National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-11-15
SIXTEEN NEW ROOMS
ENLARGING AND EMBELLIsBING THE
WINGS OF THE CAPITOL BUILDING.
interior and Exterior improvements Executed
During the Recess Of Congress- Substantial
Progress Of work on the Terrace and APP
proaehes-Relics Unearthed.

Tho signs ct the capitol begin to indi-
cato the near approach of session of
congress, and tho returning statesmen
will find tho appearance Of the building,
both inside and out, much changed. The
usual carpet cleaning and furniture var
nishing has been done, and the two
chambers are in forward state of pre-
paration for their approaching reocoupa-
ton. The German artist, who has for an
unknown period been engaged in tho
work Of refurnishing tho interior walls,
has put the regular amount Of now sham
panellng and pointed up the worn places
In tho frescoing. Tho sanitary arrange
ments, for members use only, have been
remodoled, and now present truly pala-
tial appearance, marble slabs aud nickel
plated plumbing having replaced tho
former appliances. Tho house restaurant
has also been very much improved, tho
fresco work having been all renewed, and
other changes made for the better, both
In point Of convenience and appearance.
But the main changes have taken
place, or are in progress, on tho outside.
Tho marble surface of the two wings have,
the northeast corner, boon holystones
an scrubbed the result being removal
Of the mellow surface that the marble
had acquired In tho thirty years they
have been exposed TO the weather. The
MARBLE which is from Lee, Mass, con-
tains large quantity of iron, and will
soon again take on tho venerable and, Us
some think, desirable tint. Tho pillars
arc from Cockeysville, Md. This work
has been pronounced by critics a piece of
pure vandalism, especially the rubbing
of the surface from the statuary over the
senate portico. One advantage that will
accrue from the renovation of tho build
ing will be tho production of harmony
with the now marble, of which tho ter
races arc being constructed.
Work is in progress at tho north end of
the building and upon tho main stairway
on the west front. Before commencing
the former over 6,000 cubic yards Of ma
terial had to be oxcavated, and in the
course Of this operation some curious
relics were unearthed. Two brick and
stone walls were found buried beneath
the soil composing the terrace. Upon one
of these were found the romans of the
old iron fence that formerly inclosed tho
capitol The iron was in excellent
preservation, and tho brick and stone
have been utilized in building the walls
of the chambers that are being constructed
under the new terrace. These walls are
nearly completed, and the arches, which
will form at the same time the roofs for the
store rooms and the support for the pave
ment of the plazas, will be finished in about
two weeks. The marble retaining wall
on this front, which joins the new APP
proach to the northeast front is in q
good state of progress and will also BIO
finished before congress reassembles,
weather permitting. Besides the i'm
provement in appearance by this work
sixteen rooms averaging twenty feet
square will be added to the accomoda-
tions Of the building, to be used for
storage purposes. These are approached
by two arched passage ways, leading
from the basement story of tho main
building. corridor nine feet in width,
runs the entire length, separating the
'ooms. The latter will be lighted by
means Of heavy glass set in iron frames
on tho pavement above. The floors will
be concreted, and they will be thoroughly
drained and ventilated.
The grand stairway will have the first
six steps leading up to the plaza, upon
which the Marshall statue will rest, com
pleted by Dec. !. The nrsU or these, rur
WHICH tue lOuuuatlOH Is uOW uciuB lhiu,
will be some $50 feet in length. The
stops be of North river bluestone, the
same material of which the steps in the
approaches leading from Pennsylvania
and Maryland avenues are constructed.
The rise will be easy and tho steps will
be of the right breadth to allow of an
ascent or descent being made without
danger of breaking nose or leg, as was
the case with the others before they were
remodelcd, owing to the unusual depth
from front to rear which existed rs they
were set at first. 1t is estimated that
with liberal appropriations the entire inn
provement can be completed in three
years. The present fund is only 100000,
the house having cut the appropriation
of 100000 for the whole work, which
was passed by the senate, down to that
sum, refusing even to allow enough to
carry on work at both ends Of the build
A