The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1885-10-02
From our Regular rcorrespondent.l
WASHINGTON LETTER.

The appearance about Washington OF
the familiar faces Of public men who,
through modern pictorial art are known
almost as well in the hamlets OF this vast
country as at the Capital itself, indicate
the not remote approach Of the fall po.
|litical opening. The city IL alert with
Hotels and boarding houses,
|private residences and shops, streets and
sidewalks, are receiving touches OF
and are having their youth
land freshness renewed with such cos
metics as paint, white-wash, Wallpaper
and paving -st0nes.
The most conspicuous Improvement Il
that which has been made Ia the Capitol
Marble terraces have been built about
the North and the West wings with thu
result Of improving the symetrical effeci
lof the building by reducing the dispro-
portion Of the dome.
Between forty and fifty workmen are
now engaged In the work-sheds opposite
Iihe South side Of the Capitol preparing
the marble and granite blocks for the
terraces. This work Is being pushed
along rapidly. The terrace work has
so far as to enable one to see
the beauty and value of the improve
ment- There are $50 men employed al
the work. These include laborers, brick
LAYERS and weIl-digfers. The latter are
employed in sinking wells down some
five feet below the present sur
isce OF the ground. These wells are
filed up with concrete and stone ma.
sonry. and between the wells massive
~ - fnA ~ ~
the walls. This method is adopted tc
save expense, time. and to secure solid
foundation. To excavate the entire
would be dangerous. The
contractor feels assured thar he can finish
the North and South parts OF the terrace
before the close OF the present building
sesson. Preparations are now being
made 10 lay the tagging Of the Norti
terrace, which also forms the roofs oi
Of the vaults. There will be twenty
large rooms on the North side. Some
|of them will be ready for occupation II
about two weeks time. These rooms
will relieve the interior part OF the Capt.
|tol Of vast number Of documents.
In the building itself much is being
done to prepare for the coming Con
lgress. Some Of the Committee rooms
particularly that OF commerce, claim
and library on the House side, and privi
Ileges and elections Of the Senate, are be
ling handsomely fitted up, aud the cell
lings and walls frescoed. The paintings
lsTbe Battle Of the Thames" and thi
l.Capiiulation Of the City Of Mexico,
have been finished and will soon b
placed in position in the rotnnda. Sucl
Iis the pressure for Committee rooms il
The building that The document room
had 10 be removed to an interior part
where there il but little ventilation, ans
the room surrendered 10 the Committe
on Foreign Affairs The Secretary Q
State, when comforting with this com
lmittee, does so in secret. The clerks
therefore. 10 carry on their work, are re
Quired to seek desk room in other places
The document room was seized upon I
lobviate this difficulty.
a large force OF men are painting n
interior Of the dome. Preparations wi
soon be made TO lay the carpets IN IN
Senate and House chamber. The su
lpreme Court chamber has been painted
aud the marble cleaned down. On al
sides The busy workman is seen lendinI
his hand to beautify the building befor
Congress convenes.
The new Pension building is almos
completed and is already occupied D
the Commissioner Of Pensions, and hi
vast army Of assistants and clerks. Th
Pension Building Is ugly in the extreme
and think that il will be used as
warning, and end the brick era IN ma
fltional Architecture. For building >
vast. and so enduring. no worse desig
or material could have been adopted
looks like factory or q mammoth prs
on. and IL is 90 unfortunately situated q
TO be conspicuous from all parts OF 70
lcity. =