, 1884-02-02
LETTER.
from Our regular Cor. espondent.

some few years ago the square Yves
If the White House contained man
old-tashioned and historic buildings
prominent among which stood the oil
war and navy departments. These oil
departmental buildings were points o
much interest to the visitor ; they wer'
| excellent examples OF the American
architecture OF nearly a century ago
and presented a striking contrast t.
the massive marble buildings Of the
government of to-day, They we're Gu
Iious old structures, of almost cores
bonding size and plan. Their wall:
we're Of plain brick, painted a dingy
drab on the interior they were dark
and dusty, while brick floors added to
the general rusticity. One by one
those old buildings have given way to
the steady march of the new state, war
and navy department building towards
completion. The old war department
was demolished about foul years ago /;
only the old navy building now re-
mains. But its destruction will COM
mence on the eighteenth of next month.
In many respects this is the most inn
portant and interesting old building of
them all. Many associations Of the
early days of the government attach to
the place. 1t was the first department
building constructed by the govern
ment. Its two lower stories were built
In 1898, and at that time there was en-
closed within the walls four depart
ments Of the young government-state.
treasury, war and navy. 1t will be but
y few years before all the old historic
land marks OF the capital will have
passed away to make room for the new
city.
The new state, war and navy depart
ment, which is built of granite and is
TO occupy the entire square, will be the
largest and bandsomest departmental
building. 1t already forms an impos-
ing flank to the left side of the white
house, and will greatly enhance that ex-
ecutive center of the city. This exec
utiye section comprises three squares
which bar Pennsylvania avenue and
cause 1t to describe an angle around the
nest of government buildings. In the
central square is situated the white
house, surrounded by a beautiful park,
with flowers, fountains and ratings.
At the right Of this park is the treasury,
while on the square at the left is being
reared the new structure. At night
especially this section presents an at
tractive scene. From the treasury de-
. ponds a belt of electric lights, and the
\ white house is radiant with the glare
Of the many gas lamps upon its porti-
cos and about the grounds. The north,
south and east wings of the new build
ing have already been built, and the
debris Of the old navy department will
be cleared away in time to permit the
commencement of work upon its west
wing by the LIST of April. The conven-
tiOnal massive pillars and columns of
the present departments will been missed
from the new building. 1t is of modern
architecture and illustrates the depart:
ure which has been made by the gov
eminent Of late years in its structures.
The new PENSION building, the National
museum, the bureau of engraving and
printing, and the agricultural depart
ment are all brick structures. They
ure also examples of this architectural
departure aud afford a pleasing change
from the conventional marble of the
Interior department, the p~ostofice de-
partment and the capitol.
The showerinQ of reports from COM
mittees proves that congress is busily
at work, although the routine proceed
ings on the floors of the two houses are
as yet OF no particular interest. A
large part of the general legislation
which will be considered at this session
is already reported or in a very forward
state in committee. But the most i'm
portant bills have yet to come in. The
appropriations and the ways and means
committees are both of them silent as
yet, and the banking and currency
committee has made no sign. Two
tariff bills are soon to be submitted to
The committee on ways and means.
One by Its chairman provides for d
horizontal reelection Of twenty per
centum In existing rates; the other, by
Mr.. Hewitt, is based on a comparison
OF existing rates and the various ia
Dies that have been In use or proposed
Tor adoption by the government.
In the house the best part of the
week was consumed by the three hun
bred amiable gentlemen who don't
know much about the war, but insist
on debating that perennial thems-the
Fitz John Porter bill. When this bill
gets to the president his soul will be
Sorely tried. With Senator Logan at
one ear and General Grant at the other
he may we'll sing with Captain Ma
cheath:
How happy could / be with either
We're t'other dear chRrmer away
The senate had the courage to adopt
a resolution providing that every sena-
Tor not the chairman OF committee may
employ clerk or private secretary at .
per diem Of So. LENox.
Destructive Flames.
Toronto, February 1.-Adamsen'
elevator burned last night, burning ON
hundred Thousand hnsoala of whea.