CAPITOL COLUMNS.
Up the ELLA Feat which was
Thought To be II Great Thing in ITS
Day.

Among The striking features of the architect
aral beauties of the Capitol are the monolthic
Columns that a1OTn the three sides of each new
wing (Senate and House,. They are one hun
dred in number. and were taken from the
quarries ct Cockeysville (Texas). Baltimore
county. NGryla AMI were furnished. in rough
by Mr. John Connolly. contractor ut q cost OF
about Il 500 each Their length is "a feet 5
inches. and weight about - tons each. This
length does not include the capital. base or ped
estal. which are separate pieces. The trans
pOItation OF these columns from the quarries
ana the leading and unloading on the railroad
trucks We're regarded at the time as Il remarks
Die example of mechanical skill. They were
loaded at the quarries upon two truck cars fas-
tened Together. and bed made to uniformly
support the weight and prevent violent EARRING
or strain; but the principal difficulty was their
safe unloading and transport alton up the hui TO
the east yard Of the Capitol grounds. where they
were all CIT. The first fifty were unlOaded AT
the present site of the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road depot. and two were carried by large
number %! wOThmen from the Capitol UP the
hill by way Of North Capitol street to the east
front OF the Senate wing This was found to be
too expensive To the contractor who had stpu-
lated 10 deliver the stone Mt the CAPITOL The
contractor. in his Cwn interest. sought other
means of transports. ion of the stone from the
railroad trucks to the east side of the Capitol.
About this time
Mr.. ROBERT BRUCE.
who had formerly been q noted stevedore and
truckman. in the DAYS of the commercial pros
perity of Alexandria. was moving and hauling
freight from the Il. x o. freight depot He was
strongly recommended to Mr.. Connolly. the con-
tractor. as the proper man to supervise the
transportation. Mr.. Bruce was sought and 800
fixed as the price for moving each stone; but
meanwhile. another man agreed to to do the
job for $40 each. and was given the work By
his want Of ability and mistakes two of the
Columns were bro.len in transportation and
were a dead loss to the contractor. The work
was then given to Mr.. Bruce. The stones were
rolled ON skidS placed the ground carefully
Wcdred up-the greatest care and good Judy
mcnt had To bc shown in unloading. that the
stone when moved from its truck bed would he
UNIFORMLY supported, and in Its rolling descent
rom the track would he landed and stopped
with nicely and uniformity. Once safely landed
the stone relied by means of q chain faS-
tened tn a tackle PASSED around a capStan an
ehOred in the street which capstan was turned
10y one horse. The sGallnc>s of the force and
eXpeTtneSs in handling aud transporting these
Columns were considered very remarkable. Mr.
Bruce employed three men. At first it took
about four days to unload and roll the stone to
the place for final cutting; but by having fine
horse the time was greatly reduced. The horse
used was quite
REMARKABLE, ANIMAL,
and excellently well trained by Mr. Bruce who
was also a noted trainer of horses The horse
was trained to step over the rope, and the ami
maj was so intelligent that if any of the gear or
rigging broke he would ease UP and stop at
once without orders; and when steady heavy
pulling was vital TO success he would strain
every nerve 10 hold on. and not give back an
inch until he was assured by an order from his
IL u ~ sod,
man: Hold @ii YOU get. My boy--a Little
more. old fellow Many PERSONS would 90 to
see the horse pull. and how clever he under
stood and otcysl orders from his master The
grade OF Capitol ilill was much sleeper than it
is now. and the Avenue was laved with ccbhle-
stones Onc-!.aif of the columns We're unloaded
on Mar! land avenue and rolled up the south side
OF the CaH:to'; the others were brought frcm
tine north Si,ir. Ny Bruce was assisted hy th,
late Mr.. Ianici skinner and sir Charles Starks
began tine job with him hut after two columns
were carried MP ne went back to tae Il. and O.
railroad depot. where lac had been ana is now
employed. TIE Old men who accomplished
GndcT great q fcH!tics what in their dav was
regarded aS wonderful about our pubic build
Ei-S a. rapidly passing aUaT. and old Mr.. Bruce
Relates with much pride MANY particulars about
tne transportation of these columns UP Capitol
Hill. the digging OF the canal to Alexandria ana
the times of commercial prosperity OF that place
when hardly sufficient number of man could
De- hired to load a&d unload the vessels OFF her
wEarves- The old man is still hale and hearty
anss with Mr.. Jan1es Chatham. of Alexandria.
gre among the best living iIOrsemen iii the coun-